How To Remove Grammarly From Mac

How to Remove Grammarly from Mac – A Step‑by‑Step Guide

If you’ve decided to stop using Grammarly on your Mac, whether because you prefer native spell‑check, you’ve switched to a different writing tool, or you simply want to free up system resources, this guide will walk you through the entire removal process. Below you’ll find clear, numbered steps, explanations of what’s happening behind the scenes, and answers to common questions that often arise during the uninstallation. By following these instructions, you can confidently delete Grammarly from macOS without leaving residual files or browser extensions that could interfere with other applications.

Introduction

Removing Grammarly from a Mac is a straightforward task, but many users encounter unexpected hurdles because the application integrates deeply with the operating system and popular browsers. And the main keyword for this article is remove Grammarly from Mac, and related terms such as uninstall Grammarly, delete Grammarly Mac, and remove Grammarly extension will be woven naturally throughout the text. This article serves as a comprehensive resource for anyone looking to completely eradicate Grammarly from their machine while maintaining system stability.

Steps to Uninstall Grammarly

1. Quit Grammarly and Check for Running Processes

Before you can delete any application, you must ensure it is not actively running Most people skip this — try not to..

• Close the Grammarly window – Click the red “‑” button or the X in the top‑left corner of the Grammarly app.
• Force‑quit if necessary – Right‑click the Grammarly icon in the menu bar and select Quit. If it doesn’t respond, open Force Quit (Cmd+Shift+Esc), locate Grammarly in the list, and click Force Quit.

2. Remove the Grammarly Application Folder

The core application resides in the Applications folder.

1. Open Finder → Applications.
2. Locate the Grammarly folder (it may be named Grammarly or Grammarly Desktop).
3. Drag the folder to the Trash (or right‑click → Move to Trash).
4. Empty the Trash by right‑clicking the Trash icon and selecting Empty Trash.

Tip: If you encounter permission errors, you may need to get to the folder first. Click the lock icon in the Applications window, enter your macOS password, and try again.

3. Delete Grammarly‑Related Preference Files

Grammarly stores configuration data in hidden preference files. Removing these files prevents the app from re‑activating after a system restart.

• handle to ~/Library/Preferences (press Cmd+Shift+G, type ~/Library/Preferences, and hit Return).
• Look for files that contain grammarly in the name, such as:
  • com.grammarly.Desktop.plist
  • com.grammarly.mac.plist
  • Grammarly.plist
• Select each file and move it to the Trash, then empty the Trash.

4. Clear Browser Extensions

Grammarly installs extensions for Safari, Chrome, and Firefox. Each browser’s extension must be disabled and removed individually Surprisingly effective..

Safari

1. Open Safari → Preferences (or Safari → Preferences from the menu bar).
2. Click the Extensions tab.
3. Select Grammarly from the list and click the Uninstall button.
4. Close and reopen Safari to confirm removal.

Google Chrome

1. Click the three‑dot menu → More tools → Extensions.
2. Find Grammarly in the extensions list.
3. Turn off the toggle switch, then click Remove.
4. Confirm the removal when prompted.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Open the menu → Add-ons → Extensions.
2. Locate Grammarly and click Remove next to it.
3. Click Uninstall on the confirmation dialog.

5. Delete Grammarly’s Launch Agents (Optional but Recommended)

If you want to ensure Grammarly does not automatically start with macOS, you can remove its launch agents.

• Open Terminal (found in Utilities or via Spotlight).
• Run the following commands one by one:

sudo launchctl unload /Library/LaunchAgents/com.grammarly.Desktop.plist
sudo launchctl remove com.grammarly.Desktop
sudo rm /Library/LaunchAgents/com.grammarly.Desktop.plist

• Repeat for any other agents you may have discovered (e.g., com.grammarly.mac).

6. Restart Your Mac

A final restart helps clear any lingering processes and ensures the system starts fresh without Grammarly components Easy to understand, harder to ignore..

• Click the Apple menu → Restart.

After the restart, open any text editor or browser to verify that Grammarly prompts, suggestions, or the Grammarly toolbar are no longer present The details matter here..

Scientific Explanation – How Grammarly Integrates with macOS

Understanding the integration helps explain why each removal step is necessary. Grammarly operates as a native macOS application that communicates with the operating system through LaunchAgents—a macOS mechanism for background services. It also injects code into web browsers via browser extensions, allowing real‑time grammar checking across multiple platforms Simple as that..

Quick note before moving on.

When Grammarly is installed, it creates several types of files:

• Application bundle – Contains executable files, resources, and a package identifier.
• Preference files – Store user settings, API keys, and activation status.
• LaunchAgent plist files – Instruct macOS to start Grammarly at login and keep it running in the background.
• Browser extensions – JavaScript files that modify web page content and send text to Grammarly’s servers.

If any of these components remain after a simple drag‑to‑Trash, the application can still launch, update, or appear as an active extension, leading to confusion and wasted system resources. The step‑by‑step guide above targets each component, ensuring a clean removal.

FAQ

Q: Will removing Grammarly delete my Grammarly account?
A: No. Uninstalling the desktop app or browser extension does not affect your online Grammarly account. Your premium subscription, team licenses, or saved preferences remain accessible at app.grammarly.com.

Q: What if Grammarly reappears after restart?
A: This usually means a residual file—such as a leftover preference plist or a launch agent—was not removed. Run the steps again, double‑check the ~/Library/Preferences folder, and verify that no Grammarly entries remain in System Preferences → Users & Groups → Login Items.

Q: Can I keep the Grammarly browser extension while removing the desktop app?
A: Yes. If you only want to keep the online editor, you can skip steps 1‑3 and 5, but you must still disable the extension in each browser (step 4). This prevents the desktop app from syncing with the browser extension.

Q: Do I need to uninstall Grammarly from iCloud or other cloud services?
A: Grammarly does not store installation data in iCloud. Still, if you use Grammarly’s Enterprise or Team plan, the IT administrator may have deployed the app via a mobile device management (MDM

profile, which can reinstall the app automatically after a standard uninstall. Practically speaking, in such cases, the removal process must include de‑provisioning the MDM profile or requesting the administrator to delete the device’s enrollment. After the profile is removed, run the methodical procedure again, paying special attention to the LaunchAgents directory and the Preferences folder, to guarantee that no residual components survive Most people skip this — try not to..

To confirm that Grammarly is truly gone, open Activity Monitor and look for any lingering processes bearing the name “Grammarly”. Additionally, inspect the ~/Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons directories for plist files that reference Grammarly; delete any that are no longer needed. Finally, clear the Safari and Chrome caches, as well as the system‑wide cache folders, to eliminate any stored script data that the extension may have left behind.

By systematically removing the application bundle, its preference files, launch agents, browser extensions, and any MDM‑deployed components, you eliminate both the visible interface and the background services that could resurrect the software. Still, this thorough approach frees up disk space, reduces CPU load, and prevents accidental re‑activation of Grammarly after a reboot. Keep this checklist handy whenever you need to perform a clean uninstall, and you’ll always enjoy a clutter‑free macOS environment.