How To Uninstall Photoshop On Mac (Complete Guide)

author avatarTodor Pichurov Hours Posted on Hours Updated on

Before we dive in

Trying to uninstall an app completely? SpyHunter for Mac includes an App Uninstaller that removes unwanted apps and their leftover files in just a few clicks.

Avoid clutter and save time — download SpyHunter right here and follow the steps to clean up your system.

Download SpyHunter

Looking to uninstall Adobe Photoshop from your Mac? Whether you’re clearing up space, experiencing technical issues, or transitioning to a different photo editing software, this guide will walk you through the process step-by-step.

Approaching the uninstall of similar hefty apps of this kind requires the right approach that will ensure no residual files are left on your Mac.

This Article Contains:

Common reasons to uninstall Photoshop on Mac

The reasons informing the decision to uninstall Photoshop range from needing to free up space on your computer, transitioning to alternative software that better meets your needs, or no longer finding the need for Photoshop’s tools for their projects.

  • Cost Concerns: The continuous subscription model of Adobe’s Creative Cloud can become a significant expense. Some users prefer a one-time purchase of software, making alternatives more attractive.
  • Space Optimization: Photoshop is known for its large file size. Users needing extra space may choose to uninstall it.
  • Switching to Alternatives: With the availability of numerous other photo editing applications offering similar functionalities at a lesser cost or for free, users might opt for these alternatives.
  • Usability and Complexity: Photoshop’s comprehensive feature set, designed for professional use, can be overwhelming for beginners or those with modest editing needs. This complexity drives some users towards simpler, more user-friendly options.
uninstall adobe photoshop cc on mac

Whether it’s due to financial considerations, seeking a more straightforward editing tool, or simply to reclaim disk space, a full installation of the software and its additional files will ensure your Mac performs well and drive space is reclaimed.

Completely uninstall Photoshop on Mac using SpyHunter

To uninstall Photoshop from your system completely and without issue, you can rely on SpyHunter and its App Uninstaller to automate and simplify the process.

Here is a concise step-by-step guide on using SpyHunter to completely uninstall Photoshop:

  1. Download SpyHunter and follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
  2. Open SpyHunter and navigate to the App Uninstaller tab. This will initiate an automated process that lists all the apps installed on your Mac along with their associated directories and files.
  3. Scroll through the list to find Photoshop. Select it and ensure that all items under Related Files are also selected.
completely uninstall photoshop from mac using spyhunter
  1. Complete the uninstall process by clicking the Remove Selected button in the bottom right corner of the window.
  2. After SpyHunter has successfully removed Photoshop and all associated files, restart your Mac to complete the uninstall process.
spyhunter can completely delete photoshop

SpyHunter’s App Uninstaller can save you time by automating the removal process and managing all leftover files automatically. This eliminates the need for manually locating those directories and files, allowing you to focus on other tasks.

Step-by-step guide to manually uninstall Photoshop from Mac

Removing Adobe Photoshop from your Mac may seem straightforward, but ensuring a clean uninstallation that leaves no leftover files requires a bit more attention.

Step 1: Quit Photoshop

Ensure Photoshop is not running in the background before uninstalling it. You can close the application several different ways.

Right-click the Photoshop icon in your Dock and select Quit from the menu.

quit photoshop cc from dock

Alternatively, click Photoshop in your Mac’s top menu and choose Quit Photoshop from the dropdown menu.

quit photoshop cc from menu

If Photoshop is not responding or the previous two methods don’t work properly, open Activity Monitor from the Utilities section in Finder.

Search for any processes containing the word “Photoshop” in the Activity Monitor window. Select these processes and click the [X] button above to close them. In the confirmation dialog, click Force Quit to finalize.

force quit photoshop cc from activity monitor

Step 2: Delete Photoshop from the Applications folder

Next, remove Photoshop from your Applications folder. Use Finder to navigate to the Applications folder and locate Photoshop.

delete the photoshop app

Drag the Photoshop icon to the Trash, or right-click the icon and select Move to Trash from the pop-up menu. Both actions achieve the same result. Then, empty your Trash to remove the application.

Step 3: Remove leftover files related to Photoshop

After deleting the application, you should remove its supporting files to prevent clutter on your drive.

  1. Press Command + Shift + G or click Go > Go to Folder from the menu bar.
  2. Type in ~/Library/ in the search bar and press Return to access the Library folder, where most support files are stored.
  3. Look for and delete folders and files related to Photoshop in the following paths:
    • ~/Library/Application Support
    • ~/Library/LaunchAgents
    • ~/Library/LaunchDaemons
    • ~/Library/Preferences
    • ~/Library/PrivilegedHelperTools
  4. For all files and folders you find, right-click and select Move to Trash.
  5. Empty your Trash to permanently delete them and complete the uninstallation process.
delete files and folders related to photoshop

During this step, be careful and make sure you do not delete files that may belong to other apps, as this could impact those applications and your overall system’s stability.

Use Adobe Creative Cloud to uninstall Photoshop

If you installed Photoshop through the Adobe Creative Cloud app, using its built-in uninstallation feature is a simpler way to remove the software. Here’s how you can do it:

  1. Launch Adobe Creative Cloud.
  2. In the Creative Cloud app, navigate to the Apps tab. You should see a list of installed Adobe applications.
  3. Find Photoshop in the main window. Next to it, there will be a button represented by three dots. Click this button and then click Uninstall.
  4. You will be prompted to confirm if you want to delete Photoshop’s preferences and other associated files. Choose Remove to proceed with the uninstallation.
uninstall photoshop using the adobe creative cloud uninstaller

Using Adobe Creative Cloud for uninstallation is straightforward and minimizes the risk of leftover files.

It seamlessly integrates with your existing Adobe suite, making it an efficient option for those who have multiple Adobe applications installed.

Conclusion

Thoroughly uninstalling Photoshop from your Mac is crucial for maintaining an optimized and clutter-free system.

By ensuring that all related files and directories are removed, you enhance your Mac’s performance and stability. Regularly cleaning up leftover files from uninstalled applications not only frees up space but also helps in keeping your system running smoothly and efficiently.

If you are parting ways with Adobe products entirely, you can also look into our article on how to uninstall Creative Cloud from your Mac.

For general information about uninstalling any app from your Mac, we have a guide packed with useful information on this topic as well.

Share this post on your favorite social media
author avatar

Todor has over a decade of experience in creating content about cybersecurity. He specializes in making complex security topics understandable for all. As part of the SpyHunter team, Todor uses his expertise to educate users, empowering them to better understand and manage their digital environments securely and efficiently.

Keep Your Mac Fast and Secure
Optimize your Mac and stay malware-free with SpyHunter
Download SpyHunter For Free

For a better understanding of our policies, please review our Free Trial Offer below, EULA, and Privacy/Cookie Policy.

SpyHunter Free Trial: Important Terms & Conditions

The SpyHunter Trial version includes, for one device, a one-time 7-day Trial period for SpyHunter 5 Pro (Windows) or SpyHunter for Mac, offering comprehensive malware detection and removal functionality, high-performance guards to actively protect your system from malware threats, and access to our technical support team via the SpyHunter HelpDesk. You will not be charged upfront during the Trial period, although a credit card is required to activate the Trial. (Prepaid credit cards, debit cards, and gift cards are not accepted under this offer.) The requirement for your payment method is to help ensure continuous, uninterrupted security protection during your transition from a Trial to a paid subscription should you decide to purchase. Your payment method will not be charged a payment amount upfront during the Trial, although authorization requests may be sent to your financial institution to verify that your payment method is valid (such authorization submissions are not requests for charges or fees by EnigmaSoft but, depending upon your payment method and/or your financial institution, may reflect on your account availability). You can cancel your Trial by contacting EnigmaSoft’s payment processor (identified in your confirmation email) or EnigmaSoft directly no later than two business days before the 7-day Trial period expires to avoid a charge coming due and being processed immediately after your Trial expires. If you decide to cancel during your Trial, you will immediately lose access to SpyHunter. If, for any reason, you believe a charge was processed that you did not wish to make (which could occur based on system administration, for example), you may also cancel and receive a full refund for the charge any time within 30 days of the date of the purchase charge. See FAQs.

At the end of the Trial, you will be billed upfront immediately at the price and for the subscription period as set forth in the offering materials and registration/purchase page terms (which are incorporated herein by reference; pricing may vary by country per purchase page details) if you have not timely canceled. Pricing typically starts at $72 for 3 months (SpyHunter Pro Windows) and $42 for 3 months (SpyHunter for Mac). Your purchased subscription will be automatically renewed in accordance with the registration/purchase page terms, which provide for automatic renewals at the then applicable standard subscription fee in effect at the time of your original purchase and for the same subscription time period, provided you’re a continuous, uninterrupted subscription user. Please see the purchase page for details. Trial subject to these Terms, your agreement to EULA/TOS, Privacy/Cookie Policy, and Discount Terms. If you wish to uninstall SpyHunter, learn how.

For payment on the automatic renewal of your subscription, an email reminder will be sent to the email address you provided when you registered before your next payment date. At the onset of your trial, you will receive an activation code that is limited to use for only one Trial and for only one device per account. Your subscription will automatically renew at the price and for the subscription period in accordance with the offering materials and registration/purchase page terms (which are incorporated herein by reference; pricing may vary by country per purchase page details), provided that you are a continuous, uninterrupted subscription user. For paid subscription users, if you cancel, you will continue to have access to your product(s) until the end of your paid subscription period. If you wish to receive a refund for your then current subscription period, you must cancel and apply for a refund within 30 days of your most recent purchase, and you will immediately stop receiving full functionality when your refund is processed.

For CALIFORNIA CONSUMERS, please see the notice provisions:
NOTICE TO CALIFORNIA CONSUMERS: Per the California Automatic Renewal Law, you may cancel a subscription as follows:

  1. Go to www.enigmasoftware.com and click the "Login" button at the top right corner.
  2. Log in with your username and password.
  3. In the navigation menu, go to "Order/Licenses." Next to your order/license, a button is available to cancel your subscription if applicable. Note: If you have multiple orders/products, you will need to cancel them on an individual basis.

Should you have any questions or problems, you can contact our EnigmaSoft support team by phone at +1 (888) 360-0646 (USA Toll-Free) / +353 76 680 3523 (Ireland/International) or by email at support@enigmasoftware.com.
How do you cancel a SpyHunter Trial? If your SpyHunter Trial was registered via MyCommerce, you can cancel the trial via MyCommerce by logging into the MyAccount section of MyCommerce (see your confirmation email for further details). You can also contact MyCommerce by phone or email to cancel. To contact MyCommerce via phone, you can call +1-800-406-4966 (USA Toll-Free) or +1-952-646-5022 (24x7x356). You can contact MyCommerce by e-mail at ordersupport@mycommerce.com. You can easily identify if your trial was registered via MyCommerce by checking the confirmation emails that were sent to you upon registration. Alternatively, all users may also contact EnigmaSoft Limited directly. Users can contact our technical support team by emailing support@enigmasoftware.com, opening a ticket in the SpyHunter HelpDesk, or calling +1 (888) 360-0646 (USA) / +353 76 680 3523 (Ireland/International). You can access the SpyHunter HelpDesk from SpyHunter's main screen. To open a support ticket, click on the "HelpDesk" icon. In the window that appears, click the "New Ticket" tab. Fill out the form and click the "Submit" button. If you are unsure of what "Problem Type" to select, please choose the "General Questions" option. Our support agents will promptly process your request and respond to you.

———

SpyHunter Purchase Details
You also have the choice of subscribing to SpyHunter immediately for full functionality, including malware removal and access to our support department via our HelpDesk, typically starting at $42 for 3 months (SpyHunter Basic Windows) and $42 for 3 months (SpyHunter for Mac) in accordance with the offering materials and registration/purchase page terms (which are incorporated herein by reference; pricing may vary by country per purchase page details). Your subscription will automatically renew at the then applicable standard subscription fee in effect at the time of your original purchase subscription and for the same subscription time period, provided you’re a continuous, uninterrupted subscription user and for which you will receive a notice of upcoming charges before the expiration of your subscription. Purchase of SpyHunter is subject to the terms and conditions on the purchase page, EULA/TOS, Privacy/Cookie Policy and Discount Terms.

———

General Terms
Any purchase for SpyHunter under a discounted price is valid for the offered discounted subscription term. After that, the then applicable standard pricing will apply for automatic renewals and/or future purchases. Pricing is subject to change, although we will notify you in advance of price changes.
All SpyHunter versions are subject to your agreeing to our EULA/TOS, Privacy/Cookie Policy, and Discount Terms. Please also see our FAQs and Threat Assessment Criteria. If you wish to uninstall SpyHunter, learn how.