So you wanna delete apps from your MacBook? Honestly, I used to think dragging apps to Trash was all it took. Then I discovered my "deleted" photo editor was still eating 4GB of storage. That sucked.

Today I'll show you how to delete app in MacBook completely – no leftover junk. We'll cover every method, troubleshoot nightmares like "app in use" errors, and find those hidden files even Apple doesn't tell you about.

Why Dragging to Trash Isn't Enough (The Dirty Secret)

Here's the thing about deleting apps on MacBook: When you drag that icon to the Trash, you're only removing about 60% of it. The rest? Cache files, preferences, support folders – they all stick around like bad houseguests.

Where apps hide their junk

• ~/Library/Application Support/ (User settings)
• ~/Library/Caches/ (Temporary files)
• ~/Library/Preferences/ (Config files)
• /Library/Application Support/ (System-level files)

The Right Ways to Delete Apps on MacBook

Method 1: Drag-and-Drop (Basic Removal)

For simple apps without background processes:

1. Open Finder → Applications folder
2. Drag app icon to Trash in Dock
3. Right-click Trash → Empty Trash

Works for: Stock apps like Chess, third-party apps without installers

Method 2: Launchpad Deletion (App Store Apps)

Best for apps downloaded from App Store:

1. Open Launchpad (F4 key or pinch gesture)
2. Hold Option key until icons wobble
3. Click X on app you want gone
4. Confirm deletion

Bonus: Automatically removes some associated files

Method 3: Terminal Nuclear Option (Stubborn Apps)

When an app fights back:

1. Open Terminal (Finder → Utilities)
2. Type: sudo rm -rf /Applications/AppName.app
3. Enter admin password (no visual feedback – scary but normal)

Use this for: Apps that won't delete due to "in use" errors

Comparison of App Removal Methods

Cleaning Up Leftover Files Manually

Already deleted apps but storage didn't free up? Let's hunt those digital cockroaches.

Step-by-Step Cleanup

1. Open Finder → Press Cmd+Shift+G
2. Enter these paths one by one:
   • ~/Library/Application Support/
   • ~/Library/Caches/
   • ~/Library/Preferences/
   • ~/Library/Saved Application State/
3. Look for folders with the app's name or developer
4. Drag them to Trash → Empty Trash

Best Apps for Deep Cleaning (Free & Paid)

• AppCleaner (Free) - My daily driver, finds 95% of files
• CleanMyMac X ($35/year) - Overkill but thorough
• DaisyDisk ($10) - Visual storage analyzer bonus
• CCleaner (Free) - Basic but gets the job done
• OnyX (Free) - Power user tool, use carefully

Honestly? I only use AppCleaner now. The paid tools feel bloated for what's essentially drag-and-drop deletion with extra steps.

Fixing Common "Can't Delete" Nightmares

Error: "Application is in use"

1. Open Activity Monitor (Utilities folder)
2. Search app name
3. Select process → Click X button → Force Quit
4. Try deleting again

Error: "Can't be modified or deleted"

1. Right-click app → Get Info
2. Expand Sharing & Permissions
3. Click lock icon → Enter password
4. Set your account to Read & Write

App reinstalls after reboot

This happens with MDM-managed devices (company/school Macs):

1. Contact your IT department
2. Or disable MDM: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Profiles

Mac App Removal FAQs

Sometimes. Bloated apps running in background? Yes. But don't expect miracles from deleting Notes.

System apps like Safari are protected. You'll need terminal commands to remove them – but I don't recommend it.

Same as Intel Macs. Apple Silicon doesn't change the process.

From App Store: Yes, redownload. Third-party apps: Reinstall from original source.

Time Machine snapshots. Wait a few hours or run Terminal: sudo tmutil thinlocalsnapshots / 1000000000 4

Only if you remove system components. Regular apps? No. But backup before mass deletions.

Special Cases: Tricky App Types

Deleting Plugins (Mail, Photoshop, etc.)

These hide deeper:

• Mail plugins: ~/Library/Mail/Bundles
• Creative Cloud: /Library/Application Support/Adobe/

Removing Login Items

Apps that launch automatically:

1. System Settings → General → Login Items
2. Select app → Click minus (-) button

Kernel Extensions (kexts)

Low-level drivers like VPNs, antivirus:

1. Terminal: sudo kextunload /path/to/kext
2. Delete from /Library/Extensions

⚠️ Only if you know what you're doing! Messing with kexts can break your system.

How Much Space Can You Actually Recover?

Based on cleanup jobs I've done for clients:

Personal Recommendation: My 5-Minute Cleanup Routine

Every Sunday while coffee brews:

1. Open AppCleaner
2. Drag unused apps to it
3. Check all detected files → Delete
4. Visit ~/Library/Caches → Sort by size → Delete top 3

Takes 4 minutes, saves average 800MB weekly. Better than any "optimizer" app.

Final Tip: The One Thing Nobody Tells You

After deleting large apps, reboot twice. macOS sometimes delays storage recalculation. Second reboot always shows true free space.

Look, I love Macs, but how to delete app in MacBook shouldn't be this complicated. Apple needs better uninstallers. Until then, this guide covers every angle – from simple drags to terminal hacks.