Friday Favorite: AppZapper

Every so often I'll go through my Mac's hard drive and delete stuff that's just sitting around. The downloads folder fills with junk especially fast. I also download lots of software out of curiosity, and after a few months my applications folder is bulging.

While installing Mac software is often as easy as a click, uninstalling takes a bit more work. Rather than hunt around for preference files, etc. I use AppZapper. By simply dropping an app onto the cute raygun icon, AppZapper finds all of that application's related files -- preferences, caches, etc. -- and lists them in a window. With a click, it "zaps" them (you can disable that sound effect) to the trash.

Fortunately, they aren't deleted for good, so you can recover something zapped by mistake. Once you're ready, simply empty the trash to reclaim all of that precious hard drive space. Pro tip: Move it to your Finder Window's sidebar for easy drag-and-drop access.

AppZapper requies Tiger or Leopard and the $12.95US pricetag includes free upgrades for life. There are other apps that do this, yes, but AppZapper works perfectly for me.

Update: Some readers are reporting that AppZapper doesn't work properly under Leopard. It's never given me any trouble, but if you want an alternative, Hazel is a good one.

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Source: http://www.appzapper.com/

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Software Friday Favorite

Every so often I'll go through my Mac's hard drive and delete stuff that's just sitting around. The downloads folder fills with junk...

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Lee Webb

Appcleaner picked up files not associated with Ecto when I tried to erase that app. I could've erased some directory files if I hadn't been more careful.

August 17 2009 at 4:45 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Frank Ewell

I've been happily using AppDelete for about three years now. Surprised no one has mentioned that one.

August 02 2009 at 12:48 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Ralph White

Has this app been updated since 2006? If not, why report?

July 31 2009 at 11:06 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

bug

Take a closer look at the v2 'sneak peak' screenshots. There is no new feature just a fancy interface to be '09. Okay, the code may be enhanced - but you'd only pay for a new interface, not a new application.

July 31 2009 at 8:09 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Stretch

If this is your Friday Favorite pick, I find it quite sad. AppZapper hasn't been updated since 2 days after it was released, meanwhile we've had several point releases for Tiger, an entire new OS, and 7 point releases for that OS. When Leopard came out, AppZapper stopped fully working for a majority of people.

For over a year now, we've been waiting for AppZapper 2. What I don't understand is how this became a favorite pick, when there are several other options, including free apps that do the same thing that work properly.

July 31 2009 at 8:04 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Eminemdrdre00

I use the free AppCleaner
http://www.freemacsoft.net/AppCleaner/

July 31 2009 at 6:14 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Francisco

Sorry for the comment above... 1password is to blame for.

I'd like to say that you can do the same (without the zapping thingy) with app cleaner wich is FREE (as in $0.00)

just my two cents

July 31 2009 at 5:06 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Francisco

Will the Snow Leopard Upgrade come with iLife '09 by default?
that's a good question to ask.

About SL, since the upgrade price is rock bottom, why not upgrade right?

July 31 2009 at 5:01 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Francisco's comment

Matt J

No. iLife does not come with OS X, it comes with a new Mac.

July 31 2009 at 6:33 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Dewey

Anyone hear anything about version 2? http://appzapper.com/soon/ I think it was supposed to be out a year or two ago.

July 31 2009 at 4:20 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Beanie

Does anyone else get the feeling that the apps that are bundled with MacHeist seem to be End of Life or hardly ever receive updates? I love AppZapper, I just wish it would be updated.

July 31 2009 at 4:02 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply