I was surprised by how quickly the hard drive on my Macbook filled up. Without even noticing it, I had quickly built up gigabytes junk files I didn’t know what to do with and apps that I had ended up not using. When I started running out of room for my photos and music, I knew I had to do something.
During the bootup process, a lot of apps try unauthorized login attempts making the startup slower. The best Mac cleaner app is which can easily manage and stop all unwanted login attempts from the boot, reducing the load on the process and making startup faster and smoother. As a result, you get long lag-free working hours on your Mac. If you want to completely remove Yahoo among the possible search engines in Google Chrome, click on the word Set search engine and, in the new screen that has opened, locate the entry Yahoo. After finding it, click on the icon with the ⋮ symbol on the right and, in the context menu, select the Remove from list option.
That’s when I decided to try an uninstaller. An uninstaller is a piece of software designed to remove unwanted items from your hard drive completely. A good uninstaller can even identify files that are associated with an unwanted app and dispose of them, too. I decided to try AppCleaner, a straightforward uninstaller app. Here’s how it went.
AppCleaner features
AppCleaner focuses on one thing: getting rid of unwanted apps and files completely. First and foremost, it’s very easy to use: all you have to do is click, drag, and drop.
Here’s how a basic AppCleaner cleanup works:
- Open the AppCleaner app from the Dock or the Applications folder.
- Drag the application you want to delete into the AppCleaner window or switch to the list view to select unwanted apps from a list.
- Once you’ve selected the unwanted app, check the box next to each file you’d like to remove, then click the “remove” button.
- Now, your chosen app is fully deleted!
What’s more: AppCleaner’s features don’t stop there. The “list” feature also lets you review Widgets and Plugins, which can take up a significant amount of space on your Mac. This uninstaller stands out for its thoroughness and flexibility; because it doesn’t automate much, you get a lot of individual control over which files you’re deleting.
The app also has tools to help make sure that you delete everything associated with an unwanted app. Its SmartDelete feature can be toggled on and off in the Preferences menu. This handy tool notices when you move an application to the Trash, and automatically detects any files related to that app. Then, it prompts you to delete those files as well.
When using an uninstaller, it’s important to protect the things you do want to keep. If you have applications that you’ll never want to delete, you can tell AppCleaner to ignore them altogether. The software’s Protected Apps list ensures that you won’t delete any crucial apps or files. The list is found in your Preferences tab, and it’s a snap to add and remove applications and their associated files.
What makes AppCleaner Unique?
I found AppCleaner very straightforward and easy to use, making the uninstallation process fast and efficient. Here’s where AppCleaner really stands apart:
- Control: Rather than deleting all associated files in one stroke, the AppCleaner app lets you individually check files before you remove them. This made the process worry-free—if I wasn’t sure about a file, I could just hang on to it for later.
- Speed: The drag-and-drop feature made it easy to pull up groups of files and delete them just by pulling the main application file into the AppCleaner window. This definitely beats using Finder to hunt them down individually.
- Cleanliness: I like a neat desktop, and I like to be able to see what I’m doing. AppCleaner’s compact window lets me keep it open in the background in case I need it without obscuring other windows. Overall, it’s nicely designed and highly responsive.
The one drawback I found was that the app was too focused. Its tools all revolve around uninstalling—while there were times when I would have liked to know how much space I had freed up or which apps were taking up too much energy, AppCleaner didn’t tell me. I found myself at times wishing that there had been a wider set of features combined with the uninstaller, which would have made it a more effective tool.
I like how CleanMyMac X presents the list of apps I have on my Mac and categorizes the files, including apps leftovers, that needs to be removed. Find out more about it here.
Is AppCleaner safe?
When entrusting your files to an uninstaller, it’s always a good idea to make sure the software is safe and secure. AppCleaner is a fairly small and unobtrusive app and is fundamentally safe to use. However, it is a third-party app that has not been authorized by Apple, which means that it may run into compatibility problems with newer iOS operating systems.
A good rule of thumb with third-party apps is to try to find them through the App Store first. If like AppCleaner, an app isn’t available through the App Store, the best option is to download it directly from the developer’s website. This can help ensure that you get only the app you’re looking for (and that other distributors haven’t bundled it with unwanted or harmful software).
You can also make the app more secure by ensuring that you’re constantly using the most updated version. AppCleaner has the option to automatically check for updates and prompts you when new versions become available. This is a great way to reduce any vulnerabilities that third-party apps like this one might present.
If you were looking for a versatile cleaning tool, CleanMyMac X can prove useful. It’s fully authorized by Apple, which means it will always remain compatible with iOS Catalina and future operating systems. Plus, CleanMyMac X can actively scan your Mac for malware and other security threats to uninstall. Try it for free here.
AppCleaner review: The verdict
In the end, AppCleaner is great at what it does. It allows you to uninstall your apps for good and prevent the app-related data from cluttering your Mac. If your aim is to delete programs and apps you haven’t used for a while, AppCleaner is the right choice.
For those who want to get a bigger picture of Mac’s hard drive’s health, I recommend using CleanMyMac X. It combines an effective uninstaller with a number of other tools that can be used to analyze your Mac. Its Space Lens tool and Optimization tab, for example, can help you choose which files to delete to help your Mac reach maximum performance.
What Is AppCleaner?
While the Mac OS X makes it easy to install apps and easy to discard them, simply moving apps to Trash bin doesn’t always provide the clean slate you need. AppCleaner for Mac is as close as you can get to a one-step solution that does more than toss unused apps in the Trash. Indeed, it deletes the files and data associated with the app in a total clean sweep. Just trashing still leaves a digital footprint of the app in the form of various support files on scattered all over your Mac.
AppCleaner Features
Unlike most cleaning utilities, AppCleaner doesn’t focus on detecting malware, malfunctioning apps or software, and no-longer-needed downloads. Its main priority is uninstalling an app along with all of its associated files. AppCleaner lets you choose any specific app, locate all supporting data that is currently on your computer, and then remove it all with a single sweep.
AppCleaner Pros
AppCleaner offers easy-to-use, familiar to Mac users drag-and-drop approach to deleting apps along with these other important features:
- It’s fast and efficient
- It’s easy to learn and understand
- It deletes all app-related data simultaneously
- It lets you select apps from the list if drag-and-drop is not your thing
- Its Smart Delete option detects trashed apps data
- It offers advanced preferences that safeguards important apps from accidental deletion
- It lets you manage Widgets and Plugins the same way as you do with apps
AppCleaner Cons
AppCleaner is user friendly, clear-cut, and uncomplicated app with little to no downsides. However, it could still use a few quality-of-life tweaks. One of them would be an inclusion of “Select All” button when selecting the associated files.
By default, AppCleaner seems to uncheck the boxes next to the files located within the /var/ folder. It leaves the choice up to the user, yet you then have to select every folder manually, which is a minor inconvenience.
Also, AppCleaner will not locate leftover associated files from the apps that you have previously removed. Bummer.
Two Ways to Uninstall Using the AppCleaner App
There are two ways AppCleaner works its magic to help clean up your Mac.
- Drag unwanted apps to the AppCleaner window
- Select apps you want to remove from the list view
How to Delete an App Using AppCleaner
- Open AppCleaner
- Drag the unwanted app to AppCleaner window (or select it from the list)
- Make sure the boxes next to associated data are checked
- Click the Remove button to fully uninstall the application
After following these simple steps, the app you’ve selected, and its supporting data are deleted.
AppCleaner Pricing
While you’d expect to pay a premium price for this hearty, robust app, it carries everyone’s favorite price tag $0.00. Yep! It’s free.
How to Uninstall Mac App Cleaner
If you decide the AppCleaner app isn’t for you, or if you’re just finished using it, you can manually delete it by following these steps:
- Quit the AppCleaner
- Go to the AppCleaner location (it varies depending on where you’ve unzipped the initial archieve)
- Drag the AppCleaner.app to Trash
Next, open Finder, press Shift+Command+G, copy and paste the directory ~/Library/Saved Application State, remove net.freemacsoft.AppCleaner.savedState folder. Continue by going to ~/Library/Preferences and moving the net.freemacsoft.AppCleaner.plist to Trash.
App Cleaner Mac Taking A Long Time Searching Download
Is AppCleaner Safe?
App Cleaner Mac Taking A Long Time Searching
AppCleaner for Mac is a great way to get rid of apps and software you no longer want, need, or use. It goes the extra mile by deleting the app itself, then freeing your Mac from lingering files and data associated with those components. It’s missing a few desirable features like locating leftover files of already deleted apps, yet it still holds its own by being simple, effective, and, of course, free.