[Abbas]

Is uninstalling apps really as easy as dragging the application from the application folder into the trash?

In Windows, I usually have to uninstall from the control panel where the uninstallation routine removes all the files its installed in different directories. Doesnt a Mac's application do the same thing?

-Abbas

[eyadams]

Doesnt a Mac's application do the same thing?

Amazingly, in most cases, no. And in the cases I've seen where an application did scatter files around, it included an uninstaller, or at least a README file to let the user know where files are located.

The exception to this is preference files. Dragging an application to the trash won't remove any preference files that it creates in your home directory (usually ~/Library/Preferences. Frankly, I don't usually bother - preference files are small text files.

[TETENAL]

For practically all application that are drag & drop installed (i. e. without an installer) uninstalling is just drag & dop into the trash. Applications usually create a preferences file which you can trash later or leave it alone. It's a few kB and doesn't affect the system in any way. Some create stuff in the Application Support folder which you can clean out later or leave it alone. It doesn't affect the system in any way.

Applications that are installed with an installer sometimes have an uninstall feature in the installer that can be used.

For applications that are installed with an Installer-package you have to find all the stuff to trash for yourself or use Pacifist to look into the package to see what was installed and then trash that by hand. Or just trash the main app and leave the rest where it is.


Anyway, for 90% of the applications uninstalling is just trashing the app and that's it. For the other 10% there is no built in tool to assist you in uninstalling though.

[mdc]

one more thing.

i find that leaving the preferences files alone comes in handy sometimes. i have removed app that i did not need anymore, then a few months later i needed it. i downloaded the app, ran it, and since the preferences file was still there it retained all the old settings.

oooooh, 2000th post.

[CharlesS]

Originally posted by Abbas:
Is uninstalling apps really as easy as dragging the application from the application folder into the trash?

Yep.

Welcome to the Mac.