I rarely install third-party apps, and only safe ones like EtreCheck. But uninstalls often leave behind service files that take up space. Are these files stored in a few known locations, and can they be fully removed manually?
When you uninstall an app on macOS, it usually only removes the main application file and doesn’t automatically clean up the associated service files scattered throughout the system. While manual cleanup is possible, it can be time-consuming due to the files being located in various directories.
Alternatively, you can use CleanMyApp, a professional uninstaller that’s trusted on the App Store. Here are the steps:
- Download CleanMyApp.
- Select the software you want to uninstall from the main interface.
- Click Uninstall > Continue Uninstall to completely remove the software, including all leftover files.
You can manually clean up the related files, but the process is quite complex. Common locations for service files include:
- ~/Library/Application Support/
- ~/Library/Caches/
- ~/Library/Preferences/
- ~/Library/Logs/
- ~/Library/Saved Application State/
However, manually cleaning up these files can take some time and effort, so it is generally not recommended to do it manually.