How Do I Remove Grammarly from My Mac – A Step‑by‑Step Guide
If you’ve decided to stop using Grammarly on your Mac, you might be looking for a clean way to uninstall the app and its associated browser extensions. Now, whether you want to free up system resources, switch to a different writing assistant, or simply clean up your applications folder, this guide walks you through every method to completely remove Grammarly from macOS. The process is straightforward, and following each step will ensure no leftover files or preferences remain behind Nothing fancy..
Introduction
Grammarly is a popular writing assistant that integrates with macOS as a standalone app and as extensions for Safari, Chrome, and other browsers. Now, this article explains how do i remove grammarly from my mac using three common approaches: the graphical method, the Launchpad method, and the Terminal method. Plus, removing Grammarly is a safe operation that doesn’t affect other applications, but it does require you to delete the main program, its preferences, and any browser extensions you installed. Over time, users may outgrow its features, encounter performance issues, or prefer a different tool. Each step is detailed so you can choose the option that feels most comfortable But it adds up..
Removing Grammarly via the Finder (Graphical Method)
The Finder is the most intuitive way to uninstall an application on macOS. Follow these steps:
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Open Finder and locate Grammarly
- Click the Finder icon in your Dock, or open a new Finder window.
- Go to Applications in the sidebar (you can also search “Grammarly” using the search bar at the top right).
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Drag Grammarly to the Trash
- Select the Grammarly app (it usually appears as “Grammarly” or “Grammarly Desktop”).
- Drag it to the Trash located in your Dock, or right‑click and choose Move to Trash.
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Empty the Trash
- Open the Trash folder, right‑click inside it, and select Empty Trash.
- Confirm the action. This permanently deletes the application files.
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Remove Grammarly Preferences
- Open System Preferences (or System Settings on newer macOS versions).
- Click Extensions (if you want to remove extensions) or General → Login Items (to prevent Grammarly from launching at startup).
- Locate Grammarly in the list, select it, and click the ‑ button to remove it.
- Also check Security & Privacy → Privacy → Accessibility; if Grammarly appears, remove its checkbox.
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Delete Browser Extensions
- Safari: Open Safari → Safari → Preferences → Extensions. Find Grammarly and click Uninstall.
- Google Chrome: Open Chrome → More tools → Extensions. Locate Grammarly and toggle the switch off, then click Remove.
- Mozilla Firefox: Open Firefox → Add-ons manager → Extensions. Find Grammarly and click Remove.
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Restart Your Mac
- After removing the app and extensions, restart your computer. This ensures any residual processes are terminated.
Using Launchpad to Uninstall Grammarly
If you prefer a visual method that groups all your apps, Launchpad can be used to delete Grammarly:
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Open Launchpad
- Click the Launchpad icon in the Dock, or swipe with four fingers on your trackpad (if enabled).
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Locate Grammarly
- Scroll through the pages or use the search bar at the top to type “Grammarly”.
- Press and hold the Grammarly icon until it starts jiggling (the edit mode).
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Delete the App
- Click the X icon that appears on the app’s corner.
- A confirmation dialog will appear; click Remove to confirm.
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Follow the Same Preference Cleanup Steps
- After removal, repeat the preference cleanup steps outlined in the graphical method (Extensions, Login Items, Accessibility).
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Restart
- Restart your Mac to finalize the uninstallation.
Advanced Removal Using Terminal
For users comfortable with command‑line tools, the Terminal offers a quick and thorough way to delete Grammarly and its associated files:
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Open Terminal
- Go to Applications → Utilities → Terminal, or use Spotlight (⌘ Space) and type “Terminal”.
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Run the Uninstall Script (if available)
- Grammarly sometimes provides a dedicated uninstaller. Check if there is a script in /Applications/Grammarly.app/Contents/Resources. Open Terminal and work through to that directory with
cd "/Applications/Grammarly.app/Contents/Resources". Look for a file nameduninstall.shor similar, then runbash uninstall.sh.
- Grammarly sometimes provides a dedicated uninstaller. Check if there is a script in /Applications/Grammarly.app/Contents/Resources. Open Terminal and work through to that directory with
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If No Script Exists, Use Finder‑Based Commands
- Run
sudo rm -rf "/Applications/Grammarly.app"to delete the main application. - Remove preferences with
sudo rm -rf "~/Library/Preferences/com.grammarly*.plist". - Delete any leftover caches:
sudo rm -rf "~/Library/Caches/com.grammarly*". - Remove browser extension data (example for Safari):
sudo rm -rf "~/Library/Safari/Extensions/Grammarly*". - For Chrome:
sudo rm -rf "~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Default/Extensions/*"(replace with the specific extension ID if known).
- Run
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Enter your administrator password when prompted.
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Verify Removal
- Open Finder → Applications and confirm Grammarly no longer appears.
- Check System Preferences → Extensions to ensure Grammarly is not listed.
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Restart
- A restart ensures any locked files are released.
Scientific Explanation: How macOS Stores Applications
Understanding the file structure helps explain why each removal step is important. Now, on macOS, applications are stored as bundles (a folder with an . So app extension) containing executable files, resources, and metadata. Preferences are usually saved in the user’s ~/Library/Preferences directory, while cache files reside in ~/Library/Caches. Because of that, browser extensions store their data separately within each browser’s library folder. But when an app is moved to Trash, only the bundle is removed; leftover preference files and caches can persist, potentially causing conflicts if you later reinstall Grammarly. Which means, clearing these files ensures a clean slate.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Will removing Grammarly affect my other productivity tools?
A: No. Grammarly is an independent application; removing it does not impact other software, unless you have integrated its API with third‑party services, which is rare Small thing, real impact..
Q: What if Grammarly still appears in my login items?
A: Open System Preferences → General → Login Items. Locate Grammarly, select it, and click the ‑ button. After that, restart your Mac Simple, but easy to overlook..
Q: Can I keep the Grammarly browser extension but remove the desktop app?
A: Yes. You can uninstall the desktop app using the methods above while leaving the extension active.
By following these steps, you make sure all traces of Grammarly are removed from your macOS system, preventing any potential conflicts or residual files from affecting your computer's performance or your future software choices. That's why the process highlights the importance of digital hygiene: simply dragging an application to the Trash is often insufficient for a complete uninstall. By addressing the bundled application file, user preferences, caches, and browser extensions, you achieve a truly clean removal.
This comprehensive approach not only frees up disk space but also guarantees that no background processes or configuration files remain active. Should you decide to reinstall Grammarly or use an alternative writing assistant in the future, starting from a clean state is the best practice to avoid any technical glitches.
We hope this guide has been helpful. If you encounter any issues or have further questions, feel free to reach out. Happy writing
Advanced Verification & Clean‑Up
Even after following the basic steps, occasional remnants can linger. The following checklist helps you confirm that Grammarly is truly gone and that your Mac is free of any hidden leftovers Most people skip this — try not to..
| Step | What to Do | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| **1. | Extensions may reinstall the desktop app or sync preferences automatically. Inspect Browser Extensions** | For each browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge), open its extension manager and confirm that the Grammarly extension is disabled or removed. plist<br>rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/com. |
| **6. | Prevents background services from re‑instantiating the app after a restart. | |
| 3. Clear Preference & Cache Folders | Run the commands in Terminal (press Cmd + Space, type Terminal, and press Return):<br>`rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.In real terms, | |
| 4. Practically speaking, if the installer runs without warnings or errors, the removal was successful. Plus, restart & Re‑Install Test | After the clean‑up, restart your Mac. But grammarly*<br>rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Grammarly*` |
These files can retain user data that might conflict with a future installation. And |
| **2. | Login items can auto‑launch the app before you even log in, bypassing manual uninstallation. grammarly*.If it does, remove it and restart. On the flip side, select any that appear and click the ‑ button to quit them. Use a Third‑Party Uninstaller (Optional)** | Tools such as AppCleaner or Uninstall can scan for all associated files, including hidden preferences and cache items. Think about it: check Activity Monitor** |
| 5. Then attempt to install Grammarly again (or install a different writing assistant). But verify Login Items | In System Settings → General → Login Items, ensure Grammarly does not appear. Run it on Grammarly and let it perform a deep clean. | A successful reinstall is the ultimate proof that no residual configuration is interfering. |
Common Issues & Quick Fixes
| Issue | Likely Cause | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Grammarly reappears after restart | A leftover preference file or login item is still present. | Run the Terminal commands above, then restart. |
| Performance slowdown after uninstall | Cache files from Grammarly are still occupying space. | Follow steps 1–4 in the verification checklist. Also, |
| Installer reports “already installed” | Hidden files in /Library/Application Support or /Library/Preferences. |
|
| Browser extension still active | The extension was not disabled in the specific browser. grammarly*`. |
Most guides skip this. Don't.
Final Checklist for a Clean Uninstall
- [ ] Application bundle moved to Trash.
- [ ] Preference files removed (
~/Library/Preferences/com.grammarly*.plist). - [ ] Cache and support folders cleared.
- [ ] Browser extensions disabled/removed.
- [ ] Login items purged.
- [ ] Background processes terminated via Activity Monitor.
- [ ] System restarted and verified with a fresh install test.
Conclusion
A thorough uninstallation goes far beyond dragging an icon to the Trash. Worth adding: with the steps outlined above, you can confidently bid farewell to Grammarly, confident that no digital footprints remain to haunt your Mac’s performance. Because of that, this meticulous approach not only frees up valuable disk space but also ensures a clean slate for any new productivity tools you may adopt. That said, by systematically removing the application bundle, its associated preference files, cache data, and browser extensions—and by double‑checking login items and background processes—you eliminate the risk of lingering conflicts that could affect future software installations. Happy writing—and may your future software experiences be smooth and trouble‑free!