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How to uninstall Plex on Mac completely

Plex on a Mac can be two different apps: the Plex app you watch with, and Plex Media Server, which organizes your media and streams it to your devices. They are removed separately. Here is how to remove either or both, using the steps from Plex Support. Your own media files are never part of Plex and stay where they are.

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 Plex 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

The Plex app or Plex Media Server?

The Plex app plays media from Plex servers and streaming services. Plex Media Server is a separate app that keeps your libraries: it scans your folders of movies, shows, music and photos, and keeps its own records of them: metadata, artwork and what you have watched. You can have one of them or both. Removing the Plex app doesn’t touch the server, and removing the server doesn’t touch the app.

Uninstall the Plex app

These are Plex Support’s steps:

  1. Quit Plex: right-click its icon in the Dock and choose Quit.
  2. In Finder, choose Go › Go to Folder, enter ~/Library/Application Support/ and press Return.
  3. Delete the Plex folder there.
  4. Open Finder › Applications and drag Plex to the Trash.

Uninstall Plex Media Server

This removes the server completely, with all your libraries, metadata and watch history. Your media files are not deleted. If you only want a different version, just run the new installer instead.

  1. Quit Plex Media Server: click its icon in the menu bar and choose to quit it.
  2. In Finder, choose Go › Go to Folder, enter ~/Library/ and delete these folders: Application Support/Plex Media Server, Caches/PlexMediaServer and Logs/Plex Media Server.
  3. Open Terminal and delete the server’s settings:
defaults delete com.plexapp.plexmediaserver
  1. Drag Plex Media Server from Finder › Applications to the Trash.
  2. Restart your Mac.

Plex notes that you may also need to remove Plex Media Server from your login items: open System Settings › General › Login Items & Extensions (macOS Sonoma: Login Items). To remove the server from your Plex account too, delete it on the Devices page in Plex Web App.

What Plex leaves behind

If you deleted only the apps, check these places in the Library folder inside your home folder:

  • ~/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server — the server’s data: libraries, metadata, artwork, settings.
  • ~/Library/Caches/PlexMediaServer — the server’s cache.
  • ~/Library/Preferences/com.plexapp.plexmediaserver.plist — the server’s settings.
  • ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.plexapp.mediaserver.plist — starts the server when you log in.
  • ~/Library/Logs/PMS Plugin Logs — logs of server plug-ins.
  • ~/Library/Application Support/Plex — the Plex app’s data.
  • ~/Library/Caches/Plex — the Plex app’s cache.
  • ~/Library/Logs/Plex — the Plex app’s logs.

~/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Plug-in Support/Databases holds the server’s library data: watch history, collections and your metadata edits. Keep a copy if you plan to set the server up again. Without it you will have to scan and edit your libraries from scratch. Your movies, shows, music and photos are in your own folders and are not deleted with Plex.

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, so the server is no longer running, then empty the Trash.

Plex 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 the Plex app and Plex Media Server create in your Library folder and removes them together with the app, the server’s login item included. Folders that may hold your own data, like the server’s library data, are listed as Possible and stay unchecked until you check them yourself.

Download MacWashingHow it works

Free trial · macOS 14 or later

Questions and answers

Will MacWashing delete my own files when it removes Plex?

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 Plex 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 Plex 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 uninstalling Plex delete my movies and music?

No. Plex Media Server only reads your media folders and keeps its own records about them. Plex’s steps delete those records, never the media files.

Does removing the Plex app remove Plex Media Server?

No. They are separate apps. Delete Plex Media Server and its folders too if you no longer want this Mac to serve media.

Can I reinstall Plex Media Server later?

Yes. Download it again from Plex and sign in. After a full uninstall the server starts empty: add your media folders and Plex scans them again.