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How to uninstall VLC on Mac completely

VLC doesn’t need an uninstaller: VideoLAN’s own instructions are to drag it to the Trash. That removes the player, but its settings, cache and data folders stay in your Library folder. Here is how to remove them too, and how to reset VLC if you only want a fresh start.

Uninstaller: a list of apps sorted by size with when each was last opened, Google Chrome selected with its app and cache sizes
  1. Open MacWashing and choose Uninstaller in the sidebar.
  2. Click Show Apps and check VLC in the list.
  3. Click Remove and confirm. Files that may be yours are listed as Possible and stay unchecked.
Download MacWashingHow it works

Free trial · macOS 14 or later

Delete VLC in Finder

  1. Quit VLC: choose VLC › Quit VLC or press Command-Q.
  2. Open Finder › Applications and drag VLC to the Trash.

Your videos and music are not touched: VLC plays files where they are and doesn’t keep copies of them.

What VLC leaves behind

All of these are in the Library folder inside your home folder:

  • ~/Library/Preferences/org.videolan.vlc — VLC’s settings folder.
  • ~/Library/Preferences/org.videolan.vlc.plist — more settings.
  • ~/Library/Caches/org.videolan.vlc — the cache.
  • ~/Library/Application Support/VLC and ~/Library/Application Support/org.videolan.vlc — data VLC saves while it works.
  • ~/Library/HTTPStorages/org.videolan.vlc — data of VLC’s network requests.
  • ~/Library/Saved Application State/org.videolan.vlc.savedState — the window state macOS restores on launch.

Remove the leftovers by hand

  1. In Finder, choose Go › Go to Folder (Shift-Command-G), type a path from the list above and press Return.
  2. Move the folder or file to the Trash.
  3. Repeat for the other paths.
  4. Restart your Mac, then empty the Trash.

VLC isn’t the only app that leaves files behind: see how to uninstall apps on Mac completely.

If you only want to reset VLC

When VLC misbehaves, you may not need to uninstall it. VideoLAN’s wiki describes resetting its settings:

  1. Open VLC and choose VLC › Preferences.
  2. Click Reset All in the bottom left corner.
  3. Confirm. VLC resets its settings and restarts.

If VLC doesn’t open at all, quit it, run defaults delete org.videolan.vlc in Terminal, then move ~/Library/Preferences/org.videolan.vlc and ~/Library/Preferences/org.videolan.vlc.plist to the Trash.

With MacWashing, it’s one click

Uninstaller: a list of apps sorted by size with when each was last opened, Google Chrome selected with its app and cache sizes

The Uninstaller in MacWashing knows the files VLC creates in your Library folder and removes them together with the app.

Download MacWashingHow it works

Free trial · macOS 14 or later

Questions and answers

Will MacWashing delete my own files when it removes VLC?

No. The Uninstaller checks only what belongs to the app: its settings, caches, logs and background items. Folders that may hold your own files are listed as Possible and stay unchecked until you check them yourself, and apps go to the Trash by default, so you can put them back.

What if VLC is still running?

MacWashing waits for it to quit, or quits it at your request, and only then removes its files.

Is it free to uninstall VLC with MacWashing?

Yes, within the free trial: System Junk and the Uninstaller free up to 25 GB in total, with no account or card needed.

Does VLC have its own uninstaller?

No. VideoLAN says to drag the app to the Trash. Its settings and cache stay behind, so remove them by hand as above.

Will uninstalling VLC delete my videos?

No. VLC only plays files from where they are stored. Your videos and music stay in their folders.

Can I reinstall VLC later?

Yes. Download it again from videolan.org. If you removed the leftovers, it starts with default settings.