Developer Tools

How to Completely Uninstall iTerm2 on Mac

To remove iTerm2, quit the app and drag it to the Trash. This action alone does not delete your personal configurations or stored data, which typically occupy 100 MB – 2 GB.

Last updated: October 31, 20263 min read

Remove iTerm2 and everything it leaves behind

iTerm2 data usually takes 100 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: iTerm2
Typical data size: 100 MB – 2 GB
Category: Developer Tools
File Location: ~/Library/Application Support/iTerm2

Manual cleanup steps

Quit the app completely (⌘+Q in the menu bar).
Move iTerm2 from the Applications folder to the Trash.
Remove the folders iTerm2 left behind, listed in the table below.
Empty the Trash to free up the space.

Everything iTerm2 keeps on your Mac

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

~/Library/Application Support/iTerm2 App data · scripts, dynamic profiles and saved window arrangement state Back up first: your data~/Library/Preferences/com.googlecode.iterm2.plist Settings · all profiles, colors, key mappings and settings Back up first: your data~/Library/Saved Application State/com.googlecode.iterm2.savedState Window state · restorable windows and scrollback from the last session Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Application Support/iTerm2/SavedState Window state · restored sessions and their scrollback Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Caches/com.googlecode.iterm2 Cache · app and update cache Yes, rebuilt automatically

Locations are the standard macOS folders iTerm2 uses; some appear only after you use the matching feature.

What iTerm2 leaves behind

Specific to iTerm2

Dragging the app to the Trash preserves your profiles, colors, and key mappings in a preferences plist. It also keeps scripts, dynamic profiles, and saved window states in Application Support. Additionally, shell integration scripts remain in your home folder and startup file. These items stay on your disk until you manually remove them via the hidden Library folder.

Background items: Shell integration adds small scripts to your home folder and a line to your shell startup file.
License: iTerm2 is free and open source.

Preparing to uninstall iTerm2

Since almost all configuration lives in one preference file, deleting it resets everything. You should secure your customized settings and scripts before removal. Deactivating shell integration prevents leftover lines from remaining in your shell startup file. Restorable windows and caches will be rebuilt automatically if you ever return to the app.

Export profiles from Settings > Profiles or save them to a custom folderCopy Python scripts and dynamic profiles from the support folderRemove shell integration lines from your shell startup fileQuit the app before removing 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 iTerm2 file and its size. No account needed.
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Frequently asked questions

Not all of them. Folders marked “Back up first: your data” hold your own iTerm2 data: back them up before removing them. Folders marked “Yes, rebuilt automatically” are rebuilt automatically; removing them only makes the next start slower.

Where is the main configuration file located?

All profiles and settings are stored in ~/Library/Preferences/com.googlecode.iterm2.plist unless you specified a custom folder.

Why is the SavedState folder growing so large?

This happens because of restored scrollback or when windows reopen with stale sessions.