WhatsApp is a popular messaging app that allows you to send messages, photos, videos and more to friends and family for free. The app is available for iOS, Android, and desktop operating systems like Windows and macOS. If you’ve decided you no longer want WhatsApp on your Mac, uninstalling it completely is simple. Here’s how to fully remove WhatsApp and all of its data from your Mac.
Why Would You Want to Remove WhatsApp from Your Mac?
There are a few reasons you may want to uninstall WhatsApp from your Mac:
- You don’t use WhatsApp anymore and want to free up space on your Mac
- You’re upgrading to a new Mac and don’t need WhatsApp transferred over
- You want to do a clean install of macOS and remove any unnecessary apps
- You have privacy concerns and want to remove WhatsApp and your data from the device
Regardless of your reason, removing WhatsApp from your Mac completely is a straightforward process. Here are the steps to fully delete the app and all associated files.
How to Completely Uninstall WhatsApp on Mac
Follow these steps to thoroughly remove WhatsApp from your Mac:
- Quit WhatsApp if it’s currently running. Click the WhatsApp menu bar icon and select Quit.
- Open Finder and go to the Applications folder. Find WhatsApp and drag it to the Trash.
- Open the Trash folder and right-click on WhatsApp. Select Delete Immediately.
- Press Shift+Command+G to open the Go to Folder dialog box. Type in ~/Library and press Go to open your user Library folder.
- Go to Application Support > WhatsApp and move the WhatsApp folder to the Trash.
- Go to Caches and move the WhatsApp folder in Caches to the Trash.
- Go to Preferences and move com.whatsapp.WhatsApp.plist to the Trash.
- Go to Containers > com.whatsapp.WhatsApp and move the entire WhatsApp container folder to the Trash.
- Empty the Trash to completely delete all WhatsApp files.
Following these steps will remove the WhatsApp app, related preferences, caches, databases, settings and all user data from your Mac. WhatsApp will be completely erased.
Alternative Ways to Remove WhatsApp on Mac
Here are a couple other methods you can use to uninstall WhatsApp on your Mac:
Use a Third-Party Uninstaller
You can use a dedicated uninstaller app to remove WhatsApp. Apps like Advanced Uninstaller Mac and AppCleaner will scan your Mac for all WhatsApp files and allow you to delete them in one go. This automates the process of finding and removing all traces of the app.
Use Terminal to Delete Files
If you’re comfortable using Terminal, you can use commands to locate and delete WhatsApp files. For example:
# Delete WhatsApp app sudo rm -rf /Applications/WhatsApp.app # Delete WhatsApp support files rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/WhatsApp rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/WhatsApp rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.whatsapp.WhatsApp.plist rm -rf ~/Library/Containers/com.whatsapp.WhatsApp
This removes all WhatsApp app files, cached data, databases, settings and configurations.
How to Reinstall WhatsApp on Your Mac
If you change your mind later on and want WhatsApp back on your Mac, reinstalling it is easy. Here’s how:
- Go to the WhatsApp Downloads page.
- Click Download for Mac to download the WhatsApp installer.
- Open your Downloads folder and double-click the WhatsApp .dmg file.
- In the window that opens, drag WhatsApp to the Applications folder icon to install.
- Once it copies over, you can launch WhatsApp from the Applications folder or Dock.
- When prompted, enter your phone number to verify your account and restore your conversations.
And that’s all there is to it! Within a few minutes you’ll have WhatsApp back up and running on your Mac.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does uninstalling WhatsApp also delete my messages?
Yes, removing WhatsApp from your Mac will also delete all your WhatsApp messages, photos, videos and chat history. Your account and data will remain on your phone, but all local copies on your Mac will be erased.
Can I uninstall WhatsApp without losing my messages?
Unfortunately there is no way to uninstall WhatsApp but keep your messages on your Mac. Your only option is to back up your WhatsApp data before uninstalling the app. You can then restore your messages if you reinstall WhatsApp later on.
What files does uninstalling delete?
Uninstalling WhatsApp removes the app itself, as well as all related files including preferences, caches, databases, settings, user data, attachments, media, and configuration files. Everything related to WhatsApp is deleted.
Does this also uninstall WhatsApp Business or WhatsApp Web?
No, uninstalling the main WhatsApp app does not remove WhatsApp Business or delete your WhatsApp Web sessions. These are considered separate apps and services, so you would need to uninstall them individually if desired.
Is there a shortcut to uninstall WhatsApp quickly?
Unfortunately there is no shortcut, hotkey or one-step method to instantly uninstall WhatsApp. You need to follow the steps outlined above to locate and delete all associated files from your user account and system folders.
Conclusion
Removing WhatsApp from your Mac is a straightforward process – simply delete the app, remove related files in your Library folder, empty the Trash and you’re done! Reinstalling WhatsApp is also easy if you change your mind later. Just remember that uninstalling will delete your local message history, so be sure to backup your chats if you want to keep them.