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How to uninstall Kaspersky on Mac completely

Kaspersky installs system components along with the app: an item that starts at login, logs and caches in the system folders, and on older versions kernel extensions. Use Kaspersky’s own uninstaller first. Save your activation code before you start, so you can use the license again.

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 Kaspersky 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

Uninstall Kaspersky from its own menu

Current versions (Kaspersky for Mac) have an uninstaller built in. It also removes the system components a plain delete leaves behind.

  1. Open Kaspersky.
  2. In the menu bar, choose Help › Support.
  3. In the window that opens, click Uninstall. The Kaspersky uninstaller starts.
  4. In the uninstaller window, click Uninstall again.
  5. Enter an administrator name and password and confirm.
  6. When the uninstall is finished, read the message and click Quit.

Kaspersky says you don’t have to restart the Mac after this. Its browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox are not removed with the app: remove them in each browser’s extensions settings.

If the uninstaller doesn’t work

Kaspersky has a free removal tool, kavremover-mac, for when the usual way fails. It works with Kaspersky Standard, Plus and Premium, Security Cloud and Internet Security 20 and 21 for Mac, on macOS 10.15.7 or later.

  1. Download kavremover-mac from Kaspersky’s support site and open the archive.
  2. Open the kavremover-mac disk image.
  3. Click Uninstall Kaspersky, then Uninstall to confirm.
  4. When you see that the removal was successful, click Quit and restart your Mac.

Kaspersky warns that the removal tool deletes the license information with the app. Write down your activation code, or connect the app to your My Kaspersky account, before you run it.

What Kaspersky leaves behind

After either way, check these places. Most are system folders. The paths starting with ~ are in the Library folder inside your home folder:

  • /Library/Application Support/Kaspersky Lab — the app’s data and components.
  • /Library/Caches/com.kaspersky.kav — the cache.
  • /Library/Logs/Kaspersky Lab and ~/Library/Logs/Kaspersky Lab — logs.
  • ~/Library/Preferences/com.kaspersky.kav_agent.plist — settings.
  • /Library/LaunchAgents/com.kaspersky.kav.gui.plist — a Kaspersky item that starts when you log in.
  • /Library/Extensions/klif.kext and /Library/Extensions/klnke.kext — kernel extensions installed by older versions.

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. Files in /Library need your administrator password.
  3. Repeat for the other paths.
  4. Restart your Mac, so no Kaspersky component is loaded any more, then empty the Trash.

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

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 Kaspersky creates — in your Library folder and in the system folders — and removes them together with the app, background items included.

Download MacWashingHow it works

Free trial · macOS 14 or later

Questions and answers

Will MacWashing delete my own files when it removes Kaspersky?

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 Kaspersky 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 Kaspersky 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.

Will I lose my Kaspersky license if I uninstall it?

The license is not lost, but the app forgets it. Keep your activation code or connect the app to My Kaspersky first. Kaspersky’s removal tool deletes the license information together with the app.

Why are Kaspersky’s browser extensions still there?

Kaspersky’s uninstaller doesn’t remove its extensions for Chrome and Firefox. Remove them in each browser’s extensions settings.

Do I need to restart the Mac after uninstalling Kaspersky?

Not after the built-in uninstaller, Kaspersky says. After the removal tool, or if you delete leftover kernel extensions by hand, restart the Mac.