How To Uninstall Grammarly Desktop On Mac

Uninstalling applications on macOS often feels straightforward—drag the icon to the Trash and you are done. On the flip side, utilities like Grammarly Desktop integrate deeply into the operating system to provide real-time writing suggestions across every app. Also, because of this system-level access, a simple drag-and-drop leaves behind configuration files, caches, and background processes that can consume storage or conflict with future installations. Whether you are switching to a different writing assistant, troubleshooting a persistent bug, or simply decluttering your Mac, a thorough removal requires a few specific steps to ensure every component is gone for good.

Why Standard Deletion Isn't Enough for Grammarly

Unlike self-contained apps downloaded from the Mac App Store, Grammarly Desktop installs several components outside the main Applications folder. It utilizes a background helper tool to monitor text fields system-wide, a menu bar agent for quick access, and potentially a browser extension handler. If you only remove the main .app file, these background agents (often called LaunchAgents or LaunchDaemons) may remain active. Consider this: they can continue to run at startup, consume CPU cycles, or trigger "Open at Login" prompts even after the main interface is gone. A complete uninstallation addresses the main application, the user-specific support files, and the system-level launch agents.

Method 1: The Manual Deep Clean (Recommended)

This method uses native macOS tools—Finder and Terminal—giving you full control without installing third-party uninstaller software. It is the safest approach for users comfortable navigating the Library folder.

Step 1: Quit Grammarly Completely

Before deleting files, you must ensure the application and all its background processes are fully stopped.

1. Click the Grammarly icon in the top-right menu bar.
2. Select Quit Grammarly.
3. Open Activity Monitor (press Command + Space, type "Activity Monitor", hit Enter).
4. In the search bar, type Grammarly.
5. If any processes appear (such as "Grammarly Desktop", "Grammarly Helper", or "Grammarly Agent"), select them and click the Stop (X) button in the toolbar, then confirm Force Quit.

Step 2: Remove the Main Application

This is the standard step most users know Small thing, real impact. Turns out it matters..

1. Open Finder and work through to the Applications folder (Command + Shift + A).
2. Locate Grammarly Desktop.app.
3. Drag it to the Trash or right-click and select Move to Trash.
4. Do not empty the Trash yet in case you need to retrieve something, though it is safe to do so after verification.

Step 3: Delete Application Support Files (The Critical Step)

This is where the bulk of leftover data resides. macOS hides the Library folder by default to prevent accidental deletion of critical system files.

1. In Finder, click Go in the menu bar.
2. Hold down the Option (Alt) key on your keyboard. The Library option will appear in the dropdown menu.
3. Click Library.
4. manage to and delete the following folders/files if they exist (Drag to Trash):
   • ~/Library/Application Support/Grammarly
   • ~/Library/Application Support/com.grammarly.Grammarly
   • ~/Library/Caches/com.grammarly.Grammarly
   • ~/Library/Caches/com.grammarly.Grammarly.helper
   • ~/Library/Preferences/com.grammarly.Grammarly.plist
   • ~/Library/Preferences/com.grammarly.Grammarly.helper.plist
   • ~/Library/Logs/Grammarly
   • ~/Library/HTTPStorages/com.grammarly.Grammarly (Related to network caching)
   • ~/Library/WebKit/com.grammarly.Grammarly (Web view data)

Step 4: Remove Launch Agents and Daemons

These .plist files tell macOS to launch Grammarly background processes at login or on demand. They are located in two different Library locations And that's really what it comes down to. Turns out it matters..

User Launch Agents (Most Common):

1. Go to ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ (Use Command + Shift + G in Finder and paste the path).
2. Look for files starting with com.grammarly. (e.g., com.grammarly.Grammarly.plist, com.grammarly.Grammarly.helper.plist).
3. Move them to Trash.

System Launch Daemons (Less Common, Requires Admin Password):

1. Go to /Library/LaunchDaemons/ (Note: No tilde ~ at the start; this is the root Library).
2. Look for any com.grammarly. files.
3. Move to Trash (you will be prompted for your administrator password).

System Launch Agents:

1. Go to /Library/LaunchAgents/.
2. Check for and remove any com.grammarly. files.

Step 5: Check for Kernel Extensions (Legacy Versions)

Modern versions of Grammarly (and macOS Ventura/Sonoma/Sequoia) use System Extensions rather than Kernel Extensions (kexts), which are managed automatically. On the flip side, if you used a very old version, check:

1. Go to /Library/Extensions/.
2. Look for Grammarly.kext or similar.
3. If found, you generally need Terminal to unload it first (sudo kextunload /Library/Extensions/Grammarly.kext) then delete it. Note: On Apple Silicon Macs, kernel extensions are largely obsolete and require reduced security mode to load, so this is rare.

Step 6: Empty Trash and Restart

1. Right-click the Trash icon in the Dock and select Empty Trash.
2. Restart your Mac. This ensures any lingering processes in RAM are cleared and verifies that no LaunchAgents attempt to respawn on boot.

Method 2: Using Native Terminal Commands (For Power Users)

If you prefer a command-line interface, you can execute the cleanup rapidly. Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal) and run these commands sequentially. *Warning: rm -rf is permanent. Double-check paths before hitting Enter Most people skip this — try not to..

# 1. Kill running processes
pkill -f "Grammarly"

# 2. Remove Main App
sudo rm -rf /Applications/Grammarly\ Desktop.app

# 3. Remove User Support Files & Caches
rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Grammarly
rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/com.grammarly.Grammarly
rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/com.grammarly.Grammarly*
rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.grammarly.Grammarly*.plist
rm -rf ~/Library/Logs/Grammarly
rm -rf ~/Library/HTTPStorages/com.grammarly.Grammarly
rm -rf ~/Library/WebKit/com.grammarly.Grammarly

# 4. Remove User Launch Agents
rm -rf ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.grammarly.*

# 5. Remove System Launch Agents/Daemons (Requires sudo)
sudo rm -rf /Library/LaunchAgents/com.grammarly.*
sudo rm -rf /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.grammarly.*

After running these, restart your Mac.

Method 3: Using Third-Party Uninstallers (AppCleaner, CleanMyMac, AppZapper)

If manual file hunting

...becomes necessary when dealing with stubborn remnants that manual scanning might overlook. These dedicated tools use heuristic analysis to identify application-specific infrastructure that standard deletion methods often miss.

To give you an idea, AppCleaner is widely regarded for its ability to scan the entire system for application-related metadata and preferences, ensuring that nothing vital remains behind. Similarly, professional-grade utilities such as CleanMyMac X or Wondershare Removal Tool provide comprehensive scrubbing features designed to handle complex cases where legacy files have become entrenched in the OS hierarchy The details matter here. That alone is useful..

One thing to note that while these third-party solutions are highly effective, they function best when used in conjunction with the manual verification steps provided earlier. In real terms, in some scenarios—particularly on older macOS versions—these tools may also assist in clearing out old version backups stored within the ~/Library or ~/Application Support directories. On the flip side, always exercise caution; ensure the tool is up to date and review the changes made before proceeding, especially regarding disk space usage and temporary file management.

People argue about this. Here's where I land on it.

Conclusion

Comprehensive removal of Grammarly requires a disciplined approach that addresses every layer of the application's footprint. By methodically eliminating system daemons, user launches, and persistent caches—whether through graphical interfaces, command-line scripts, or automated utility tools—you

...you can ensure a clean slate, reclaim valuable disk space, and prevent potential conflicts with future software installations. After completing any of these methods, restart your Mac to clear lingering processes and perform a final check of your Library folders to confirm no Grammarly remnants remain The details matter here. Practical, not theoretical..

Not the most exciting part, but easily the most useful.

Conclusion

Removing Grammarly completely from your Mac is more than just dragging the app to the Trash. Whether you prefer the simplicity of the graphical interface, the precision of Terminal commands, or the thoroughness of third-party uninstallers, the key is to address both the application bundle and its scattered support files. By following the steps outlined above, you can achieve a full uninstallation, maintain system hygiene, and keep your macOS environment running smoothly.

Basically the bit that actually matters in practice And that's really what it comes down to..