🧹 How to Delete an App from Mac (Like Microsoft Edge)

So you installed an app — maybe it was Microsoft Edge, maybe something worse (hello crypto miners).

Now you want it gone — but just dragging it to Trash won’t cut it.

Here’s how to completely uninstall any stubborn app from your Mac — especially ones like Microsoft Edge that leave behind junk files and sneaky update services.

🧨 Why Deleting an App on Mac Isn’t Always Simple

Most people think:
🗑️ Drag app to Trash → Done.

But apps like Microsoft Edge, Zoom, Adobe stuff, and even Spotify leave behind:

• User caches
• Background update tools
• Login items
• Hidden files in your Library

If you want a clean uninstall, you’ve gotta go further.

🔧 Step-by-Step: How to Delete an App from Mac (Completely)

Let’s use Microsoft Edge as an example — but this works for any app.

🛑 Step 1: Quit the App First

Before you delete anything:

• Quit the app completely (Cmd + Q)
• Check Activity Monitor for background processes (like “edge” or “edge”)
• Quit those too

🧺 Step 2: Move the App to Trash

1. Go to Finder > Applications
2. Right-click the app (e.g. Microsoft Edge.app)
3. Select Move to Trash

But don’t stop here. You're only halfway.

🔍 Step 3: Delete Hidden Leftovers (The Real Cleanup)

Open Finder > Go > Go to Folder (Cmd + Shift + G), and search for leftovers:

~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft Edge
~/Library/Caches/Microsoft Edge
~/Library/Saved Application State/com.microsoft.edgemac.savedState
~/Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.edgemac.plist
~/Library/Logs/Microsoft Edge

❌ Delete each of those folders if they exist.

Pro move: Search "Microsoft" or "Edge" in Finder > This Mac and nuke stragglers.

🧽 Delete them manually. You’ll be surprised what’s still hanging around.

🚫 Step 4: (Optional) Delete Auto-Updaters

Some apps — like Microsoft Edge, Zoom, or Adobe — install update daemons that survive deletion.

For example, to delete Microsoft AutoUpdate:

• Go to: /Library/Application Support/Microsoft/MAU2.0/
• Delete Microsoft AutoUpdate.app

⚠️ Caution: If you use other Microsoft apps like Word, don’t remove AutoUpdate, or you’ll break their update process, unless you know what you’re doing.

✅ Step 5: Empty Trash & Restart

• Empty the Trash
• Restart your Mac
• Enjoy a cleaner system and a Bing-free existence 🙏

💡 Bonus Tip: Use AppCleaner for Easier Uninstalls

If manual cleanup feels too much, try AppCleaner:

1. Open AppCleaner
2. Drag any app (like Edge) into the window
3. It finds associated files — just click Remove

Still, we recommend double-checking ~/Library to make sure everything’s really gone.

🧾 TL;DR – How to Delete an App on Mac Like a Pro