How to Install and Uninstall Apps in Mac?

Installing and uninstalling apps is much easier in macOS compared to Windows. You can simply install most of the apps from the App Store and keep the history in your Apple account forever. Though some third party applications still need installer, most third party websites simply offer disk image file (.dmg). The disk image helps to install the application with .app extension. And you can see all installed apps in the ‘Application’ folder in Finder.

In this article let us explain all possibilities of installing and uninstalling apps in macOS.

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1. Installing Apps in Mac

Let us discuss various installation methods for Mac.

1.1. Install App from App Store

The macOS 10.14 is a new Mojave version offers a completely different App Store than the previous 10.13 version High Sierra. Though the screens look different but the app installation process remains same. Open App Store and find any of the free app that you want to download on your MacBook.

1. You will see a GET button and click on it.
2. The button will change to a INSTALL button and click on it.
3. You will see the progress bar running and indicating the app is getting installed. If you didn’t login to your App Store, then you will be prompted to login with your Apple ID.
4. After successful installation the button will show as OPEN. Click on it to open the app.

Install App from Mac App Store

So you need to do few clicks for installing apps from App Store. This may look lengthy process but safe processes to avoid accidental clicks.

1.2. Installing Paid Apps from App Store

The process remains same for the paid apps. There are two types of paid apps – partially paid and premium apps. The partial apps will still show GET button along with a note ‘In-app Purchases’ and you need to follow the above process. After installation, you may need to pay money for removing ads or getting additional features.

Installing Paid Apps from App Store

The premium apps will show the amount in your App Store currency instead of GET button. Click on the amount to see BUY APP button. Again click on the BUY APP button to pay money and download the app to your Mac. The amount will be automatically from the linked payment method in your Apple ID.

1.3. Downloading Third Party DMG Files

You may not get all apps from app store, especially for specific needs. Generally third party websites offer DMG files that can be simply installed on your Mac. When you double click on these are disk image file, it extract .app application on your Mac. Let us take an example to explain this process. Go to Chrome Canary page and let us install Google Chrome Canary version. You can do this for normal Chrome version, since we already have that, we explain here with canary version. Click on the ‘Download Chrome Canary’ button and download ‘googlechrome.dmg’ file in your ‘Downloads’ folder.

Downloading App From third Party Site

Double click on the .dmg file to extract the file.

Openning DMG File

You will see a window like below asking you to drag and drop the file to Applications folder. Just drag and drop to start the installation process.

Drag and Drop to Install App

The content will be copied to Applications folder as .app application.

Extracting Content from DMG File

In this method, you just extract a disk image file and copy the content to Applications folder. When you open the app, it will ask you to allow on your Mac like below. Click on ‘Open’ to open the app.

Exception for Apps Installed from Third Parties

This is due to the privacy settings in ‘Preferences > Security & Privacy > General’. Even you have chosen to allow apps from App Store and identified developers, macOS will still prompt you with the warning for Google Chrome and other apps.

Allow Apps from Third Parties in Mac

1.4. Installing With Installer Package

Not all apps are like Chrome Canary version. Some apps need many details like purchase history, license key, etc. So the third party website will offer it as a package which you need to extract and install on your Mac. Let us take an example of MAMP used for installing a local server for applications like WordPress. Go to MAMP site and download the package.

Downloading Apps from Third Party Website

Double click on the package to extract and it will show similar option to drag and drop to Applications folder. When you drag and drop, unlike copying the content, an installer will run allowing to choose the installation path and other details specific to the app. You should follow the instructions to complete the installation.

Install App Using Installer

1.5. Installing Software & App Updates

The software update of macOS and apps downloaded from App Store needs to be updated from App Store. Go to ‘App Store > Updates’ and look for any updates. For automatic software update of you macOS, go to ‘Apple Icon > Preferences > Software Update’. Click ‘Advanced’ option and choose all the checkboxes to automatically update the macOS. This is useful especially when you run on beta or developer version of macOS.

Downloading Software Updates

Related: Speedup Safari on your Mac.

2. Deleting or Uninstalling Apps in Mac

Let us discuss various ways to delete to uninstall apps from your Mac.

2.1. Delete from Launchpad

Click on Launchpad from the dock. Drag and drop the application to Trash bin. Mac will prompt you to confirm the app deletion, confirm the deletion by clicking on ‘Delete’ button.

Delete App from LaunchPad

2.2. Uninstall from App Store

Go to App Store and click on your Apple ID shown on the bottom of the left sidebar (on macOS Mojave). You will see all installed apps on your account. Click on the three dots buttons and choose ‘Move to Trash’ option. Confirm the app deletion to remove the app from your Mac.

Delete App from App Store

Note that the App Store will show all the installed apps in the purchase history. You will see a cloud icon for the deleted apps not available on your Mac. Simply click on the cloud icon and again install the app.

2.3. Move to Trash from Applications Folder

Simply go to Application folder and press ‘Command + Delete’ buttons or right click and choose ‘Move to Trash’ option.

Move to Trash from Application Folder

Confirm the app deletion to move the app to trash bin. Generally apps deleted will be permanently deleted and will not be available in trash bin.

2.4. Completely Delete All Files and Folder of an App

All the above methods will only delete the .app application and not the files associated with the application in different folders. For example, when you install image editing apps, they will save the images in Pictures folder. For example, Snagit 2018 is the standard app available in App Store. This will store all the captured images as project files in Pictures folder with a custom .snagproj extension. When you simply drag and delete the app, it will not delete any of the project files.

1. In such case, open Finder and search for the app name. in our case we search for ‘snagit’.
2. Choose ‘This Mac’ as search location.
3. You will see the list of all files related to the searched app including the app.
4. You can check and delete all the files. Ensure to check the file path before deleting, otherwise you may end up in deleting files from the iCloud backup.

Delete All Files Created by an App

This way you can delete the app and all files completely from your Mac.

Related: 5 image editing tools for macOS.