How to Delete iMessages History on Mac Step 1. Make sure that you quit Messages app on your Mac. Open Finder, and press CMD+Shift+G (or right click on Finder and choose to Go to Folder), type in. Here you will see the iMessage Chat Files. Delete the chat.db, chat.db.shm.
Quick question – how do you uninstall programs on Mac?
If your answer is to drag the app to the Trash, we’re sorry to say that you’ve been doing it wrong.
If you’re worried about someone looking through your Mac and finding your messages, or you want to delete your messages for some other reason, doing so is, fortunately, relatively easy. Let’s take a look at what steps you can take to delete all of your iMessages from your Mac or MacBook. There are two routes you can take to delete all messages and attachments in the Messages app. But we'll only be talking about the simplest one that involves copying a command string and pasting it. Hello, I believe the messages are syncing; as soon as you delete a message on the phone, it is removed from Your Phone as well. Here are some troubleshooting steps. Your Windows laptop needs to be plugged in and Battery saver turned Off to keep your devices synced. To delete parts of a conversation. Find and click on the specific text bubble that you wish to remove. Make sure you select the entire message bubble, not just the text within it. Press the Command+Click to add additional text selections. Your selections gray out. Control-Click or Right-Click.
You probably know or guess that you can remove apps by dragging them to the Trash bin, but it is not quite so. Dragging normal files like documents and movies to the Trash works fine. But doing the same for apps leaves gigabytes of leftover junk files on your hard drive. We’re going to show you what gets left behind and what you can do to completely uninstall apps from here on out.
How to uninstall on Mac
If you are trying to delete an old application, reinstall a corrupted software or just free up disk space on your Mac, removing all components of the program is important. These include the app, its preferences and support files, and sometimes other hidden files.
To completely uninstall a program on Mac you have to choose one of three options:
- Using Trash.
- Using Launchpad.
- Using a native uninstaller
The ways mentioned above include navigating your Mac’s in search of the apps you want to remove and then locating their remaining data. The latter can take even more place than the app itself and can be stored anywhere in your folders.
I prefer clearing my Mac from apps using special software made for this particular task - CleanMyMac X. It’s Uninstaller feature, is an app-killer that sweeps away any program you don’t want on your Mac and clears remaining junk.
Now let’s go ahead and delete some apps!
1. Uninstall Mac apps using Trash
Whether you're running macOS Catalina or an earlier macOS, like Mojave or Sierra, the process of manually uninstalling remains relatively similar. Here’s what you need to do:
- Open Finder.
- Go to Applications.
- Choose the app you want to delete.
- Press Command + Delete (⌘⌫).
- Open Trash.
- Click the Empty button in the upper-right corner of the window.
And the app is gone.
Even uninstalling apps on macOS Catalina requires getting rid of leftovers, despite the fact that it's the latest and the most sophisticated system for Mac. Apple has done such a good job on macOS 10.15 but left this unfortunate issue unresolved for another year.
To completely remove programs from Mac manually, you have to find all the associated files that come along with the app. That means not just dragging the app icon to the Trash from your Applications folder, but searching the depths of the system files on your Mac.
We’re going to reveal the locations of the most common files that are associated with apps. To remove the app leftovers from your Mac just navigate to each of these folders and hunt for the app you want to remove. If you find files with the app name you can send them to the Trash.
So, when uninstalling any software, you have to go over each of these folders one by one and remove the following:
- Binary and dock icons are located in
/Applications/
- Application support files are located in
~/Library/Application Support
- Support Caches can be found in
/Library/Caches/
and~/Library/Caches
- Plugins are located in
~/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/
- Library can be found in
~/Library/
- App preferences are located in
~/Library/Preferences/
- Crashes are found in
~/Library/Application Support/CrashReporter/
- App saved states are located in
~/Library/Saved Application State/
There are many more hidden files, some of which cannot be accessed by the user. https://omaticnew215.weebly.com/blog/install-apps-on-mac-from-unidentified-developer-sierra. Team viewer mac app. And macOS/OS X will prevent you from deleting some app files.
As you can see, it's not that easy to uninstall applications Mac doesn't need, even when you know what to do. By the way, be sure to look for the name of the app in the file names of the files you remove. Don’t remove anything you don’t know! Do your due diligence before removing something from your system.
When you delete software on Mac manually, be sure only to remove an app file or folder when you’re sure of what it is. Look at the name very carefully before you nuke it. Removing the wrong files could cause problems with your system.
Remember, please be careful when deleting system files — you never know how it will affect your Mac if you remove the wrong ones (or the right ones for that matter!).
2. Uninstall Mac programs with Launchpad
How to uninstall on Mac by using the Launchpad? It's easy and this manual method works like this:
- Click Launchpad icon in your Mac's Dock.
- Find the app you want to delete.
- Click and hold the app until it starts shaking.
- Click X in the top-left corner of the app icon.
- Click Delete.
This will uninstall the app from your Mac. However, keep in mind that after removing the program, you should also delete its leftovers as we've described above.
Can't delete apps on Mac?
Unfortunately, manual methods won’t get everything. Some apps are pre-installed macOS components and protected by the system while others will refuse to delete because they are already open (even though that’s often not true).
So, how to delete the apps on Mac that won't delete? You can try the manual removal after force quitting the app in question (press Command-Option-Esc and if the app is on the list shut it down) or rebooting your Mac.
If you're still unable to delete apps on Mac or if you’re worried you won't do it correctly and want a safer alternative, there’s the easy method of uninstalling apps from your Mac so you don't have to force delete applications. It actually does a better (and safer) job and in a fraction of the time. Read on to learn how to delete apps on Mac automatically.
3. Uninstall apps with CleanMyMac X
When I referred to the easy method of uninstalling apps, I meant using CleanMyMac X. As for me, deleting apps is a pretty tiresome task. I’ve always put away this chore, as it will waste a huge amount of my time. But, my Mac was running low on free storage, so I decided to try CleanMyMac X to fix this problem and uninstall programs on Mac with ease. I used the Uninstaller module to get rid of multiple apps at once. Here’s what you need to do:
- Download CleanMyMac X, install, and launch it (it takes less than a minute).
- Go to Uninstaller.
- Choose All Applications.
- Check the boxes next to the app you want to remove.
- Press Uninstall.
![Delete Messenges App Mac Delete Messenges App Mac](/uploads/1/3/4/0/134072285/475222445.png)
As you can see, CleanMyMac X shows precisely how much place each app takes, so it’s easier to detect the heaviest programs. Another benefit is that you can bulk uninstall programs on Mac without dragging each app and its files to the Trash.
Is it possible to delete system files on Mac?
CleanMyMac X doesn’t let you delete system apps like Safari. Neither of Mac cleaners can do that. But, CleanMyMac X allows you to delete the data associated with system apps and reset them completely. Click CleanMyMac X’s menu in the upper-left corner and choose Preferences. Go to Ignore List and click Uninstaller. Here uncheck the box next to “Ignore system applications.”
Now, you can close Preferences and go back to Uninstaller. Click ► next to the app's icon to show its files. Then check the data you want to delete and choose Reset from the drop-down list next to the app’s icon. Then press Remove.
It will help to clear some space on your Mac. Note that your app logs may also disappear after the reset.
4. Use the native uninstaller
Many applications are designed to clean after themselves. They come with a built-in uninstaller — a self-destroying utility bundled with the main app. This is mostly true for third-party apps that you download from the internet. That’s why native uninstallers remain more of a Windows thing, not much heard of in the Mac world.
The original uninstallers can be found in Finder > Applications. If your app looks like a folder (within the Applications folder) most likely it will have a separate uninstaller. The name will read [Your app] Uninstaller or Uninstall [Your App].
The original uninstallers can be found in Finder > Applications. If your app looks like a folder (within the Applications folder) most likely it will have a separate uninstaller. The name will read [Your app] Uninstaller or Uninstall [Your App].
Open the folder, find the launcher, and just follow the onscreen instructions. After the removal is complete, you can enjoy your extra storage space!
Clear app leftovers: preferences files and caches
No sane developer wants people to delete their application. As your desperate ex, they would do everything to stay on your Mac, like planting pieces of their software around your Mac so one day they can return. Support files, preference files, and caches — all these will likely remain even if you’ve deleted the app itself.
Here I’ll show you how to root out these remaining traces. I’ll use the Telegram app as an example.
Here I’ll show you how to root out these remaining traces. I’ll use the Telegram app as an example.
Delete application support files
Click on Finder > Go to Folder… (in the upper menu).
Paste in:
Paste in:
~/Library/Application Support/Your App Name
In my case it's:
~/Library/Application Support/Telegram
Now, delete the content of this folder.
Delete application Preferences
The Preferences folder contains your user settings. These files are tiny but there’s no reason not to delete them, just out of principle.
Click on Finder > Go to Folder…
Paste in:
Click on Finder > Go to Folder…
Paste in:
~/Library/Preferences/
Open the folder. Now type the name of your app in the search bar. Click to search 'Preferences.” Delete the found items.
Delete the caches
In the same vein, you’ll have to delete the remaining app caches.
This time, use the following command to paste in Finder > Go to Folder..
Paste this:
This time, use the following command to paste in Finder > Go to Folder..
Paste this:
~/Library/Caches/Your App Name
Note: In some cases, you need to search for the app developer's name, rather than the name of the app.
Delete leftovers with CleanMyMac X
If you’ve been doing a 'spring cleaning' in your Applications folder, chances are some files are still left somewhere in your Mac’s system. CleanMyMac X detects and collects them into the Leftovers tab.
Go to Uninstaller once again and select Leftovers. Select all the remaining files and press Uninstall to say goodbye to the app remains.
Now you are just as good at uninstalling applications on Mac as any Apple engineer. Hopefully, you now have plenty of free space. Don't miss a few related articles below.
These might also interest you:
Learn how to recover deleted iMessages on Mac using [1]Apple iPhone and iPad devices, [2]Time Machine backup, [3]iCloud backup, and [4]third-party EaseUS messages recovery software for Mac. The four ways are proved to be helpful to recover deleted iMessages. In case that you didn't back up or sync your text messages, the EaseUS software solution is the only chance for deleted message recovery.
Force Delete App Mac
'I have accidentally deleted contents of an iMessage on a specific contact on my Mac. And after that, all the messages from the person were gone. Is there any way to recover deleted iMessages on Mac? I really want to get the conversations back!'
iMessage is a free instant messaging service from Apple. Along with text messages, iMessage allows you to send unlimited pictures, videos, contacts, etc. to other Apple users anywhere anytime for free. Have you ever accidentally deleted iMessages? Do you know how to recover deleted messages, especially when those messages record some unforgettable memories? When you deleted iMessage text messages by mistake on your MacBook, iMac or Mini, stay calm. Learn carefully how to recover deleted iMessages on Mac with the below four effective solutions.
Workable Solutions | Step-by-step Troubleshooting |
---|---|
Method 1. Recover on iPhone/iPad | Generally speaking, for Mac users who use Apple iPhone or iPad at the same time..Full steps |
Method 2. Recover from Time Machine | Sign out all iMessage accounts and quit Messages, open Finder..Full steps |
Method 3. Recover from iCloud | Sign out of iMessage on your Mac and locate the library..Full steps |
Method 4. Recover with Software | Run Mac data recovery software, select the location where messages were deleted..Full steps |
Is It Possible to Recover Deleted iMessages on Mac
Can you bring back a deleted iMessage? To some degree, yes. Apple provides customers with Time Machine, a comprehensive backup solution to macOS operating systems, which you can find it in macOS Catalina, Mojave, High Sierra, and other versions as well. As long as you turned on Time Machine backup, you can easily recover everything, including the deleted iMessages, from its backup. Meanwhile, the other data sync solution of iCloud backup is also quite helpful in retrieving lost data across platforms. What if the mishap happens and you didn't have a backup at hand? Then grab the last chance of using iMessage data recovery software to recover deleted messages without a backup.
Next, let's walk you through each guide of how to recover deleted iMessages on Mac one by one.
#1. How to Recover Deleted iMessages on Mac Using iPhone or iPad
Generally speaking, for Mac users who use Apple iPhone or iPad at the same time, the chances of deleted iMessage recovery are greater. Apple users of the macOS system and iOS system are using the same Apple ID, so their received messages and sent messages will show up on every device. When you carelessly lost important messages on Mac, you can try to look for them on an iPhone or iPad.
#2. How to Recover Deleted iMessages on Mac Using Time Machine
As long as you back up Mac data regularly with Time Machine, follow these steps to easily recover deleted messages from the Time Machine backup:
Step 1. Sign out all iMessage accounts and quit Messages.
Step 2. Press and hold down the Option key and select 'Go' > 'Library' from the Finder menu bar.
Step 3. Locate the Library section and click on Messages
Step 4. When the messages folder comes up, locate a file with the ‘chat.db’ name and a date that is before the date the files you are looking for were deleted.
Delete Messenger App Mac Download
Step 5. Select the file and click Restore.
Note: This method restores the whole iMessage database and will replace the current database with an earlier version.
#3. How to Recover Deleted iMessages on Mac Using iCloud
To recover iMessages from iCloud:
Step 1. Sign out of iMessage on your Mac and quit the app.
Step 2. Open the Finder.
Step 3. Select Go from the Finder menu.
Step 4. Locate your library.
Step 5. Find a file named [messages] from an iCloud backup date that is before the day the files you are looking for is deleted.
Step 6. Open this messages folder.
Step 7. Click restore.
#4. How to Recover Deleted Messages on Mac Using Mac Data Recovery Software
Can you bring back a deleted iMessage when there is no backup at all? First of all, you need to figure out where the deleted iMessages stored.
By navigating to the ~/Library/Messages folder on your Mac, you will see the Archive folder, Attachments folder, and a file named 'chat.db'. The archive folder contains all your past messages that you have closed or saved, the Attachments folder contains the images, videos, audios, and other files that you have sent or received on your Mac via iMessage, and the file 'chat.db' is the database file where all of your messages are stored.
When you delete a conversation from iMessage on your Mac, the content of the chat.db file is changed but the file still exists on your computer. That's why you can't use data recovery software, which can only recover deleted files, not the deleted content of the file, to retrieve data. (Use EaseUS free data recovery software for Mac, and it will be quite helpful if you accidentally deleted the chat.db file on your Mac.)
![Delete Messenges App Mac Delete Messenges App Mac](/uploads/1/3/4/0/134072285/818685761.jpg)
Follow three simple steps to get back the deleted iMessage database with EaseUS data recovery software:
Step 1. Select the location where your important data & files were deleted and click the 'Scan' button.
Step 2. The software will run both quick scan and deep scan and work hard to find as many deleted files as possible on the selected volume.
Step 3. The scan results will be displayed in the left pane. Just select the file(s) and click the 'Recover Now' button to get them back.