Uninstall Teams on Mac: Full Removal Guide

To uninstall Microsoft Teams on a Mac, you need to delete the app from the Applications folder, clear its support files from ~/Library, and remove any login items. This guide covers the complete process for both the classic Teams and the new Teams app, plus how to handle leftover files that can cause reinstallation issues.

Why Uninstalling Teams on Mac Isn’t as Simple as Dragging to Trash

Microsoft Teams installs multiple components beyond the main application file. When you drag Teams from the Applications folder to the Trash, you only remove the app bundle itself. The background processes, cached data, and preferences remain on your Mac. These leftovers can consume disk space, slow down your system, and sometimes cause Teams to reappear in your Dock or launch at startup. A complete uninstall requires removing all these related files manually or using a dedicated uninstaller.

There are two versions of Teams for Mac in circulation: the classic Teams (built on Electron) and the new Teams (a rewritten version with better performance). The uninstall steps differ slightly, and the new Teams stores its data in a different location. Knowing which version you have helps you target the right files.

Before You Uninstall: Backup and Sign Out

If you might need your chat history or files later, back them up first. Teams stores conversations and files in SharePoint and OneDrive, so they remain available online after you uninstall the app. However, any locally cached files that haven’t synced could be lost.

Sign out of Teams before deleting it. Open Teams, click your profile picture, and select “Sign out.” This ensures your credentials are cleared and prevents any sync issues. If you’re using the new Teams, also check that it’s not running in the background by looking at the menu bar for the Teams icon.

Step-by-Step: Uninstall Classic Teams on Mac

Follow these steps to remove the classic Teams app completely:

1. Quit Teams completely. Right-click the Teams icon in the Dock and select “Quit,” or press Cmd+Q.
2. Open Finder and go to the Applications folder. Drag the Microsoft Teams app to the Trash.
3. Open Finder and press Cmd+Shift+G to open the “Go to Folder” dialog. Enter ~/Library and press Return.
4. In the Library folder, search for and delete the following folders and files:
   • ~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Teams
   • ~/Library/Application Support/Teams
   • ~/Library/Caches/com.microsoft.teams
   • ~/Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.teams.plist
   • ~/Library/Saved Application State/com.microsoft.teams.savedState
   • ~/Library/Logs/Microsoft Teams
5. Empty the Trash.

If you see a message that the app is in use, force quit it via Activity Monitor (look for “Microsoft Teams” and “Microsoft Teams Helper”) and try again.

Step-by-Step: Uninstall New Teams on Mac

The new Teams app (sometimes called “Microsoft Teams (work or school)”) stores files in a different location. The process is similar:

1. Quit the new Teams app from the Dock or menu bar.
2. Drag the “Microsoft Teams” app (or “Microsoft Teams classic” if you have both) from Applications to Trash.
3. Open ~/Library via Finder (Cmd+Shift+G).
4. Delete the following:
   • ~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Teams (if present)
   • ~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Teams Meeting Add-in (if present)
   • ~/Library/Caches/com.microsoft.teams
   • ~/Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.teams.plist
   • ~/Library/WebKit/com.microsoft.teams
5. Empty the Trash.

If you also have the classic Teams installed, remove its files as described in the previous section.

Removing Teams Login Items and Background Processes

Even after deleting the app, Teams may still appear at login. To remove it:

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS).
2. Go to “General” > “Login Items” (or “Users & Groups” > “Login Items” on older versions).
3. Look for any Teams-related items (e.g., “Microsoft Teams”) and select them, then click the minus button to remove.
4. Check the “Allow in the Background” section (if present) and disable Teams if listed.

Also, open Activity Monitor and search for “Teams.” If any processes remain, select them and click the X button to force quit, then delete the app again if it reappears.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Users often encounter these issues during uninstall:

• Teams won’t quit: Use Activity Monitor to force quit all Teams processes, then try deleting.
• Files are locked: Right-click the file, select “Get Info,” and check the Sharing & Permissions section. Change permissions to “Read & Write” for your user.
• Teams reappears after restart: This usually means a login item or background process is re-downloading it. Remove all login items and check for any Microsoft AutoUpdate agent that might reinstall.
• Cannot delete because the app is in use: Restart your Mac in Safe Mode (hold Shift during startup) and try deleting again.

Using a Third-Party Uninstaller vs. Manual Removal

You can use a dedicated uninstaller app like AppCleaner or CleanMyMac X to automate the process. These tools scan for related files and remove them in one click. However, they may not always catch every file, and they often cost money. Manual removal is free and gives you full control, but it requires careful navigation of hidden Library folders. If you’re comfortable with Finder and Terminal, manual removal is reliable. If you prefer a guided approach, a third-party uninstaller can save time, but always verify that it removes the correct files.

What Happens After Uninstall: Data and Licenses

Uninstalling Teams does not delete your Microsoft account or any cloud data. Your chats, files, and team channels remain in Microsoft 365 and can be accessed via the web version at teams.microsoft.com. If you have a paid license, it remains active on your account. Reinstalling later will restore your data from the cloud, but you’ll need to sign in again. If you’re uninstalling to free up disk space, note that Teams can occupy several gigabytes, especially with cached files.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling Teams delete my chat history?

No. Chat history is stored in Microsoft’s cloud servers, not on your Mac. After uninstalling, you can access all conversations by logging into Teams on the web or reinstalling the app.

How do I remove Teams from my Mac completely without leaving any trace?

Follow the manual steps above, including deleting the Library folders and login items. You can also use Terminal to remove files with the rm -rf command, but be very careful with paths. A third-party uninstaller can help ensure nothing is missed.

Why does Teams keep reinstalling itself on my Mac?

Microsoft AutoUpdate (MAU) can reinstall Teams if it’s still listed as a managed app. Remove MAU’s Teams entry by uninstalling Teams through the company portal if you have one, or by deleting the MAU preferences and checking for any configuration profiles in System Settings > General > Device Management.

Can I just drag Teams to the Trash and be done?

You can, but it leaves behind support files that can cause issues. The app may still appear in Spotlight, and login items may remain. For a clean removal, follow the full steps.

Is the new Teams uninstall different from the classic one?

Yes, the file locations differ slightly. The new Teams stores data in ~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Teams (same as classic) but also uses ~/Library/WebKit. The steps above cover both.

What if I don’t have a Library folder?

The Library folder is hidden by default in macOS. In Finder, press Cmd+Shift+G and type ~/Library to open it. You can also make it visible permanently by running chflags nohidden ~/Library in Terminal.

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