I have some old Applicaations on my mac that I cannot delete. If I use Command/Delete, nothing happens. If I move it to the Trash it simply makes an alias in the trash. I've tried using Clean My Mac. Won't delete them. What else can I try? Thanks much.
MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 14.3
I agree with the others on AppCleaner.
WARNING: If you use AppCleaner on an app that you have other apps from the same developer, like Adobe, you must be extremely careful checking all checkboxes and deleting. Some for those files may support other apps from the same developer and deleting them can mess them up. Adobe apps is a primary example. I know from experience. For singular apps from a developer it's safe.
However, I would uninstall CleanMyMac immediately according to the developer's instructions. It is considered to be akin to malware by most of the experienced contributors here. You can check to see if you've removed all of the supporting files by downloading and running the shareware app Find Any File to search for any files with the application's or the developer's name in the file name. For CMM software you'd do the following search(es):
1 - Name contains cleanmymac
2 - Name contains macpaw
Any files that are found can be dragged from the search results window to the Desktop or Trash bin in the Dock for deletion.
FAF can search areas that Spotlight can't like invisible folders, system folders and packages.
If you get warnings that the file can't be deleted because it is in use or used by another app boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and delete from there.
Note: if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode. This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will assure a successful boot into Safe Mode.
Then rerun Etrecheck to make sure there's no mention of cleanmymac or macpaw.
I agree with the others on AppCleaner.
WARNING: If you use AppCleaner on an app that you have other apps from the same developer, like Adobe, you must be extremely careful checking all checkboxes and deleting. Some for those files may support other apps from the same developer and deleting them can mess them up. Adobe apps is a primary example. I know from experience. For singular apps from a developer it's safe.
However, I would uninstall CleanMyMac immediately according to the developer's instructions. It is considered to be akin to malware by most of the experienced contributors here. You can check to see if you've removed all of the supporting files by downloading and running the shareware app Find Any File to search for any files with the application's or the developer's name in the file name. For CMM software you'd do the following search(es):
1 - Name contains cleanmymac
2 - Name contains macpaw
Any files that are found can be dragged from the search results window to the Desktop or Trash bin in the Dock for deletion.
FAF can search areas that Spotlight can't like invisible folders, system folders and packages.
If you get warnings that the file can't be deleted because it is in use or used by another app boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and delete from there.
Note: if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode. This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will assure a successful boot into Safe Mode.
Then rerun Etrecheck to make sure there's no mention of cleanmymac or macpaw.
I also like and use App Cleaner. If these are Apple installed apps, they cannot installed if they were installed with the Macs operating system.
Try App Cleaner & Uninstaller, which is my goto cleanup app…
https://nektony.com/mac-app-cleaner
Mac Cleaner Pro...
https://nektony.com/mac-cleaner-pro
These aren't Apple Apps are they?
Deleting MacBook Applications
