Notes & Writing

How to Completely Uninstall Obsidian on Mac

To uninstall Obsidian, quit the app and drag it from the Applications folder to the Trash. This process removes the application executable but leaves behind your personal vaults and system configuration files.

Last updated: October 31, 20263 min read

Remove Obsidian and everything it leaves behind

Obsidian data usually takes 200 MB – 2 GB on a Mac. The free scan shows the exact size on your Mac before you change anything.

Scan your Mac free

Free scan · No account · Nothing is deleted without your OK · Moves to the Trash first · macOS 14+

Application: Obsidian
Typical data size: 200 MB – 2 GB
Category: Notes & Writing
File Location: ~/Library/Application Support/obsidian

Manual cleanup steps

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

Everything Obsidian keeps on your Mac

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

~/Library/Application Support/obsidian App data · app cache and obsidian.json with the list of known vaults Yes, once the app is gone~/Library/Preferences/md.obsidian.plist Settings · app settings Yes, settings reset~/Library/Saved Application State/md.obsidian.savedState Window state · window positions from the last session Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Application Support/obsidian/Cache Cache · Obsidian web content cache Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Application Support/obsidian/Code Cache Cache · compiled JavaScript cache Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Application Support/obsidian/GPUCache Cache · GPU shader cache Yes, rebuilt automatically

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

What Obsidian leaves behind

Specific to Obsidian

Dragging the app to the Trash preserves your note vaults because they are ordinary folders of Markdown files stored wherever you created them. It also leaves app data in the Library, including a list of known vaults and various caches. These leftovers, along with preferences and window positions, remain on your Mac until deleted manually via Finder > Go > Go to Folder.

Account and sync: An Obsidian account is only needed for paid Sync or Publish; notes themselves are local files.

Preparing to remove Obsidian

Since the app stores notes locally, ensure you know the exact location of your vault folders. Each vault contains a hidden .obsidian folder holding its specific plugins and themes. Confirming these locations ensures you can manage your data independently once the software is gone.

Confirm the last sync finished if using Obsidian SyncNote the file paths of all your vault foldersBack up .obsidian folders to keep plugins and themesQuit the app before removing any files

0 of 4 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

Try it without risk

Download and scan for freeSee every Obsidian 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.

Download free and scan

After the free trial, Pro costs $39.99 per year in your country's App Store; cancel any time.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. 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. Items marked “Yes, once the app is gone” only matter while Obsidian is installed, so remove them after the app.

Will my notes be deleted if I empty the Trash?

No, emptying the Trash only removes the app; your vault folders stay wherever you saved them.

Do I need to deactivate my account before uninstalling?

An account is only required for paid Sync or Publish services; the app functions without one.