Application Uninstaller

The Application Uninstaller removes applications along with their related files: caches, preferences, application support data, logs, and saved states.

How It Works

The uninstaller matches an app against the built-in app registry (251 apps + 66 toolchains) and scans the filesystem for residual files using 30 evidence types, including the application's own metadata and well-known path patterns.

Orphan Detection

Apps that were already deleted (or partially deleted) leave remnants behind. The uninstaller scans for orphaned bundles and their related files, so remnants can be removed even when the app itself is gone.

App Assistant

Some apps bundle helper tools (e.g., macOS_Assistant, macOSHelper). When detected, the uninstaller asks whether the helper should be removed together with the app and collapses the choice into a single dialog.

Difficulty Rating

Each uninstall is rated by how thoroughly the app can be removed:

Level	Meaning
Critical	App has known difficult-to-remove components; manual review recommended
High	Significant residual risk
Medium	Standard removal
Low	Clean removal expected

The rating is stored in the app metadata and is shown alongside the uninstall button.

Confidence Tiers

Related files are grouped into tiers based on match strength:

• Excellent — direct matches from the registry
• Good — filename-based matches
• Unknown — location-based matches (user confirms)

Scan Modes

Mode	Behavior
Safe	Uses cached results when available; faster
Balanced	Always re-scans for current state

Drag & Drop

Drag an .app bundle (even one not in the registry) onto the drop zone. The uninstaller analyzes it and resolves all related paths.

Uninstall Steps

1. Confirmation dialog shows what will be removed
2. Apps are closed before uninstallation
3. Registry files are removed by category, with per-file error reporting
4. The user is prompted for the administrator password if elevated paths are involved
5. Remaining items are reported in the summary if any were skipped