Communication

How to Completely Uninstall Slack on Mac

To remove the app, quit it and drag the icon to the Trash. However, this action alone does not delete associated data folders or personal documents.

Last updated: November 1, 20263 min read

Remove Slack and everything it leaves behind

Slack data usually takes 500 MB – 5 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: Slack
Typical data size: 500 MB – 5 GB
Category: Communication
File Location: ~/Library/Application Support/Slack

Manual cleanup steps

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

Everything Slack keeps on your Mac

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

~/Library/Application Support/Slack App data · workspace sessions, IndexedDB message cache and downloads list Yes, once the app is gone~/Library/Caches/com.tinyspeck.slackmacgap Cache · app cache Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Preferences/com.tinyspeck.slackmacgap.plist Settings · app settings Yes, settings reset~/Library/Saved Application State/com.tinyspeck.slackmacgap.savedState Window state · window positions from the last session Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Application Support/Slack/Cache Cache · Chromium disk cache for web content Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Application Support/Slack/Code Cache Cache · compiled JavaScript cache Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Application Support/Slack/GPUCache Cache · GPU shader cache Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Application Support/Slack/Service Worker/CacheStorage Cache · offline caches of the Slack web client Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Application Support/Slack/logs Logs · Slack app logs Yes, rebuilt automatically

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

What happens when you uninstall Slack

Specific to Slack

Dragging the application to the Trash leaves behind settings, workspace sessions, and various caches. Because it is an Electron app, it stores a local mirror of server content ranging from 500 MB – 5 GB. These remaining files stay in the Library folder—or within a Containers folder for the App Store version—until manually deleted.

Account and sync: Messages and files live in your Slack workspaces on Slack's servers; the Mac only keeps a local cache and sign-in sessions.

Preparing to remove Slack

Since messages and files live on remote servers, you will not lose them by deleting the local client. You should ensure all necessary assets are moved from your Downloads folder first. Signing out ensures active sessions are not left on the machine.

Note workspace URLs and sign-in methods for each accountSign out of every workspace to end active sessionsMove saved files out of your Downloads folderQuit 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 Slack file and its size. No account needed.
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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

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 Slack is installed, so remove them after the app.

Will deleting the app also remove my downloaded files?

No, files you downloaded go to your Downloads folder and remain there after removal.

Where are the leftover settings stored?

They are located in ~/Library/Application Support/Slack and other system folders.