Python is a widely used open-source programming language which is relatively easily picked up by both first-time and experienced programmers with other languages under their belt. Dedicated Python application for Mac enables its users to program concepts with fewer lines of code. It also comes bundled with IDLE app, which is your development environment, Python Launcher to handle scripts, and Build Applet to package those scripts on a Mac. The macOS application comes into two versions — the legacy Python 2.7 and the newer Python 3.6. The earlier version is a stable, but older release. The newer Python 3.x, however, benefits from recent library improvements and is properly optimized for the latest macOS version.
'The basic premise of all Python development is to never use the system Python. You do not want the Mac OS X 'default Python' to be 'python3.' You want to never care about default Python.' How do we stop caring about the default? Moshe recommends using pyenv to manage Python environments (for a deeper dive on configuring pyenv, see this article. Following this guide Testing Deployment Using a Staging Site, I have installed python 3.6 on Ubuntu 16.04 using: sudo add-apt-repository ppa:fkrull/deadsnakes sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install python3.6 Unfortunately I now want to use the anaconda package manager, and so to avoid a conflict I'd like to remove all traces of my upgrade.
Whether you are looking to install a more recent version of Python or get rid of your application for good, the guides below will walk you through the process.
![Uninstall Python 3.8 Mac Uninstall Python 3.8 Mac](/uploads/1/1/9/4/119400857/644176911.png)
How to Uninstall Python 3.6 Mac
Before attempting an uninstall, it is advised to quit Python and all related processes. If you have only one of the Python apps running, you can simply ctrl-click the application and choose Quit to exit. To make shutting down of multiple processes faster, open Activity Monitor by hitting Command-Space bar and searching for the built-in utility using Spotlight Search. In Activity Monitor search for Python to find complementary processes. Choose a process and click X button and then Quit, or Force Quit for a terminal method when the process does not respond.
Now let’s take on the app removal. To uninstall Python apps from your Mac you will have to:
- Open Finder and go to Applications
- Select Python 3.6 folder
- Move the folder to Trash
- Ctrl-click the Trash bin and select Empty Trash
This helps delete the core application from your Apple computer, but does not do anything about the files it leaves behind on Mac’s drive. Despite the fact that leftovers don’t take much space, removing them may be a smart move when attempting a fresh install of a newer version of Python.
- Open Finder
- Hold Shift-Command-G to open Go to the Folder
- Paste each of the following directories and look for all items containing python in the name:
- ~/Library/Preferences/
- ~/Library/Saved Application State/
- /Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.6/
- Select all related files/folders and move them to Trash
- Ctrl-click the bin and Empty Trash
How to Uninstall Python 2.7 on Mac
Uninstall Python 3.8 Mac
Generally, the approach to uninstallation of Python 2.7 from Mac shares a lot of similarities with the one described above. Shut down all running python processes on your Mac before you attempt to remove the application folder. You can either follow the method laid out above, or take a shortcut and grab MacFly Pro to spare yourself the handpicking.
- Launch MacFly Pro and select Apps
- Hit Scan to get a list of applications installed on your Mac
- Select IDLE.app, Python Launcher.app, Build Applet.app from the list
- Click Uninstall Selected to remove the apps along with all leftover data
- Open Finder>Applications and move Python 2.7 folder to Trash
Alternatively, follow these steps if you feel like taking the matter into your own hands:
![Uninstall Python 3.8 Mac Uninstall Python 3.8 Mac](/uploads/1/1/9/4/119400857/798099504.jpg)
- Open Finder and go to Applications
- Select Python 2.7 folder
- Move the folder to Trash
- Ctrl-click the Trash bin and select Empty Trash
Uninstall Python 3.8 Macc
Upon uninstalling core python apps, proceed to locating its leftover files:
- Open Finder
- Hold Shift-Command-G to open Go to the Folder
- Paste each of the following directories and look for all items containing python in the name:
- ~/Library/Preferences/
- ~/Library/Saved Application State/
- /Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/
- Select all related files/folders and move them to Trash
- Ctrl-click the bin and Empty Trash
Uninstall Python Mac Os
On a final note, this guide explains a convenient approach meant to help an average user cope with the uninstallation process by one’s own efforts. Advanced users may find it easier to remove python package using Terminal commands.