Gaming

Can I delete Minecraft from my Mac?

Yes, you can delete it

Yes, you can delete Minecraft from your Mac, but deleting the app does not remove your worlds, screenshots, packs or mods — those stay in the minecraft folder in Application Support until you remove that folder yourself. What you lose immediately is the game itself; what you keep is everything stored on this Mac, plus anything tied to your Microsoft account. The app's data typically takes 500 MB – 20 GB, so the space comes back only when the app and that folder are gone.

Last updated: October 31, 20263 min read

See how much space Minecraft really takes before you decide

Minecraft data usually takes 500 MB – 20 GB on a Mac. The free scan shows the exact size on your Mac before you change anything.

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Application: Minecraft
Typical data size: 500 MB – 20 GB
Category: Gaming
File Location: ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft

What you lose and what you keep if you delete Minecraft

Specific to Minecraft

Deleting the app removes the launcher and the game, so you cannot play until you install it again. Your single-player worlds, screenshots, resource packs and mods live in the minecraft folder in Application Support and are not deleted with the app; they remain until you remove that folder separately. Downloaded versions, assets and libraries can be fetched again by the launcher, so nothing there is irreplaceable. Your Microsoft account and any Realms worlds are kept online, not on this Mac. The saves folder is the part you cannot get back once it is gone.

Where your Minecraft data lives

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

~/Library/Application Support/minecraft App data · worlds, screenshots, packs, game versions and downloaded assets Back up first: your data~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/saves Your files · single-player worlds Back up first: your data~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/screenshots Your files · in-game screenshots Back up first: your data~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/resourcepacks App data · installed resource packs Back up first: your data

Account and sync: Minecraft Java Edition is tied to your Microsoft account; single-player worlds are stored only on the Mac unless you use Realms.
Your files: Worlds, screenshots, resource packs and mods all live inside the minecraft folder in Application Support.

What to do before deleting Minecraft

Copy the saves folder somewhere safe to keep your single-player worlds, since they exist only on this Mac. Back up screenshots, resource packs and any mods or shader packs you installed. Note the game options and servers list you rely on before deleting the folder. If you use Realms, check that your worlds are synced to your account rather than only stored locally.

Copy the saves folder to keep your single-player worldsBack up screenshots, resource packs, mods and shader packsNote game options and your servers listQuit the app before removing anything

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How to delete Minecraft completely

Quit Minecraft, move it to the Trash, then remove what it left in ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft. The full step-by-step guide:

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Frequently asked questions

Will deleting Minecraft 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.

Do I lose my Microsoft account or Realms worlds if I delete the app?

No. Your account and any Realms worlds are kept online, so they are not affected by removing the app or its local folder.

Can I free space without deleting my worlds?

Yes. Old versions, assets, libraries and logs can be re-downloaded or rebuilt, while the saves folder holds your own data and should be kept or backed up first.