Broken app can't be deleted

App wouldn't work, deleted it, brought it back from the trash can to try again, still wouldn't work, and now it won't let me delete it again.


I think part of the reason the app is so broken is because after I couldn't delete it, I tried going into the package content and deleting each file one by one, but it wouldn't let me do that to all of them. So now I have an incomplete file. If I redownload the app it gives me a version that I can delete, but the old one still won't go away or open or do anything.


It's so annoying to just have this stupid broken thing stuck on my desktop. How do I get rid of it already?! I don't want it there forever.

Posted on May 6, 2026 9:52 AM

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Posted on May 6, 2026 1:08 PM

if safe mode doesn't work, i think i would try temporarily disabling SIP.  Boot your Mac into recovery. once there open terminal by clicking on "utilities" in the menubar and choosing "terminal". then paste in "csrutil disable" without the quotes. enter your admin password if prompted. then restart the mac and try deleting the file. wether or not it works, make sure to re-enable SIP. boot into recovery again, reopen terminal and paste in "csrutil enable" without the quotes. enter your admin password if prompted and again restart the mac normally.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 6, 2026 1:08 PM in response to IAmARat

if safe mode doesn't work, i think i would try temporarily disabling SIP.  Boot your Mac into recovery. once there open terminal by clicking on "utilities" in the menubar and choosing "terminal". then paste in "csrutil disable" without the quotes. enter your admin password if prompted. then restart the mac and try deleting the file. wether or not it works, make sure to re-enable SIP. boot into recovery again, reopen terminal and paste in "csrutil enable" without the quotes. enter your admin password if prompted and again restart the mac normally.

Broken app can't be deleted

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