How to uninstall things off a Mac

[abillybob]

Now I know this may sound like an ultra noob question to start asking and yes I know I'll get millions of links via let me google that for you but please hear me out.

 

So on a Mac I have certain applications I want to remove, Smart NoteBook, Bootpicker, HP Utility, all junk software if I'm honest and I don't need any of them. I thought easy enough I'll just delete the Application folder in Applications. Did that.

 

Problems being if I go to System Preferences I still see them all there listed, they also have instances of being in Launchpad which I have tried holding down and clicking the X but no X on these apps....?

 

What do I have to do to simply uninstall a god damn program!?

 

[Norphy]

iirc to remove a preference pane, you hold down ctrl or option and then click. A context menu will come up and allow you to remove it.

 

Any apps in the Applications folder can be just moved to Trash and then you empty your trash.

[abillybob]

Cheers Buddy but then they are still stuck in launch pad even though I have deleted them from the applications folder and emptied the trash, there's no cross by the app either to get rid of it bootpicker for example:

 

 

Some apps from things like start notebook are also still appearing under "Login Items" at startup so they can't be completely deleted either surely there's still traces of the app left even if you delete them from 'Applications' Folder...?

[Brimstone]

iirc to remove a preference pane, you hold down ctrl or option and then click. A context menu will come up and allow you to remove it.

 

Any apps in the Applications folder can be just moved to Trash and then you empty your trash.

 

Even after doing this you will get app preference files and other files for application support in your user library folder, I use this to get rid of everything associated when I delete the application..

 

AppCleaner

[Norphy]

The only applications which come up with a cross are ones which are installed using the App Store.

 

There may be traces of the programs left under /library and ~/library.

 

/edit This may help: http://osxdaily.com/2011/08/01/refresh-launchpad-in-mac-os-x-10-7-lion/

Edited June 16, 2014 by Norphy

[seawolf]

Some apps you can just drag to the trash without any problem, some will have an uninstaller (MS Office, Adobe stuff, etc.). Barring an uninstaller, I usually use AppCleaner or AppZapper. AppCleaner is free and that's what we install as part of our image, but I have an AppZapper license so use that on my personal stuff.

 

Unlike a Windows app though (unless it's some garbage app that follows no standards or is anything written by Adobe) when you uninstall an app on the Mac - it is truly gone.

[jallsop]

I use uApp to find the odd library file and then use that to drag to trash. If it doesn't delete, then just drag the app to the trash can.