Utilities

How to Completely Uninstall Alfred on Mac

To remove the app, drag it from Applications to the Trash. However, this action alone does not delete your personal data, settings, or support folders.

Last updated: October 31, 20263 min read

Remove Alfred and everything it leaves behind

Alfred data usually takes 200 MB – 5 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: Alfred
Typical data size: 200 MB – 5 GB
Category: Utilities
File Location: ~/Library/Application Support/Alfred

Manual cleanup steps

Quit the app completely (⌘+Q in the menu bar).
Move Alfred from the Applications folder to the Trash.
Remove the folders Alfred left behind, listed in the table below.
Empty the Trash to free up the space.

Everything Alfred keeps on your Mac

4 locations. Tick each one as you remove it; back up anything marked as your data first.

~/Library/Application Support/Alfred App data · preferences bundle, workflows, workflow data and clipboard database Back up first: your data~/Library/Caches/com.runningwithcrayons.Alfred Cache · workflow cache and temporary data Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Preferences/com.runningwithcrayons.Alfred.plist Settings · app settings Yes, settings reset~/Library/Preferences/com.runningwithcrayons.Alfred-Preferences.plist Settings · preferences window settings Yes, settings reset~/Library/Application Support/Alfred/Alfred.alfredpreferences App data · workflows, snippets, themes and settings bundle Back up first: your data~/Library/Application Support/Alfred/Databases App data · clipboard history and snippet databases Back up first: your data

Locations are the standard macOS folders Alfred uses; some appear only after you use the matching feature.

What Alfred leaves behind

Specific to Alfred

Dragging the utility to the Trash preserves your preference bundles, workflows, and clipboard databases. These items, along with various cached files and plist settings, remain in the Library folder. Because the app stores history locally, these leftover directories typically occupy between 200 MB – 5 GB.

License: The free version needs no license; the Powerpack is a paid license key registered to an email address.

Preparing to uninstall Alfred

Before removal, verify if your preferences bundle lives in a custom sync folder via the Advanced preferences menu. You should manually back up the .alfredpreferences file to retain your custom searches, themes, and snippets. Ensure you have recorded your Powerpack license key and associated email address since the free version requires no such registration.

Back up the Alfred.alfredpreferences bundle to keep your workflows and snippetsSave your Powerpack license key and the registered email addressCheck Advanced preferences for a custom sync folder locationQuit the app before deleting its files

0 of 4 done

By hand or with OptiClear

	By hand	With OptiClear
Places to check	4 folders, one by one	One scan
File sizes	You look them up yourself	Shown for every item
Removing the wrong thing	Easy to delete the wrong folder	Goes to the Trash first, so it can be restored
Cost	Free	Scan is free; cleaning needs Pro (yearly plan has a 7-day free trial)

See it working

OptiClear — Scan overview — every category on one screen — Scan overview — every category on one screen

OptiClear — Privacy audit: what each app has been allowed to reach — Privacy audit: what each app has been allowed to reach

OptiClear — Large and aging files, ranked by what they cost you — Large and aging files, ranked by what they cost you

Try it without risk

Download and scan for freeSee every Alfred file and its size. No account needed.
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After the free trial, Pro costs $39.99 per year in your country's App Store; cancel any time.

Frequently asked questions

Not all of them. Folders marked “Back up first: your data” hold your own Alfred data: back them up before removing them. Folders marked “Yes, rebuilt automatically” are rebuilt automatically; removing them only makes the next start slower. Folders marked “Yes, settings reset” hold settings, which return to their defaults.

Where can I find the hidden Library folder to delete remaining data?

Use Finder > Go > Go to Folder and enter ~/Library to access these hidden directories.

Will clearing the clipboard history reduce the amount of data left behind?

Yes, using Clear Now in the Clipboard History features removes saved history, which is usually what makes the data large.