How to uninstall Telegram on Mac completely
Telegram keeps your chats in the cloud, so deleting it from a Mac loses nothing that syncs. But the app leaves a local copy of chats and media, a cache and settings in your Library folder, and secret chats exist only on the device. Here is how to remove it all safely.
- Open MacWashing and choose Uninstaller in the sidebar.
- Click Show Apps and check Telegram in the list.
- Click Remove and confirm. Files that may be yours are listed as Possible and stay unchecked.
Free trial · macOS 14 or later
Which Telegram you have
Telegram makes two Mac apps. Telegram is the native macOS app. Telegram Desktop is the cross-platform app also made for Windows and Linux. In the Mac App Store it’s called Telegram Lite. This guide is about Telegram. The Finder steps are the same for both, but Telegram Desktop keeps its files in other folders.
Before you delete it: secret chats
Ordinary chats, groups and channels are stored in the Telegram cloud and appear again on any device where you sign in. Secret chats are different: they belong to one device and are not part of the cloud. When you remove Telegram from the Mac, the secret chats on it are gone. Save anything you need from them first.
Delete Telegram in Finder
Telegram has no uninstaller of its own. Delete it like most apps.
- Quit Telegram: right-click its icon in the Dock and choose Quit, and quit it in the menu bar too if it has an icon there.
- Open Finder › Applications and drag Telegram to the Trash.
- Enter your administrator password if macOS asks for it.
What Telegram leaves behind
All of it is in the Library folder inside your home folder:
~/Library/Group Containers/6N38VWS5BX.ru.keepcoder.Telegram— the main data folder with the local copy of your chats and media. It can get large if you open a lot of photos and videos.~/Library/Containers/ru.keepcoder.Telegram— the app’s own container.~/Library/Containers/ru.keepcoder.Telegram.TelegramShare— the share extension that sends files to Telegram from other apps.~/Library/Application Support/ru.keepcoder.Telegram— app data.~/Library/Caches/ru.keepcoder.Telegram— the cache.~/Library/Preferences/ru.keepcoder.Telegram.plist— settings.~/Library/Saved Application State/ru.keepcoder.Telegram.savedState— the saved window state.
Remove the leftovers by hand
- In Finder, choose Go › Go to Folder (Shift-Command-G), type a path from the list above and press Return.
- Move the folder or file to the Trash. If macOS says a container is in use, make sure Telegram is quit and try again.
- Repeat for the other paths.
- Restart your Mac, then empty the Trash.
Telegram isn’t the only app that leaves files behind: see how to uninstall apps on Mac completely.
With MacWashing, it’s one click
The Uninstaller in MacWashing knows the files Telegram creates in your Library folder and removes them together with the app.
Free trial · macOS 14 or later
Questions and answers
Will MacWashing delete my own files when it removes Telegram?
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 Telegram 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 Telegram 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 Telegram chats if I delete it from my Mac?
Cloud chats, groups and channels stay in your account and come back when you sign in again. Secret chats are stored only on the device, so the ones on this Mac are lost.
Does deleting Telegram delete my account?
No. Removing the app, or logging out, keeps your account and cloud messages. Deleting the account is a separate step, and it can’t be undone.
Can I reinstall Telegram later?
Yes. Install it again and sign in with your phone number. Your cloud chats sync back.