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Removing/Uninstalling an application by Terminal ?

Hi all

Is there any way to completely remove or uninstall an application ".dmg/pkg" using Terminal ?

I've searched google and only had got removing Files, Folders, Pictures ...etc

Waiting help

Thanks

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Jun 3, 2010 3:10 PM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Jun 3, 2010 3:15 PM

Just locate the file/folder you wish to remove and enter:
rm -rf filename or foldername
Press RETURN

If the item is in a system owned folder then precede the above command with sudo:
sudo rm -rf filename or foldername
You will be prompted to enter your admin password which will not be echoed.

If you know where the item is located through the Finder or on the Desktop, then drag the item into the Terminal window immediately after "rm -rf ". Note there must be a space after "-rf".
9 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Jun 3, 2010 3:15 PM in response to sc0rioq8

Just locate the file/folder you wish to remove and enter:
rm -rf filename or foldername
Press RETURN

If the item is in a system owned folder then precede the above command with sudo:
sudo rm -rf filename or foldername
You will be prompted to enter your admin password which will not be echoed.

If you know where the item is located through the Finder or on the Desktop, then drag the item into the Terminal window immediately after "rm -rf ". Note there must be a space after "-rf".

Jun 3, 2010 11:56 PM in response to sc0rioq8

Hi

Thanks for the reply !

Actually, I know all of those commands, what i need to know exactly is :

Is there a specific command for uninstalling an application with all its contents such as [plists & Preference Panes]

If i use the sudo command it will not remove the contents & files of the application.

I need a command gives me the result just like the result given by (CleanApp,AppZapper,CleanMyMac)

Thanks in advance 🙂

Jun 4, 2010 1:19 PM in response to sc0rioq8

OK, I understand. I'm not aware of a terminal command to uninstall, and neither of the two related install commands have an uninstall parameter.

Most of the GUI programs must be running before any installation so they are able to record what the software installs or they look to the use of the .pkg receipts in /Library/Receipts/ for what a particular program installed, but that only works if the program's installer created a receipt. Otherwise they are simply looking for files in the several specific locations commonly used - Preferences and Applications Support folders.

If there is a terminal command to uninstall software it doesn't seem to appear as part of FreeBSD used in OS X. Perhaps there is a third-party implementation but I have no idea what that is or where it might be located.

Jun 9, 2010 4:46 AM in response to sc0rioq8

Not a direct answer, but to uninstall an app, what I find can be more effective -- if this is what is behind your question -- than the uninstaller programs like AppZapper etc., is to use EasyFind set to scan all files (including invisible). It looks everywhere for files. The only caution is to be sure to search using all possible names, in addition to the name itself, of the app, like the developer name or anything that might be associated. I'll usually catch everything that way. Only other caveat is to watch out for shared libraries or components in some of the more complicated apps. Obviously, you don't want to remove those.

Also, some apps come with uninstallers, which you can often find from a control click on the app>Show Package Contents, or from the original installer.

Freeware.

http://www.devon-technologies.com/products/freeware/

Jun 9, 2010 12:48 PM in response to sc0rioq8

See my note:

Uninstalling Software: The Basics

Most OS X applications are completely self-contained "packages" that can be uninstalled by simply dragging the application to the Trash. Applications may create preference files that are stored in the /Home/Library/Preferences/ folder. Although they do nothing once you delete the associated application, they do take up some disk space. If you want you can look for them in the above location and delete them, too.

Some applications may install an uninstaller program that can be used to remove the application. In some cases the uninstaller may be part of the application's installer, and is invoked by clicking on a Customize button that will appear during the install process.

Some applications may install components in the /Home/Library/Applications Support/ folder. You can also check there to see if the application has created a folder. You can also delete the folder that's in the Applications Support folder. Again, they don't do anything but take up disk space once the application is trashed.

Some applications may install a startupitem or a Log In item. Startupitems are usually installed in the /Library/StartupItems/ folder and less often in the /Home/Library/StartupItems/ folder. Log In Items are set in the Accounts preferences. Open System Preferences, click on the Accounts icon, then click on the LogIn Items tab. Locate the item in the list for the application you want to remove and click on the "-" button to delete it from the list.

Some software use startup daemons or agents that are a new feature of the OS. Look for them in /Library/LaunchAgents/ and /Library/LaunchDaemons/ or in /Home/Library/LaunchAgents/.

If an application installs any other files the best way to track them down is to do a Finder search using the application name or the developer name as the search term. Unfortunately Spotlight will not look in certain folders by default. You can modify Spotlight's behavior or use a third-party search utility, Easy Find, instead. Download Easy Find at VersionTracker or MacUpdate.

Some applications install a receipt in the /Library/Receipts/ folder. Usually with the same name as the program or the developer. The item generally has a ".pkg" extension. Be sure you also delete this item as some programs use it to determine if it's already installed.

There are also several shareware utilities that can uninstall applications:
AppZapper
CleanApp
Yank
SuperPop
Uninstaller
Spring Cleaning

Look for them at VersionTracker or MacUpdate.


For more information visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on removing software.

Removing/Uninstalling an application by Terminal ?

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