How To Remove Grammarly From Macbook

6 min read

How to Remove Grammarly from Your MacBook: A Step‑by‑Step Guide

If you’ve decided to stop using Grammarly on your MacBook—whether because you prefer native spell‑check, need to free up system resources, or simply want a clean desktop—you’re in the right place. This article walks you through every method to completely uninstall Grammarly, troubleshoot common issues, and ensure no residual files linger on your computer. By following the detailed steps below, you’ll be able to remove Grammarly safely and restore your MacBook to its original state.

Introduction

Gram Grammarly is a popular writing assistant that integrates with browsers, email clients, and even macOS’s system‑wide text services. But while its real‑time suggestions can be helpful, some users find it intrusive, resource‑heavy, or simply unnecessary. Removing Grammarly from a MacBook is straightforward, but it requires careful attention to both the application and its associated preferences, extensions, and background processes. This guide covers the most reliable removal techniques, explains why each step matters, and provides a quick FAQ to address typical concerns.

Step‑by‑Step Removal Process

1. Quit Grammarly and Disable Extensions

Before you delete anything, close Grammarly completely and disable its browser extensions.

  1. Quit the app – Click the Grammarly icon in the menu bar (usually near the right‑hand corner) and select Quit Grammarly. If you don’t see the icon, open Applications → Grammarly and use File → Quit.
  2. Disable browser extensions –
    • Safari: Open Safari → Preferences → Extensions, locate Grammarly, and uncheck the box.
    • Chrome/Edge: Go to More tools → Extensions, find Grammarly, and toggle the switch off.
    • Firefox: figure out to Add‑ons → Extensions, locate Grammarly, and disable it.

Disabling extensions prevents Grammarly from re‑injecting code when you later delete the app, which can cause lingering prompts or errors Most people skip this — try not to..

2. Remove Grammarly from macOS System Preferences

Grammarly often adds a global text‑correction service to macOS. Follow these steps to delete it:

  1. Click the Apple menu → System Preferences → Keyboard.
  2. Select the Text tab. Look for any entries that mention Grammarly (e.g., “Correct spelling automatically”).
  3. Highlight each Grammarly entry and click the ‑ button to remove them.

This step is crucial because leftover text replacements can still trigger Grammarly’s behavior even after the app is gone.

3. Delete the Grammarly Application

Now you can safely remove the main application:

  1. Open Finder and go to Applications.
  2. Locate Grammarly (it may appear as Grammarly Desktop or simply Grammarly).
  3. Drag the Grammarly folder to the Trash or right‑click and choose Move to Trash.
  4. Empty the Trash by right‑clicking the Trash icon and selecting Empty Trash.

If you encounter a “Can’t delete ‘Grammarly’ because it’s in use” warning, return to Step 1 and ensure no Grammarly processes are running. Use Activity Monitor (found in Applications → Utilities) to force‑quit any lingering GrammarlyHelper or GrammarlyDaemon processes.

4. Remove Grammarly Preferences and Cache Files

Even after deleting the app, hidden preference files and cache can remain in your Library. Here’s how to locate and delete them:

  1. Open Finder → Go → Go to Folder (or press Shift + Cmd + G) and type ~/Library. Press Return.
  2. Look for folders named:
    • Application Support → Grammarly
    • Preferences → com.grsdesktop.plist (or similar plist files)
    • **Caches → Grammarly`
    • **WebKit → Grammarly` (if present)
  3. Select each folder or file and move them to the Trash, then empty the Trash.

Tip: If you have multiple user accounts on the MacBook, repeat the above steps for each user’s Library to ensure a complete removal.

5. Reset Browser Settings (Optional but Recommended)

If you used Grammarly’s browser extension, resetting the browser can clear any residual injection code:

  • Chrome/Edge: Click the three‑dot menu → Settings → Advanced → Reset and clean up → Restore settings to their original defaults.
  • Safari: Safari → Preferences → Advanced → Show Develop menu in menu bar, then Develop → Empty Caches and Reset Safari.
  • Firefox: Help → Troubleshooting Information → Refresh Firefox.

These resets are optional but help avoid unexpected spelling suggestions reappearing after reinstallation.

6. Verify Complete Removal

After performing all steps, run a quick verification:

  • Launchpad/Dock: Ensure Grammarly no longer appears.
  • Menu Bar: No Grammarly icon should be visible.
  • Text Replacement: Open any text editor and type a word with a common typo (e.g., “teh”). If Grammarly’s correction bubble appears, revisit the System Preferences → Text step.
  • Activity Monitor: Search for any processes containing “Grammarly”. If found, force‑quit them and delete the associated app again.

If everything looks clean, you’ve successfully removed Grammarly from your MacBook Practical, not theoretical..

Alternative Methods

Using a Third‑Party Uninstaller

For users who prefer an automated approach, a lightweight uninstaller like AppCleaner can simplify the process:

  1. Download AppCleaner from the Mac App Store (free).
  2. Open AppCleaner, drag the Grammarly app into the window, and click Remove.
  3. AppCleaner will also prompt you to delete associated preference files and caches.

While convenient, always review the files AppCleaner suggests deleting to avoid removing unrelated data.

Reinstalling to Reset

If you suspect corrupted files or lingering extensions, temporarily reinstalling Grammarly (via the Mac App Store or Grammarly’s official website) and then following the removal steps again can clear hidden artifacts. After reinstall, you can uninstall using the same method for a fresh start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will removing Grammarly affect other apps that use it?
A: Only apps that you explicitly allowed Grammarly to integrate with (e.g., email clients) will lose its assistance. System‑wide text corrections are disabled once the preferences are removed Most people skip this — try not to..

Q: Can I keep Grammarly’s dictionary without the app?
A: No. The dictionary is stored within the Grammarly application and its preferences. Removing Grammarly discards the custom dictionary, but macOS’s built‑in spell‑check will take over.

Q: What if Grammarly keeps re‑appearing after removal?
A: This usually indicates a leftover login item or a background daemon. Check System Preferences → Users & Groups → Login Items for any Grammarly entries and disable them. Also, verify Activity Monitor for lingering Grammarly processes Simple as that..

Q: Do I need to restart my MacBook after removal?
A: Restarting is optional but recommended to ensure all processes terminate and changes take effect.

Q: Will my Grammarly account data be lost?
A: Your online account and any cloud‑synced documents remain intact. Only the desktop app and its local settings are deleted.

Conclusion

Removing Grammarly from a MacBook is a multi‑step process that involves quitting the app, disabling browser extensions, deleting system‑wide text replacements, and cleaning up hidden preference and cache files. By following the detailed steps outlined above, you

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