Communication

How to Completely Uninstall Element on Mac

To remove the app, quit it and drag the icon to the Trash. However, this action alone does not delete your personal communication data and settings.

Last updated: November 1, 20262 min read

Remove Element and everything it leaves behind

Element data usually takes 200 MB – 2 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: Element
Typical data size: 200 MB – 2 GB
Category: Communication
File Location: ~/Library/Application Support/Element

Manual cleanup steps

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

Everything Element keeps on your Mac

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

~/Library/Application Support/Element App data · encrypted message store, crypto keys and cache Back up first: your data~/Library/Application Support/Element/Cache Cache · Chromium disk cache for web content Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Application Support/Element/Code Cache Cache · compiled JavaScript cache Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Application Support/Element/GPUCache Cache · GPU shader cache Yes, rebuilt automatically

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

What Element leaves behind

Specific to Element

Dragging the app to the Trash preserves folders containing your encrypted message store, crypto keys, and caches. These files occupy between 200 MB – 2 GB of space. They remain on your Mac until you manually navigate to the hidden ~/Library folder via Finder > Go > Go to Folder. Only removing these directories deletes the actual user data.

Account and sync: Element signs in to a Matrix account; encrypted message history can only be read on a new device if key backup or a recovery key is set up.

Preparing to uninstall Element

Since the app stores encryption keys locally, deleting them without preparation makes old encrypted messages unreadable. You must ensure your Matrix account is configured for access on other devices. Once the local data folder is gone, these keys cannot be recovered from your computer.

Set up Secure Backup and save your recovery keyExport room keys if you do not use key backupVerify another session to keep encrypted history readableSign out of your account and quit the app

0 of 4 done

By hand or with OptiClear

	By hand	With OptiClear
Places to check	1 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 Element 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.

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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 Element data: back them up before removing them. Folders marked “Yes, rebuilt automatically” are rebuilt automatically; removing them only makes the next start slower.

Can I still read my messages on another device?

Yes, provided you have set up a recovery key or key backup before deleting the local store.

Will emptying the Trash remove my encryption keys?

No, because the keys are stored in Application Support, not within the application bundle.