How to Delete Chrome from Mac
If you’ve decided to remove Google Chrome from your Mac, whether it’s due to a preference for another browser or because of issues with Chrome, it’s a straightforward process. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to delete Chrome from your Mac, ensuring that all traces of the browser are removed.
Step 1: Quit Chrome
Before you begin the deletion process, make sure that Google Chrome is not running. Click on the Chrome icon in the Dock, then select “Quit Chrome” from the menu that appears. If Chrome is not responding, you can force-quit the application by pressing Command + Option + Escape to open the Force Quit Applications window, selecting Chrome, and then clicking “Force Quit.”
Step 2: Uninstall Chrome
With Chrome closed, you can proceed to uninstall it. There are a couple of ways to do this:
1. Using the Applications Folder: Click on the Finder icon in the Dock, navigate to the “Applications” folder, and locate the Google Chrome application. Drag the Chrome icon to the Trash. You can also right-click on the Chrome icon and select “Move to Trash.”
2. Using Launchpad: If you have Launchpad enabled, you can open it by clicking the square icon in the Dock. Find Chrome in the grid, click and hold, and then drag it to the Trash icon at the bottom of the screen.
Step 3: Empty the Trash
After moving Chrome to the Trash, you need to empty it to completely remove the application from your Mac. To do this, click on the Trash icon in the Dock, then select “Empty Trash” from the menu that appears. You will be prompted to confirm this action.
Step 4: Remove Chrome from the Login Items
Chrome may still be listed as a Login Item, which means it will automatically open every time you start your Mac. To remove it from the Login Items:
1. Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen and select “System Preferences.”
2. Click on “Users & Groups” or “Accounts,” depending on your macOS version.
3. Click the lock icon to make changes, and enter your administrator password if prompted.
4. Select your user account and click on the “Login Items” tab.
5. Find Chrome in the list of applications and click the “-” button to remove it.
6. Click “OK” to save the changes.
Step 5: Delete Chrome Cache and Preferences
To ensure that all traces of Chrome are removed, you should also delete its cache and preferences files:
1. Open the Finder and press Command + Shift + G to open the Go to Folder dialog.
2. Type `~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome` and press Enter. This will take you to the Chrome application support folder.
3. Delete the entire “Chrome” folder.
4. Return to the Finder and press Command + Shift + G again.
5. Type `~/Library/Preferences` and press Enter. This will take you to the Preferences folder.
6. Delete any files related to Chrome, such as `com.google.Chrome.plist` or `com.google.Chrome.canary.plist`.
By following these steps, you should have successfully deleted Chrome from your Mac, along with all its settings and data.
