How to Uninstall Chromium From Your Mac

This guide walks you through completely removing the Chromium browser from your Mac, including its leftover files. Chromium is the open-source base for many browsers, and while it can be useful, you might want to delete it to free up space or because you prefer another browser. Follow these steps carefully to ensure no traces remain.

What You’ll Need

• Your Mac with administrator access (you’ll need to enter your password).
• Finder and Terminal (both are pre-installed).
• About 10 minutes of time.

Step-by-Step

1. Quit Chromium completely. Click the Chromium icon in the Dock or press Cmd + Tab to switch to it. Then press Cmd + Q. If the browser is frozen, force quit: go to the Apple menu () > Force Quit (or press Option + Cmd + Esc), select Chromium, and click Force Quit.
2. Move the app to Trash. Open Finder, go to the Applications folder (sidebar or press Cmd + Shift + A). Find the Chromium icon, right-click it, and select Move to Trash. Alternatively, drag it to the Trash in your Dock.
3. Delete leftover files in your user Library. These are hidden by default. In Finder, press Cmd + Shift + G (Go to Folder), type ~/Library and press Enter. Look for the following folders and drag them to Trash:
   • ~/Library/Application Support/Chromium
   • ~/Library/Caches/Chromium
   • ~/Library/Preferences/org.chromium.Chromium.plist
   • ~/Library/Saved Application State/org.chromium.Chromium.savedState
   • ~/Library/WebKit/org.chromium.Chromium (if present)
4. Check other Library locations. Some files may be in the system-wide Library (requires admin). Go to /Library (from the Go menu, choose Go to Folder and type /Library). Look in Application Support, Caches, and Preferences for anything with “Chromium” in the name. Drag those to Trash as well. You may need to enter your password.
5. Remove launch agents (if any). Chromium doesn’t normally install them, but check ~/Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchAgents for files containing “chromium” (e.g., org.chromium.Chromium.plist). If found, drag to Trash.
6. Empty the Trash. Right-click the Trash icon in the Dock and select Empty Trash. Confirm if prompted.
7. Restart your Mac. This ensures all processes are cleared and any cached files are flushed.

Common Mistakes

• Only deleting the app. The biggest mistake is just dragging Chromium to Trash without removing the support files. Those files can take up hundreds of megabytes and may cause issues if you reinstall later.
• Deleting the wrong folders. Be careful not to delete folders that belong to other browsers. Only delete items that have “Chromium” in the name, and only from the specific paths listed above.
• Skipping the system Library. If you only check your user Library, you might miss files in /Library that were installed with admin privileges. Always check both.
• Not quitting the app first. If Chromium is still running, some files will be locked and won’t delete properly. Always quit completely before removing.

Tips

• Use a dedicated uninstaller app. Apps like AppCleaner (free) can automate the process and catch files you might miss. However, they can sometimes delete too much, so review what they select.
• Back up your bookmarks. If you have any important bookmarks, export them before deleting. In Chromium, go to Bookmarks > Bookmark Manager > Organize (three dots) > Export bookmarks. Save the HTML file.
• Check for updates. If you’re deleting because of a bug, consider updating Chromium instead. Sometimes a fresh install fixes issues.
• Use Finder’s search. To be thorough, use Finder’s search (Cmd+F) and search for “Chromium” in your entire Mac. This can reveal any stray files you missed.

Troubleshooting

If the removal doesn’t go as planned, try these fixes:

• “Chromium is still open” error. Open Activity Monitor (in Applications/Utilities), search for “Chromium”, select any processes, and click the X button to force quit. Then try again.
• Files won’t delete. Some files might be locked. Right-click the file, select Get Info, and uncheck “Locked” at the bottom. Then try moving to Trash again.
• Can’t find the Application Support folder. Make sure you typed the path correctly in Go to Folder. It’s ~/Library/Application Support/Chromium – note the space between “Application” and “Support”.
• After deleting, Chromium still appears in Spotlight. Rebuild Spotlight’s index: go to System Settings > Siri & Spotlight > Spotlight Privacy, and add your hard drive, then remove it. This forces a re-index.
• If you see “Chromium” in Login Items. Go to System Settings > General > Login Items, find Chromium, and remove it with the minus button.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to delete Chromium?

Yes, completely safe. Chromium is not required by macOS. It’s just a browser like any other. Deleting it won’t affect system stability.

Will deleting Chromium remove my bookmarks and passwords?

Yes, if you delete the Application Support folder, all your browsing data (bookmarks, passwords, history) will be gone. If you want to keep them, export bookmarks first, and consider saving passwords in a password manager.

What’s the difference between Chromium and Chrome?

Chrome is Google’s version of Chromium with added proprietary features like automatic updates, built-in Flash (deprecated), and some codecs. Chromium is the open-source base. Uninstalling Chromium doesn’t affect Chrome and vice versa.

Can I reinstall Chromium later?

Yes, you can download it again from the official Chromium website. Just note that you’ll have a fresh browser with no previous data.

Why is Chromium on my Mac if I never installed it?

It might have been bundled with another app, or you might have installed it as part of a developer tool. It’s not a virus, but you can remove it if you don’t use it.

Do I need to use Terminal to uninstall?

No, the steps above use only Finder and standard macOS tools. Terminal is optional for advanced users who want to use commands like rm -rf, but it’s not necessary.

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