How to Completely Remove Google Chrome From Your Mac

The fastest way to delete Chrome

To remove Google Chrome from your Mac, open Finder, go to the Applications folder, find Google Chrome, and drag it to the Trash. Then empty the Trash to finish. That removes the program itself, but Chrome leaves behind some files on your computer — cache, cookies, and settings stored in your user library. If you want a complete removal with no leftover files, follow the steps in the next section.

The basic drag-to-Trash method takes about 30 seconds and works fine if you just want the program gone and don't mind the extra files taking up a small amount of space. Most people who reinstall Chrome later don't notice the difference.

Key Takeaways

Dragging Chrome to Trash removes the program but leaves behind cached data and settings in your user library.
A complete removal requires finding and deleting Chrome's support files in the Library folder, which is hidden by default on Mac.
You can show hidden files by pressing Command+Shift+Period, then navigate to Library > Application Support to find Chrome folders.
After deleting Chrome and its support files, empty the Trash to permanently remove everything from your Mac.

Remove Chrome and all its leftover files

If you want Chrome completely gone with no trace, you need to delete both the program and the hidden support files it creates. Start by dragging Chrome from Applications to Trash, then follow these steps to find and remove the hidden folders.

Step 1: Show hidden files. Open Finder and press Command+Shift+Period (the period key). This reveals all the hidden folders on your Mac that normally stay out of sight. You'll see your Library folder appear in Finder windows from now on.

Step 2: Navigate to Chrome's support folder. Click the Finder icon in your dock, then click on your username in the sidebar under Favorites. Open the Library folder, then Application Support. Look for a folder named Google — this is where Chrome stores its data.

Step 3: Delete the Google folder. Right-click on the Google folder and select Move to Trash. This removes Chrome's cached data, bookmarks, passwords, and settings.

Step 4: Check for Chrome in Preferences. Go back to the Library folder and open Preferences. Search for any files with "Chrome" or "Google" in the name. Drag these to Trash as well. Common ones include com.google.Chrome.plist and com.google.Chrome.helper.plist.

Step 5: Empty the Trash. Click the Trash icon in your dock, then click Empty in the top right corner. This permanently removes Chrome and all its files from your Mac.

Why Chrome leaves files behind

When you use Chrome, it stores information about your browsing in hidden folders so it can remember your passwords, bookmarks, and browsing history the next time you open it. These files stay on your Mac even after you delete the program because macOS doesn't automatically clean them up.

For most people, this doesn't matter — the leftover files take up only a few hundred megabytes of space. But if you're selling your Mac, giving it away, or just want a clean slate, removing these files prevents anyone else from accessing your Chrome data.

What to do if Chrome won't delete

If you try to drag Chrome to Trash and it won't move, the program is probably still running. Open Activity Monitor (search for it in Spotlight by pressing Command+Space), find any process with "Chrome" in the name, click it, and click the X button to force it to close. Then try dragging Chrome to Trash again.

If Chrome still won't delete, restart your Mac. This closes all running programs and usually fixes the problem. After your Mac restarts, try moving Chrome to Trash one more time.

Reinstalling Chrome later

If you delete Chrome and later decide you want it back, go to google.com/chrome in Safari or another browser, click Download, and follow the installer. Your Mac will download the latest version and set it up in your Applications folder. You'll start with a fresh Chrome profile — your old bookmarks and passwords won't come back unless you sign into your Google account during setup.

Removing the support files means Chrome won't remember anything from before you deleted it. If you think you might want your bookmarks back, sign into your Google account in Chrome before you delete it — that backs them up to Google's servers so you can restore them later.

Hiding files again after cleanup

Once you've finished deleting Chrome's files, you can hide the Library folder again to keep your Finder window cleaner. Press Command+Shift+Period again to toggle hidden files off. The Library folder will disappear from view, though it's still there on your Mac.

Hiding these files doesn't affect anything — it just keeps Finder less cluttered for everyday use. You can show them again anytime by pressing the same keyboard shortcut.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting Chrome remove my bookmarks and passwords?

If you just drag Chrome to Trash without deleting the support files, your bookmarks and passwords stay on your Mac in the hidden Library folder. If you follow the full removal steps and delete the Google folder in Application Support, those are gone permanently. If you signed into your Google account in Chrome, your bookmarks are backed up to Google's servers and you can restore them by signing in again after reinstalling.

Will removing Chrome affect other Google programs on my Mac?

No. Chrome is separate from Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, or any other Google service you use in a web browser. Deleting Chrome doesn't touch those. If you use other Google apps installed on your Mac, they stay unaffected.

How much space does Chrome take up?

The Chrome program itself is usually 200 to 300 megabytes. The support files in your Library folder can add another 500 megabytes to a few gigabytes depending on how long you used it and how much data it cached. Removing both frees up that space.

Can I delete just the Chrome program and keep my data?

Yes. If you drag Chrome to Trash but don't delete the Google folder in Application Support, all your bookmarks, passwords, and settings stay on your Mac. If you reinstall Chrome later and sign into your Google account, it will find those files and restore your data.

What if I see multiple Chrome folders in Application Support?

Delete the one named Google. If you see folders with names like "Google Chrome" or "Chromium", those are the same thing — delete those too. You can safely delete anything with Chrome or Google in the name from the Application Support folder.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.