Are you tired of using Android Studio on your Mac? Maybe you’ve switched to another IDE or have decided to stop developing for Android altogether. Whatever the reason, uninstalling Android Studio can be a daunting task. But fear not! In this comprehensive guide, we will take you through the steps necessary to safely and effectively remove Android Studio from your Mac.

Before We Begin

Before we dive into the steps, it’s important to understand that uninstalling Android Studio does not necessarily mean removing all of Android development tools from your Mac. The Android SDK, for example, can be installed separately and will remain on your system even if you remove Android Studio. Additionally, some Android Studio plugins may require manual removal after the IDE is uninstalled.

With that in mind, let’s get started!

Step 1: Check if Android Studio Is Installed

Before you can uninstall Android Studio, you need to confirm that it is installed on your Mac. To do this, open the Applications folder by pressing Command + Shift + A or by searching for “Applications” in Spotlight. Look for an icon labeled “Android Studio” and double-click on it.

If Android Studio is not installed, you can skip to Step 3.

Step 2: Remove Android Studio Plugins

Before uninstalling Android Studio, it’s a good idea to remove any plugins that are no longer needed. To do this, open Android Studio and go to the “Preferences” menu by clicking on the gear icon in the top right corner of the window or by pressing Command + ,.

In the Preferences window, select “Plugins” from the left-hand sidebar. You will see a list of all the plugins installed on your system. Look for any plugins that you no longer need and click the “Uninstall” button next to them. Confirm the uninstallation when prompted.

Step 3: Uninstall Android Studio

Now that you’ve removed any unnecessary plugins, it’s time to uninstall Android Studio itself. To do this, open the Applications folder and locate the “Android Studio” icon. Right-click on the icon and select “Move to Trash.”

If you are prompted to confirm the move to trash, click “Yes.” Android Studio will now be removed from your Mac.

Step 4: Remove Android Studio Preferences File

After uninstalling Android Studio, it’s a good idea to remove the preferences file as well. This will prevent any accidental reinstallations of Android Studio in the future. To do this, open the Terminal app by searching for “Terminal” in Spotlight or by going to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.

rm ~/Library/Preferences/AndroidStudio2019.3.app/AndroidStudio2019.3.app.plist

This will remove the Android Studio preferences file from your Mac.

Step 5: Remove Android Studio Launcher Icon

Finally, if you want to completely remove any trace of Android Studio from your Mac, you can also remove the launcher icon from your Dock. To do this, right-click on the Android Studio icon in the Dock and select “Move to Trash.” If prompted, click “Yes” to confirm the move to trash.

Summary

Uninstalling Android Studio from a Mac can be a daunting task, but with these simple steps, you can safely and effectively remove the IDE from your system. Remember to also remove any unnecessary plugins, preferences file, and launcher icon to ensure that Android Studio is completely removed from your Mac.