Developer Tools

How to Completely Uninstall GitHub Desktop on Mac

To uninstall GitHub Desktop, quit the app and drag it from the Applications folder to the Trash. This process removes the executable but leaves behind app data and your personal projects.

Last updated: November 1, 20263 min read

Remove GitHub Desktop and everything it leaves behind

GitHub Desktop 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: GitHub Desktop
Typical data size: 200 MB – 2 GB
Category: Developer Tools
File Location: ~/Library/Application Support/GitHub Desktop

Manual cleanup steps

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

Everything GitHub Desktop keeps on your Mac

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

~/Library/Application Support/GitHub Desktop App data · repository list, settings and Electron caches Yes, once the app is gone~/Documents/GitHub Your files · default folder for repositories cloned with GitHub Desktop Back up first: your data~/Library/Caches/com.github.GitHubClient Cache · app network cache Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Caches/com.github.GitHubClient.ShipIt Cache · downloaded app updates Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/HTTPStorages/com.github.GitHubClient Network cookies · network cookies used by the app itself Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Application Support/GitHub Desktop/Cache Cache · GitHub Desktop web content cache Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Application Support/GitHub Desktop/Code Cache Cache · compiled JavaScript cache Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Application Support/GitHub Desktop/GPUCache Cache · GPU shader cache Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Application Support/GitHub Desktop/logs Logs · GitHub Desktop logs Yes, rebuilt automatically

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

What GitHub Desktop leaves behind

Specific to GitHub Desktop

Dragging the app to the Trash does not remove stored settings, repository lists, or cached network data. These reside in the Library folder, occupying between 200 MB – 2 GB. Your cloned repositories remain untouched in their default location because they contain your own data.

Background items: A github command line helper can be installed from the app menu.
License: GitHub Desktop is free and open source.
Account and sync: GitHub Desktop signs in to GitHub or GitHub Enterprise; the token is kept in the Keychain.

Preparing GitHub Desktop for removal

Before deleting the app, ensure all active work is synchronized with the server. You should decide if you want to manually delete your project folders later since they stay on your Mac. Finally, sign out to clear the session link.

Push all local commits and branches to your remote repositoriesSign out via Settings > AccountsDecide whether to keep the repositories in ~/Documents/GitHubQuit the app before moving it to the Trash

0 of 4 done

By hand or with OptiClear

	By hand	With OptiClear
Places to check	5 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 GitHub Desktop 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 GitHub Desktop data: back them up before removing them. Folders marked “Yes, rebuilt automatically” are rebuilt automatically; removing them only makes the next start slower. Items marked “Yes, once the app is gone” only matter while GitHub Desktop is installed, so remove them after the app.

Where is my account token stored?

The authentication token used to sign in to GitHub or GitHub Enterprise is kept in the macOS Keychain.

Will my code be deleted if I empty the Trash?

No, emptying the Trash only removes the app; your cloned repositories are stored separately and must be deleted manually.