Uninstall Mac apps completely, leftovers included.
Dragging an app to the Trash leaves its caches, containers, preferences and logs behind in ~/Library. DiskMate's Apps page finds those leftovers for every installed app, shows the app's full size, and moves the app and its files to the Trash together.
Pay once, keep it forever. No subscription, no account.
Example scan. Names and sizes are illustrative.
Where it looks for leftovers
Application Support, Containers and Group Containers, where apps keep their libraries, downloads and databases. Often the biggest part.
The app's folders in ~/Library/Caches and ~/Library/Logs.
HTTPStorages, WebKit and Cookies for apps that show web content.
Preference files in ~/Library/Preferences and saved window state.
Helpers in ~/Library/LaunchAgents that the app set up to run at login.
Apps in /Applications, /Applications/Utilities and ~/Applications, sorted by size, with the leftovers added on top.
How it works
- 1Pick an app
The list shows every app with its size. Select one to see its full footprint, app plus leftovers.
- 2Check the files
Every leftover is listed with its folder and size. Untick anything you want to keep, such as preferences you'd like if you reinstall.
- 3Uninstall
Press Uninstall. The app and the files you left ticked move to the Trash together.
Open the Trash, select what you want and choose Put Back. It returns to the exact folder it came from. Only emptying the Trash deletes for good, and DiskMate labels that button clearly.
Nothing disappears by surprise
- Leftovers are matched by the app's bundle ID and name, so other apps' files aren't picked up.
- You see every file before anything moves, and you can untick any of them.
- The app and its files go to the Trash, so a reinstall is never needed to undo a mistake.
- The Apps page also lists the launch agents and daemons that start with your Mac, and who they run for, with a shortcut to Login Items settings.
Prefer to do it by hand?
To remove an app's leftovers yourself, delete the app, then open Go → Go to Folder and check ~/Library/Application Support, ~/Library/Containers, ~/Library/Group Containers, ~/Library/Caches and ~/Library/Preferences for folders named after the app or its developer.
Folder names don't always match the app name, which is why DiskMate matches on the app's bundle ID (for example com.spotify.client) as well.
Questions
Does dragging an app to the Trash uninstall it completely?+
No. It removes the app itself but leaves its data in ~/Library: caches, containers, preferences, logs and sometimes launch agents. For large apps, those leftovers can be several gigabytes.
How do I find an app's leftover files on a Mac?+
Look in ~/Library/Application Support, Containers, Group Containers, Caches, Logs and Preferences for folders named after the app or its bundle ID. DiskMate's Apps page does this for every installed app and adds up the sizes.
Is it safe to remove app leftovers?+
Yes, for apps you no longer use. Leftovers only matter to the app that made them. If you might reinstall and want your settings back, untick the Preferences and Application Support items before uninstalling.
What are launch agents and daemons?+
Small background helpers that start when you log in or when your Mac boots, often for updaters and sync tools. DiskMate lists them with who they run for, so you can spot ones left over from apps you've removed.
Can I undo an uninstall?+
Yes. The app and its files go to the Trash. Drag them back to where they were, or reinstall the app, until you empty the Trash.
More in DiskMate
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