Deleting an application that is in use on a Mac can be tricky, but there are a few steps you can take to try and force the application to quit so that you can delete it.
1. Use Force Quit: Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and select “Force Quit” from the drop-down menu. This will bring up a list of all the open applications on your Mac. Select the application you want to quit and click “Force Quit.” Once the application has quit, you should be able to delete it.
2. Restart Your Mac: If the Force Quit method doesn’t work, try restarting your Mac. This will close all open applications and free up any system resources that might be preventing you from deleting the application.
3. Use Terminal: If all else fails, you can try deleting the application using Terminal. Open Terminal from the Utilities folder under Applications, type “sudo rm -R ” in the terminal, and then drag the application you want to delete from the Finder window and drop it into the Terminal window. Press Enter and then type in your admin password when prompted. This command should completely remove the application from your system.
Note: Be careful when using Terminal as it can be dangerous if you are not experienced with it. Make sure you have a backup of your data before attempting to use Terminal to delete an application.
How do I delete an app from my Mac that won’t delete?
How do I Uninstall an inbuilt app?
Uninstalling an inbuilt app on your device depends on the type of device you are using, as different operating systems have different procedures. Here are some guidelines that can help:
Android Devices:
– Go to the Settings app on your device
– Find and click on the “Apps & notifications” option
– Locate the app you want to uninstall from the list, and click on it
– Click on the “Uninstall” button
– If the app can’t be uninstalled, you can choose to “Disable” the app to prevent it from running
Note: Not all inbuilt apps can be uninstalled from Android devices.
iOS devices:
– Go to the home screen on your device
– Find and press the app icon you want to uninstall
– Keep your finger on the icon until it starts to jiggle
– Press the “x” button that appears on the top-left corner of the app icon
– Confirm the action by tapping “Delete” on the pop-up message that appears
Note: iOS devices don’t come with as many inbuilt apps as Android devices, and not all of them can be uninstalled.
Windows 10 devices:
– Go to the Start Menu on your device
– Find and right-click on the app you want to uninstall
– Click on the “Uninstall” option
– Follow the instructions on the pop-up message that appears to confirm the action
Note: Windows 10 devices come with a lot of inbuilt apps that can be uninstalled, but some cannot be uninstalled due to system restrictions.
It is important to exercise caution when uninstalling or disabling inbuilt apps, as some apps are necessary for the smooth running of the device, and removing them might cause instability or affect system functions.
How do you unlock and delete an application on a Mac?
To unlock and delete an application on a Mac, you can follow these steps:
1. Open Finder on your Mac.
2. Locate the application you want to unlock and delete.
3. Click and hold the application icon until a small menu appears.
4. Select “Get Info” from the menu.
5. In the Info window that appears, locate the “Sharing & Permissions” section.
6. Click on the lock icon in the lower-right corner of the window and enter your administrator password if prompted.
7. Click on the name of the user account that you want to unlock the application for.
8. Change the Privilege setting to “Read & Write.”
9. Close the Info window.
10. Click on the application icon and drag it to the Trash bin in your Dock.
11. Right-click on the Trash bin and select “Empty Trash.”
12. Confirm the action by clicking on “Empty Trash” again in the prompt that appears.
After following these steps, the application will be deleted from your Mac. Note that certain system apps cannot be deleted this way and may require other methods or permissions to be modified.
How do I force delete a File on a Mac?
If you want to force delete a file on a Mac, you can follow these steps:
1. Open the Terminal application. You can find it in the Utilities folder within the Applications folder.
2. In the Terminal window, type “sudo rm -rf” (without the quotes) followed by a space.
3. Drag the file that you want to delete into the Terminal window. This will add the file path to the command.
4. Press Enter.
5. You will be prompted to enter your administrator password. Type it in and press Enter.
6. The file should now be deleted.
It‘s important to note that the “sudo rm -rf” command can be very dangerous if used improperly. It forces the deletion of the specified file(s) and doesn’t provide any warning or confirmation message. So make sure you’re absolutely sure that you want to delete the file before you use this command.
How do I force Mac to delete an app in terminal?
To force Mac to delete an app using Terminal, follow the steps below:
1. Open Terminal on your Mac. You can find Terminal in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder.
2. Enter the following command into Terminal, replacing “AppName” with the name of the app you want to delete:
“`sudo rm -rf /Applications/AppName.app“`
3. Press Enter.
4. Enter your administrator password when prompted.
5. Press Enter again.
6. Terminal will begin deleting the app. This process may take a few minutes depending on the size of the app.
It’s important to note that using the “sudo rm” command can be potentially dangerous if used incorrectly, as it can delete important system files. Make sure to double-check the file path and name before executing this command.
How do I uninstall an app that won’t uninstall?
If you’re experiencing difficulty uninstalling an app, there are a few steps you can take to try resolving the issue:
1. Restart your device: Simply restarting your device can sometimes resolve issues with app performance and removal.
2. Force stop the app: Go to your device’s “Settings” and then “Apps & notifications,” find the app in question, and then select “Force stop.” This will stop any processes associated with the app, making it easier to uninstall.
3. Clear the app cache and data: Under the same “Apps & notifications” section, select the app and then choose “Storage.” Here, you can clear the app’s cache and data, which can sometimes help with uninstallation.
4. Use safe mode: Restart your device in safe mode, which disables all third-party apps. From there, try uninstalling the app again.
5. Use a third-party app: There are various third-party apps available that can help you uninstall stubborn apps, like AppCleaner or Revo Uninstaller.
If none of these steps work, there may be an issue with your device that requires further troubleshooting. Contact your device manufacturer or a professional technician for assistance.
How do I delete preinstalled apps on my computer?
Deleting preinstalled apps on your computer can be a bit tricky as some of these apps may be necessary for your system to function properly. However, if you are confident that you do not require or want these apps on your computer, you can follow these steps:
1. Open the Start menu and search for “PowerShell”.
2. Right-click on the “Windows PowerShell” option and select “Run as administrator”.
3. Type the following command: Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers
4. This command will list all the installed apps on your computer. Find the name of the app you want to remove.
5. Use the following command to uninstall the app: Remove-AppxPackage
6. Replace “
7. Press Enter and wait for the process to complete.
It is important to note that removing preinstalled apps can potentially cause issues with your system, so it is recommended to create a system restore point before proceeding with this process. Additionally, you should only remove apps that you are absolutely sure you do not need as some of these apps may be required for system functions or updates.
Why is an application locked on my Mac?
There could be several reasons why an application might be locked or unresponsive on your Mac. Some common causes include:
1. The application is performing a lengthy task: If the application is running a long task, it could be unresponsive for a while. This may happen particularly for applications that require a lot of resources or have a lot of data to process.
2. Insufficient memory: If your Mac’s RAM is insufficient, then apps may be slow, unresponsive, and freeze. You can try closing other applications, restarting the app, or ultimately restart your Mac.
3. Outdated or incompatible software: If your application is out of date or not compatible with your current operating system, it may become slow or unstable. Check the developer’s website for any known issues, or if there is an updated version available.
4. Hardware issues: Sometimes, hardware problems can cause applications to freeze or become unresponsive. In such cases, you may need to seek the help of a technician who can help diagnose and fix the problem.
In conclusion, An application can be locked on a Mac for various reasons, including lengthy tasks, insufficient memory, outdated or incompatible software, or hardware issues. By identifying the problem in each of the above causes, you can troubleshoot the app and get it running again.