Utilities

How to Completely Uninstall LaunchBar on Mac

To uninstall LaunchBar, drag the application icon to the Trash. However, this action alone does not remove the associated data folders or preferences from your system.

Last updated: November 1, 20262 min read

Remove LaunchBar and everything it leaves behind

LaunchBar 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: LaunchBar
Typical data size: 200 MB – 2 GB
Category: Utilities
File Location: ~/Library/Application Support/LaunchBar

Manual cleanup steps

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

Everything LaunchBar keeps on your Mac

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

~/Library/Application Support/LaunchBar App data · index configuration, custom actions, snippets and clipboard history Back up first: your data~/Library/Caches/at.obdev.LaunchBar Cache · search index cache Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Preferences/at.obdev.LaunchBar.plist Settings · app settings Yes, settings reset

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

Files left by LaunchBar

Specific to LaunchBar

Dragging the app to the Trash leaves behind several directories containing between 200 MB – 2 GB of data. These include the search index cache, app settings, and a support folder holding your custom actions and snippets. While the index and preferences rebuild automatically upon reinstallation, your personal configurations remain on disk until manually deleted.

License: LaunchBar is paid software registered with a license key after a trial period.

Preparing to remove LaunchBar

Before deletion, ensure you have backed up any unique content since the app stores custom actions and snippets locally. You should also secure your registration details because the license key is required for future activation. Access the hidden ~/Library via Finder > Go > Go to Folder to manage these remaining files.

Copy the Application Support folder to preserve custom actions and snippetsSave your license key for future registrationQuit the app before moving it to the Trash

0 of 3 done

By hand or with OptiClear

	By hand	With OptiClear
Places to check	3 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

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Frequently asked questions

Not all of them. Folders marked “Back up first: your data” hold your own LaunchBar 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.

Will deleting the app remove my custom snippets?

No, these are stored in the Application Support folder and remain until you delete that directory separately.

Does emptying the Trash remove the search index?

No, the index cache is stored in the Library folder and must be removed manually.