What's the best way to remove Google Chrome on a Mac?

Mac
1

I recently switched to a different browser and no longer need Google Chrome. I’m not sure how to completely uninstall it from my Mac including all the leftover files. Can someone guide me through the process, please? Any help would be appreciated.

2

The best way to completely remove Google Chrome from your Mac, including all the leftover files, is to follow these steps:

  1. Quit Google Chrome – If Chrome is running, make sure to close it completely. You can do this by right-clicking the Chrome icon in the Dock and selecting ‘Quit,’ or pressing Cmd + Q if Chrome is the active window.

  2. Remove Chrome from Applications:

    • Go to the Finder and open the ‘Applications’ folder.
    • Find Google Chrome in the Applications folder.
    • Drag Google Chrome to the Trash (or right-click and choose ‘Move to Trash’).

  3. Delete Google Chrome Profile Data:

    • Open Finder and press Cmd + Shift + G to open the ‘Go to Folder’ window.
    • Enter ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome and hit Enter.
    • Delete the entire ‘Chrome’ folder by moving it to the Trash. This will remove all the user data related to Chrome, like bookmarks, history, passwords, etc.

  4. Remove Additional Chrome Files:

    • Open Finder again and press Cmd + Shift + G.
    • Go to the following directories one by one and delete any Chrome-related files or folders:
      • ~/Library/Caches/Google/Chrome
      • ~/Library/Preferences/com.google.Chrome.plist
      • ~/Library/Preferences/com.google.Keystone.Agent.plist
      • ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome
      • ~/Library/Google/GoogleSoftwareUpdate
      • In these directories, look for anything labeled ‘Chrome’, ‘Google’, and ‘Keystone’ and drag them to the Trash.

  5. Empty Trash:

    • After moving all these files and folders to the Trash, right-click on the Trash icon in the Dock and select ‘Empty Trash’. This will permanently delete all the files you removed.

  6. Restart Your Mac (Optional):

    • Sometimes, a restart can ensure that all system processes linked to the removed application are completely terminated.

Extra Cleanup Steps for Advanced Users:

If you want to ensure that no remnants are left:

  • Terminal Cleanup:

    • Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal).
    • Execute these commands to remove any hidden files or directories:
      rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Chromium
rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Google/Chrome
rm -rf ~/Library/Google/GoogleSoftwareUpdate

  • Browser Extensions and Plugins:

    • If you’ve installed Chrome plugins that work outside the browser (which is rare but possible), visit ~/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/ and delete any related files.

Using Third-Party Uninstallers:

  • If you prefer a more automated approach or want to double-check for leftover files, you can consider third-party uninstaller apps like AppCleaner or CleanMyMac. These tools can scan for and remove associated files efficiently.

Keeping your system tidy helps in avoiding unnecessary clutter, potential performance issues, or conflicts with other software. So, making sure every bit related to an uninstalled app is taken care of can give you peace of mind.

Hope this helps!

3

Hey, I’ve dealt with uninstalling Chrome on a Mac as well, and I can verify that what @byteguru has detailed is pretty comprehensive. However, I think there are a few other points worth mentioning, especially if you’re someone who prefers a cleaner and possibly less tedious approach.

First off, while manual deletion is thorough, it’s also easy to miss something or delete the wrong file if you’re not careful. That’s why I’d suggest exploring an automated method if you want to save time and double-check for any missed leftovers.

Consider AppCleaner: This is a free and straightforward application that can do most of the work for you. You just drag and drop Chrome into AppCleaner, and it searches for all related files for you to delete. It’s hassle-free and pretty reliable.

Also, sometimes digging into system files can be risky. If you’re a beginner, it’s easy to mess up or delete something you might not have meant to. AppCleaner handles that risk, plus it’s lightweight and doesn’t bog down your system.

Browser Extensions and Plugins: Some Chrome extensions or plugins might install supplementary software that won’t be deleted by simply removing Chrome. While @byteguru mentioned checking ~/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/, you might also want to keep a watchful eye on the ~/Library/Application Support/ folder for rebellious files from extensions. Another sneaky place Chrome likes to leave junk is in the ~/Library/Containers/ folder, particularly if you’ve used it to install web apps.

Alternate Command Line Cleanup: If you are comfortable with using Terminal but want a different set of commands, here’s another list you could use:

rm -rf /Applications/Google\ Chrome.app
rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Google/Chrome
rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/com.google.Chrome
rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.google.Chrome.plist
rm -rf ~/Library/Saved\ Application\ State/com.google.Chrome.savedState

Finally, a word of caution: Always double-check what you’re deleting, especially when using Terminal. Mistakenly removing system files or folders could have repercussions you might not anticipate. If you’re not too tech-savvy, considering a tool like CleanMyMac might be beneficial even if it costs a few bucks. It’s a small price for peace of mind.

All these hints considered, the most critical part is to ensure your system isn’t cluttered with remnants after uninstallation. This helps keep your Mac running smoothly. So, whether you go the manual route or use an app, just make sure to be thorough.

4

Why go through all this hassle? Seriously, spending all this time manually deleting files—ugh. Sure, you wanna be thorough and make sure there’s no leftover junk, but THIS much detail?

Instead, just use AppCleaner or CleanMyMac. I’ve used both, and they are pretty straightforward—drag, drop, done. Saves you from the risk of deleting the wrong files, especially since some of those system directories can get messy. Plus, who really wants to poke around ~/Library and delete stuff manually? One wrong move and you could mess up your system.

And don’t get me started on using Terminal unless you’re comfortable with it. Risks are high, and a single typo? Boom, gone. CleanMyMac might cost a bit, but it ensures everything is cleared properly and safely. Compared to the headache of manually deleting Chrome-related files, the small expense is totally worth it.