Music & Audio
How to Completely Uninstall Audacity on Mac
To remove Audacity, quit the app and drag it from the Applications folder to the Trash. However, this action alone does not delete your settings, temporary session data, or music projects.
Remove Audacity and everything it leaves behind
Audacity data usually takes 500 MB – 10 GB on a Mac. The free scan shows the exact size on your Mac before you change anything.
Free scan · No account · Nothing is deleted without your OK · Moves to the Trash first · macOS 14+
OptiClear is a Mac app. Copy this page's link and open it on your Mac.
Email me the link- Application
- Audacity
- Typical data size
- 500 MB – 10 GB
- Category
- Music & Audio
- File Location
~/Library/Application Support/audacity
Manual cleanup steps
- Quit the app completely (⌘+Q in the menu bar).
- Move Audacity from the Applications folder to the Trash.
- Remove the folders Audacity left behind, listed in the table below.
- Empty the Trash to free up the space.
Everything Audacity keeps on your Mac
2 locations. Tick each one as you remove it; back up anything marked as your data first.
Locations are the standard macOS folders Audacity uses; some appear only after you use the matching feature.
What Audacity leaves behind
Specific to Audacity
Dragging the app to the Trash preserves folders containing your settings and crash recovery data. These files typically occupy 500 MB – 10 GB and remain in the hidden Library folder. Because this directory stores temporary session data used for recovery, it can grow very large after crashes.
Preparing to uninstall Audacity
Before removal, ensure all work is finalized since the app will no longer be available to manage these files. Your .aup3 projects are kept in a separate folder and are not affected by removing the application. You should manually verify your save locations to keep your own data.
0 of 4 done
By hand or with OptiClear
| By hand | With OptiClear | |
|---|---|---|
| Places to check | 2 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
Try it without risk
- Download and scan for freeSee every Audacity file and its size. No account needed.
- Clean free for 7 daysStart the 7-day free trial of the yearly plan inside the app.
- Keep it or cancelCancel in your App Store settings at least 24 hours before the trial ends and you won't be charged.
After the free trial, Pro costs $39.99 per year in your country's App Store; cancel any time.