How to Uninstall Spotify on Mac Properly? Step-by-step Guide

how to uninstall Spotify on Mac

Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming services worldwide. Many Mac users download Spotify to enjoy their favorite songs and playlists. However, there may come a time when you want to uninstall Spotify from your Mac. Maybe you no longer use it, or you’re facing issues with the app and want to reinstall it. Whatever the reason, it’s important to know how to uninstall Spotify on Mac properly.

In this guide, you will become clear about the steps to remove Spotify completely from your Mac, including how to delete leftover files that can take up space.

Why Would You Probably Want to Uninstall Spotify?

spotify icon

Before we jump into the steps, let’s talk about why you might want to uninstall Spotify. There are a few common reasons:

  1. No longer using the app: Life changes, and so do our listening habits. If you find that you’re not using Spotify as much as you used to, keeping an app around that’s just taking up space on your computer might not make sense anymore.
  2. Freeing up storage: One of the most common reasons is space. Over time, Spotify can store a lot of cache files, especially if you download songs for offline listening. These files can take up valuable space on your Mac, and if you’re running low on storage, removing Spotify might free up some room.
  3. Fixing app issues: Sometimes, apps like Spotify can cause your Mac to slow down. If Spotify is crashing frequently or causing performance issues, uninstalling and reinstalling might be a good way to solve those problems.
  4. Switching to a different music service: With so many music streaming services available, you might decide to switch. Whether it’s Apple Music, YouTube Music, or another platform that offers better deals or features, there’s no reason to keep Spotify installed if you no longer use it.
  5. Privacy concerns: Some users are concerned about how much data Spotify collects about their listening habits. If privacy is important to you and you don’t feel comfortable with data tracking, uninstalling it might be your next step.

These are just a few daily reasons why you might decide to uninstall Spotify. Whether it’s about saving space, trying something new, or fixing technical issues, it’s a simple decision many users make when the app no longer fits their needs.

How to Uninstall Spotify on Mac?

Whatever your reason, let’s get started on how to properly uninstall Spotify from your Mac.

Step 1: Quit Spotify

Before you can uninstall Spotify, make sure the app isn’t running. Here’s how to check:

  1. Click on the Spotify icon in your dock or toolbar at the bottom of your screen.
  2. In the top-left corner, click Spotify in the menu bar.
  3. Select Quit Spotify from the dropdown menu.

If Spotify doesn’t close or you can’t access the menu, you can use Force Quit to close it:

  1. Press Command + Option + Escape on your keyboard.
  2. In the window that pops up, find Spotify in the list.
  3. Select it and click Force Quit.

Now that Spotify isn’t running, you can move on to the next step.

Step 2: Move Spotify to the Trash

The next step is to remove the Spotify application from your Applications folder. This part is easy and should only take a few seconds.

  1. Open Finder on your Mac.
  2. In the left sidebar, click Applications.
  3. Scroll through the list of apps until you find Spotify.
  4. Right-click on the Spotify app and select Move to Trash.

Alternatively, you can drag the Spotify app directly into the Trash. Once it’s in the Trash, Spotify is technically uninstalled, but there are still leftover files on your Mac that you’ll need to delete.

Step 3: Delete Spotify Leftover Files

Even after removing the Spotify app, some files remain hidden on your Mac. These files can take up space and sometimes cause issues if you reinstall Spotify in the future. To completely uninstall Spotify, you’ll need to remove these leftover files manually.

Here’s how:

  1. Open Finder and press Command + Shift + G to open the Go to Folder window.
  2. Type ~/Library/ and press Enter. This will take you to the hidden Library folder.
  3. Now, you need to find and delete all Spotify-related files. The most common locations are:

~/Library/Application Support/Spotify: This folder stores user data and app support files.

~/Library/Preferences/com.spotify.client.plist: This file contains Spotify preferences and settings.

~/Library/Caches/com.spotify.client: These are cached files created by Spotify.

For each of these locations, find the Spotify folder or files and drag them to the Trash. Once you’ve deleted all the leftover files, empty your Trash to remove Spotify from your Mac entirely.

Step 4: Empty the Trash

After dragging the Spotify app and its leftover files to the Trash, the final step is to empty the Trash to free up the storage space.

  1. Right-click on the Trash icon in your dock.
  2. Select Empty Trash from the dropdown menu.
  3. A prompt will appear asking if you’re sure. Click Empty Trash to confirm.

Now, Spotify is fully uninstalled from your Mac, and you’ve successfully removed all traces of it.

Step 5: Reinstalling Spotify (optional)

If the reason you uninstalled Spotify was to fix issues or give it a fresh start, you might want to reinstall it. Reinstalling Spotify on your Mac is simple:

  1. Go to the official Spotify website: https://www.spotify.com.
  2. Download the Spotify for Mac installation file.
  3. Open the downloaded file and drag the Spotify app into your Applications folder.

Now, open the app, log in, and you’re good to go with a fresh installation of Spotify! If you’re in a restricted region, using LightningX VPN will help ensure a smooth experience while accessing Spotify, bypassing any potential geo-restrictions.

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Additional Tips to Properly Uninstall Apps on Mac

While this guide focused on uninstalling Spotify, the steps are similar to removing other apps from your Mac. Here are a few extra tips:

  • Use third-party uninstallers: Apps like AppCleaner can help you automatically find and remove leftover files when uninstalling apps.
  • Clean your Mac regularly: It’s a good idea to go through your applications and delete any you no longer use to free up space and improve performance.
  • Check for leftover files often: Some apps, like Spotify, leave behind files that can accumulate over time. Manually checking the Library folder every now and then can help keep your Mac clutter-free.

Conclusion

Uninstalling Spotify from your Mac is a simple process, but to do it properly, you need to remove both the app and any leftover files. Following this step-by-step guide ensures that you free up space and remove Spotify completely. Whether you’re switching to a new music service, fixing an issue, or just cleaning up your Mac, this guide will help you do it the right way.

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