I’m trying to free up some space on my Mac and need to delete the Epic Games Launcher. I’ve tried dragging it to the trash, but some files seem to linger. Can anyone guide me through the proper steps to fully remove it? Appreciate any advice!
To fully remove the Epic Games Launcher from your Mac, just dragging it to the trash usually isn’t enough. You’ve got to get rid of all the leftover files too. Here’s a step-by-step guide to make sure you’re not leaving any crumbs behind:
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Quit the Epic Games Launcher: Make sure to quit the app completely. You can do this by right-clicking the app icon in the dock and selecting “Quit.” If it’s being stubborn, you can force quit by pressing Command + Option + Esc to bring up the Force Quit Applications window, then select Epic Games Launcher and click “Force Quit.”
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Drag to Trash: Go to your Applications folder, find the Epic Games Launcher, and drag it to the Trash.
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Remove Associated Files: This is the part that often gets missed. These files can be in a few different places. Open Finder, then hit Command + Shift + G to bring up the Go to Folder dialog. Enter each of these paths one by one to check for any leftovers:
~/Library/Application Support/Epic~/Library/Caches/com.epicgames.EpicGamesLauncher~/Library/Preferences/com.epicgames.EpicGamesLauncher.plist~/Library/Logs/EpicGamesLauncher
Delete any folders or files related to Epic Games you find in these locations.
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Empty Trash: Finally, make sure you empty your Trash to completely remove all the files.
An alternative method, if you’re not comfortable messing around in the Library folder, is to use an app cleaner like AppCleaner (it’s free). It specifically looks for all the little files that apps scatter around your system and removes them for you. Just drag the Epic Games Launcher into AppCleaner and it’ll show you everything that’s going to be removed.
Honestly, if you’ve buried yourself in too many games and apps, a regular cleanup with a tool like AppCleaner isn’t a bad idea. Could help you avoid the same hassle in the future.
So, no more lingering remnants of the Launcher cluttering your Mac! Hope it helps.
Why bother with all that manual hassle when it’s bound to leave remnants anyway? Dragging stuff to the Trash is primitive. First off, those paths @codecrafter mentioned might not even cover all the junk Epic leaves behind. There’s always something lurking!
Using AppCleaner is a no-brainer. It gets the job done without diving into System folders and dealing with hidden files. But if you want a more polished job, try CleanMyMac X. Yeah, it’s not free like AppCleaner, but it gives you a more comprehensive cleanup and tons of other features to optimize your Mac. Of course, neither of these apps is perfect. They sometimes miss files too, but they definitely beat doing it manually.
Also, consider decluttering regularly. These launchers and games are space hogs. You’d might offload some stuff to an external drive or cloud storage. Prevents your Mac from becoming a landfill.
I agree with @techchizkid and @codecrafter that dragging Epic Games Launcher to the Trash won’t rid your Mac of all the leftover files. Manually seeking out every file is a pain and can still leave traces. However, I think there’s a more streamlined way to handle this, especially if you’re not comfortable digging around in the System folders.
First, be sure you’ve quit the Epic Games Launcher completely, as both have mentioned. You can also open Activity Monitor (just search for it in Spotlight) and forcibly quit any related processes if necessary. This ensures no files are in use while you’re trying to delete them.
Now, let’s talk about utilizing Terminal for deletion. It’s a bit more technical, but it’s pretty effective if you follow the steps carefully:
- Open Terminal: You can find Terminal in Applications > Utilities.
- **List Applications:
Use the commandls /Applications` to list all applications and make sure Epic Games Launcher is listed. - Delete the app: Use the command
sudo rm -rf /Applications/Epic\ Games\ Launcher.app. This removes the application more thoroughly than dragging to Trash. - Navigate Directories: You’ll use
cd(change directory) andls(list files) to locate leftover files. For example:cd ~/Library/Application\ Support/lsto see the list of folders there and identify anything related to Epic Games and delete it usingsudo rm -rf FolderName
- Check the following directories as well: Execute the following commands one by one:
cd ~/Library/Caches/sudo rm -rf com.epicgames.EpicGamesLaunchercd ~/Library/Preferences/sudo rm -rf com.epicgames.EpicGamesLauncher.plistcd ~/Library/Logs/sudo rm -rf EpicGamesLauncher
Mind you, typing commands directly into Terminal requires precision. Mispelled commands or incorrect paths might lead to unintended consequences, so double-check what you’re typing.
Despite this hands-on approach, there’s no denying the convenience of apps like AppCleaner or CleanMyMac X which streamline the removal process. They aren’t foolproof but make it less tedious to remove apps and their hidden files. Another option worth mentioning is the CleanMyMac X, though it comes at a cost. This application not only removes apps but also performs system cleanups which might free up even more space.
One tweak to ensure you don’t miss a file: after uninstalling the app using AppCleaner, run a secondary manual check as per the paths given by @codecrafter. It can catch those sneaky remnants AppCleaner might have missed.
And let’s not overlook a good practice for preventing future space issues—regular maintenance. This can go a long way. Once every few months, go through your Applications folder, and documents, frequently-used directories, and delete what you’ve outgrown. Moving some files and games you rarely use to an external drive can open up much-needed space.
A word on decluttering: hitting a minimal setup could boost your Mac’s performance. Especially if you’re into gaming, consider using an external SSD. Some games run well on an external SSD and it’ll keep your internal drive from looking like a junkyard.
In summary:
- Option 1: Terminal—thorough but technical.
- Option 2: Use an app remover like AppCleaner, then manually check leftovers.
- Option 3: CleanMyMac X for a more comprehensive cleanse, albeit at a price.
Hope this helps clear out any digital cobwebs in your Mac!