Developer IDEs

Can I delete CLion from my Mac?

Yes, you can delete it

Yes, you can delete CLion from your Mac. Removing the application alone does not delete your personal documents or the configuration folders it uses.

Last updated: October 31, 20262 min read

See how much space CLion really takes before you decide

CLion data usually takes 1 GB – 20 GB on a Mac. The free scan shows the exact size on your Mac before you change anything.

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Free scan · No account · Nothing is deleted without your OK · Moves to the Trash first · macOS 14+

Application: CLion
Typical data size: 1 GB – 20 GB
Category: Developer IDEs
File Location: ~/Library/Caches/JetBrains

What happens when you remove CLion

Specific to CLion

You lose the ability to run the IDE, but your projects remain in their own folders. Your license stays tied to your JetBrains Account rather than the hardware. However, several folders containing settings, plugins, and cached data totaling 1 GB – 20 GB persist on your disk. These versioned folders in ~/Library/Application Support/JetBrains and others must be removed manually to reclaim space.

Where your CLion data lives

These folders hold your own CLion data. Deleting the app leaves them in place; removing them is what actually deletes it.

~/Library/Application Support/JetBrains App data · settings and plugins for every JetBrains IDE, one folder per version Back up first: your data~/CLionProjects Your files · default folder for new CLion projects Back up first: your data

Account and sync: Paid JetBrains IDEs are activated with a JetBrains Account; settings can also be synced to that account with Backup and Sync.
License: CLion is free for non-commercial use; commercial use needs a subscription tied to a JetBrains Account.
Your files: Projects stay in their own folders; the IDE only keeps a .idea folder inside each project plus caches and settings in ~/Library.

Risks of deleting CLion

If you have not enabled Backup and Sync, your custom settings and plugin configurations will stay only on this Mac. Deleting the associated library folders without exporting these settings means losing your personalized environment. Additionally, ensure all work is committed, as the app stores essential metadata within the .idea folder of each project.

Turn on Backup and Sync or export your settings via the menu.Log out of your JetBrains Account in Help > Register.Verify that all projects are committed or stored outside IDE folders.Uninstall the app using JetBrains Toolbox if you used it for installation.

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How to delete CLion completely

Quit CLion, move it to the Trash, then remove what it left in ~/Library/Caches/JetBrains. The full step-by-step guide:

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Frequently asked questions

Will deleting CLion delete my files?

No. Removing the app doesn't touch documents you saved in other folders. Only the app and, if you remove them, its own support files are deleted.

Will I lose my paid subscription if I delete CLion?

No, because your license is tied to your JetBrains Account, not the app installation.

Why is so much disk space still used after removing CLion?

The app creates separate versioned folders for each release in Caches, Application Support, and Logs.