You’d think that deleting an application would be straightforward but sometimes it isn’t. You might find the following helpful:
In most cases an application places a small preferences file in the Preferences folder which is in your Library folder. (You must hold down the option key after clicking on the Finder’s Go menu to see your library folder. Apple hides the Library since users who aren’t careful about what they remove can cause trouble for themselves.) In addition to the preference file an application might also place a folder in the Application Support folder in your library for items like templates. A few programs will store additional information in the Shared folder which is inside the Users folder. And a very few programs will install items in the main Library.
Programs can be installed on the Mac by downloading them from Apple’s App Store, or by downloading them from other sites. If you download them from other sites they might be installed simply dragging the program into the Application folder or by running an installer program. Most programs that are downloaded from the App Store or dragged into the Applications folder can be deleted by dragging the application to the trash and, if desired, deleting the pref file from Preferences in your Library. These programs typically don’t leave behinds lots of files that take up lots of space. In general, a program that has an installer program is the one that installs files in multiple locations and many installers also have their own built in uninstaller. Years ago it became my habit to mark programs that came with an installer so if I later decided to remove the program I’d remember to check for an uninstaller. Today I use Apple’s tag feature for this.
I guess you didn’t expect to read a book when you asked your question 😁. You didn’t tell us what program(s) you suspect left lots of stuff behind so we can’t tell you exactly what to look for. You can do one of three things: 1) tell us so we know exactly what to tell you. 2) go online to the vendor’s website or do a search like “How do I delete xx” to find the answer yourself 3) open both Application Support folders (yours and the main library’s) and look for a folder either with the program name or the vendor’s name. Options 1 and 2 are your better bets.
