Is AppCleaner for the mac good software

Is AppCleaner for the Mac Good Software?

MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on Oct 25, 2015 5:55 PM

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6 replies

Oct 25, 2015 6:29 PM in response to Allan_N

NO.


Everything you need to maintain your Mac properly (except a backup drive) was shipped in the box it came in.


Anything that "does stuff" to Apps from the outside is dangerous, and likely to cripple your Mac. If you want to remove an App, consult the vendor and use their approved method. Anything that needed an Installer to get Installed needs an Un-Installer to get removed.

Oct 25, 2015 8:51 PM in response to Allan_N

It's fine. AppCleaner 2 is just an application that is made to completely uninstall (including plists, etc) software should you decide to remove it.


I would use AppZapper or AppDelete as I consider those a bit 'safer' and more accurate about what to remove, but using one of these apps is fine.


MacCleanse and "cleaner" applications that recover storage are *not* particularly safe - especially if (a) they don't tell you exactly what they're removing and (b) you don't know what you're doing. Years ago I ran one and was amazed that I got back a whole 20GB of storage.. then I couldn't run a Mac OS update because files that one of those "cleaners" removed were critical for updates.

Oct 26, 2015 3:36 AM in response to ElPapa

ElPapa wrote:


It's fine. AppCleaner 2 is just an application that is made to completely uninstall (including plists, etc) software should you decide to remove it.


I would use AppZapper or AppDelete as I consider those a bit 'safer' and more accurate about what to remove, but using one of these apps is fine.


Any so called cleaning program to be effective would be required to remove all items for a gives application and do so for all applications and do it safely. Is that really possible, I have grave doubts. I agree with Grant Bennet-Alder, such applications should not be relied upon.


Ciao.

Oct 26, 2015 8:49 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

OGELTHORPE wrote:


ElPapa wrote:


It's fine. AppCleaner 2 is just an application that is made to completely uninstall (including plists, etc) software should you decide to remove it.


I would use AppZapper or AppDelete as I consider those a bit 'safer' and more accurate about what to remove, but using one of these apps is fine.


Any so called cleaning program to be effective would be required to remove all items for a gives application and do so for all applications and do it safely. Is that really possible, I have grave doubts. I agree with Grant Bennet-Alder, such applications should not be relied upon.


Ciao.


Fair statement.. except that I've taken the risk of using them, whereas you have not.


In the almost 10 years of using MacOS I've found AppZapper and AppDelete to be completely safe, they list very clearly what they're going to delete and they're always related to the application itself.


I will agree that Koingo apps like MacCleanse OTOH, should not be used.. they're too aggressive and can end up with you needing to reinstall your OS.

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Is AppCleaner for the mac good software

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