[GH-ISSUE #2028] how to remove ollama from macos? #1170

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opened 2026-04-12 10:57:13 -05:00 by GiteaMirror · 21 comments
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Originally created by @artnoimann on GitHub (Jan 17, 2024).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/ollama/ollama/issues/2028

When deleting an application from the list, the error "ollama is still running" is displayed
If you terminate processes from system monitoring, they start again immediately and the application itself cannot be deleted either.

Originally created by @artnoimann on GitHub (Jan 17, 2024). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/ollama/ollama/issues/2028 When deleting an application from the list, the error "ollama is still running" is displayed If you terminate processes from system monitoring, they start again immediately and the application itself cannot be deleted either.
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@easp commented on GitHub (Jan 18, 2024):

When deleting an application from the list

What list?

Have you quit Ollama via the menu bar icon first?

<!-- gh-comment-id:1897715904 --> @easp commented on GitHub (Jan 18, 2024): > When deleting an application from the list What list? Have you quit Ollama via the menu bar icon first?
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@artnoimann commented on GitHub (Jan 18, 2024):

When deleting an application from the list

What list?

Have you quit Ollama via the menu bar icon first?

Of course

<!-- gh-comment-id:1897941810 --> @artnoimann commented on GitHub (Jan 18, 2024): > > When deleting an application from the list > > What list? > > Have you quit Ollama via the menu bar icon first? Of course
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@easp commented on GitHub (Jan 18, 2024):

Some people think the app is just an installer and don't realize that it remains in the menu bar.

You still didn't say what list you are removing it from.

<!-- gh-comment-id:1898881314 --> @easp commented on GitHub (Jan 18, 2024): Some people think the app is just an installer and don't realize that it remains in the menu bar. You still didn't say what list you are removing it from.
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@artnoimann commented on GitHub (Jan 18, 2024):

Some people think the app is just an installer and don't realize that it remains in the menu bar.

You still didn't say what list you are removing it from.

finder - programs - move to trash
and
system monitoring - delete process

<!-- gh-comment-id:1898896573 --> @artnoimann commented on GitHub (Jan 18, 2024): > Some people think the app is just an installer and don't realize that it remains in the menu bar. > > You still didn't say what list you are removing it from. finder - programs - move to trash and system monitoring - delete process
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@dekstop commented on GitHub (Apr 4, 2024):

To remove it completely, you also need to remove the symlink and app files:

$ rm /usr/local/bin/ollama 
$ rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Ollama

... as well as the Ollama login item under System Preferences -> General.

<!-- gh-comment-id:2036679275 --> @dekstop commented on GitHub (Apr 4, 2024): To remove it completely, you also need to remove the symlink and app files: $ rm /usr/local/bin/ollama $ rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Ollama ... as well as the Ollama login item under System Preferences -> General.
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@TijuanaKez commented on GitHub (Apr 21, 2024):

Most important of all you'll want to get rid of ~/.ollama as that's where all the huge model files are.

rm -rf ~/.ollama

<!-- gh-comment-id:2067920762 --> @TijuanaKez commented on GitHub (Apr 21, 2024): Most important of all you'll want to get rid of ~/.ollama as that's where all the huge model files are. `rm -rf ~/.ollama`
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@JINJIBOI commented on GitHub (Aug 18, 2024):

$ rm /usr/local/bin/ollama 
$ rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Ollama

When I try to remove it it says "Command not found"

<!-- gh-comment-id:2295303882 --> @JINJIBOI commented on GitHub (Aug 18, 2024): > ``` > $ rm /usr/local/bin/ollama > $ rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Ollama > ``` When I try to remove it it says "Command not found"
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@didiBonocore commented on GitHub (Aug 19, 2024):

I installed Ollama on an M2 Macbook. There were several files to remove, at least in my case. This is what I did:

find / -name "*ollama*" 2>/dev/null - this command will look for Ollama in your system. It might take a while to execute. Once you have the output skim through it and ensure you're not removing something you shouldn't. Then remove the files from the output using rm -rf.

Alternatively, if you use something like Warp terminal you can just ask their AI assistant to do the work for you. I hope it helps.

<!-- gh-comment-id:2295959236 --> @didiBonocore commented on GitHub (Aug 19, 2024): I installed Ollama on an M2 Macbook. There were several files to remove, at least in my case. This is what I did: `find / -name "*ollama*" 2>/dev/null` - this command will look for Ollama in your system. It might take a while to execute. Once you have the output skim through it and ensure you're not removing something you shouldn't. Then remove the files from the output using `rm -rf`. Alternatively, if you use something like Warp terminal you can just ask their AI assistant to do the work for you. I hope it helps.
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@Nilpo commented on GitHub (Sep 25, 2024):

Have you quit Ollama via the menu bar icon first?

There isn't one on my machine.

<!-- gh-comment-id:2374854454 --> @Nilpo commented on GitHub (Sep 25, 2024): > Have you quit Ollama via the menu bar icon first? There isn't one on my machine.
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@OpeyemiSanusi commented on GitHub (Oct 6, 2024):

I installed Ollama on an M2 Macbook. There were several files to remove, at least in my case. This is what I did:

find / -name "*ollama*" 2>/dev/null - this command will look for Ollama in your system. It might take a while to execute. Once you have the output skim through it and ensure you're not removing something you shouldn't. Then remove the files from the output using rm -rf.

Alternatively, if you use something like Warp terminal you can just ask their AI assistant to do the work for you. I hope it helps.

that's dangerous! especially with tons of AI related apps

<!-- gh-comment-id:2395475730 --> @OpeyemiSanusi commented on GitHub (Oct 6, 2024): > I installed Ollama on an M2 Macbook. There were several files to remove, at least in my case. This is what I did: > > `find / -name "*ollama*" 2>/dev/null` - this command will look for Ollama in your system. It might take a while to execute. Once you have the output skim through it and ensure you're not removing something you shouldn't. Then remove the files from the output using `rm -rf`. > > Alternatively, if you use something like Warp terminal you can just ask their AI assistant to do the work for you. I hope it helps. that's dangerous! especially with tons of AI related apps
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@easp commented on GitHub (Oct 6, 2024):

@OpeyemiSanusi Dangerous? How so? Other AI related apps shouldn't be saving anything in ~/.ollama.

<!-- gh-comment-id:2395503130 --> @easp commented on GitHub (Oct 6, 2024): @OpeyemiSanusi Dangerous? How so? Other AI related apps shouldn't be saving anything in ~/.ollama.
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@OpeyemiSanusi commented on GitHub (Oct 6, 2024):

@OpeyemiSanusi Dangerous? How so? Other AI related apps shouldn't be saving anything in ~/.ollama.

my bad! i quoted the wrong reply. I want referring to the comment that suggested using find / -name "*ollama*" 2>/dev/null because that would return all files with "ollama" regardless of it was created by the Ollama installation

<!-- gh-comment-id:2395505119 --> @OpeyemiSanusi commented on GitHub (Oct 6, 2024): > @OpeyemiSanusi Dangerous? How so? Other AI related apps shouldn't be saving anything in ~/.ollama. my bad! i quoted the wrong reply. I want referring to the comment that suggested using `find / -name "*ollama*" 2>/dev/null` because that would return all files with `"ollama" ` regardless of it was created by the Ollama installation
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@bcp579 commented on GitHub (Jan 30, 2025):

Just simply go and click on apple icon on the top of the screen and go to force quit and delete it from there. You will able to delete it.

<!-- gh-comment-id:2623505731 --> @bcp579 commented on GitHub (Jan 30, 2025): Just simply go and click on apple icon on the top of the screen and go to force quit and delete it from there. You will able to delete it.
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@flipbit03 commented on GitHub (Jun 26, 2025):

What an infuriating user experience. I cannot drag Ollama.app into the Trash because there are running processes. You kill the processes, they restart instantly

<!-- gh-comment-id:3010600111 --> @flipbit03 commented on GitHub (Jun 26, 2025): What an infuriating user experience. I cannot drag Ollama.app into the Trash because there are running processes. You kill the processes, they restart instantly
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@j05hau commented on GitHub (Jul 29, 2025):

Figured it out - the deleted .app that was in the trash can resurrected itself after every reboot of macOS. Empty it from the trash and it shouldn't come back.

source=app_darwin.go:215 msg="starting Ollama" app="/Users/username/.Trash/Ollama 6.14.32\u202fpm.app" version=0.9.6 OS=Darwin/24.5.0

This needs fixing, stat.

<!-- gh-comment-id:3131495497 --> @j05hau commented on GitHub (Jul 29, 2025): Figured it out - the deleted .app **that was in the trash can** resurrected itself after every reboot of macOS. Empty it from the trash and it shouldn't come back. ``` source=app_darwin.go:215 msg="starting Ollama" app="/Users/username/.Trash/Ollama 6.14.32\u202fpm.app" version=0.9.6 OS=Darwin/24.5.0 ``` This needs fixing, stat.
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@antonreshetov commented on GitHub (Aug 2, 2025):

is it such a joke that there is no simple button for deleting or does it not respect simple dragging to the trash?

<!-- gh-comment-id:3146210020 --> @antonreshetov commented on GitHub (Aug 2, 2025): is it such a joke that there is no simple button for deleting or does it not respect simple dragging to the trash?
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@lopezm94 commented on GitHub (Aug 22, 2025):

This script this the trick for me on MacOS, it's AI generated, execute at your own risk, I was desperate to get it out of my pc. This stopped ollama from trying to install back the CLI at startup. These directories where selected by filtering from executing the command find / -name "*ollama*" 2>/dev/null suggested above.

#!/bin/bash

echo "==================================="
echo "Complete Ollama Removal Script"
echo "==================================="
echo ""

# Step 1: Kill all Ollama processes
echo "Step 1: Killing all Ollama processes..."
pkill -f ollama || true
killall Ollama 2>/dev/null || true
sleep 2

# Step 2: Remove Ollama from Applications and Trash
echo "Step 2: Removing Ollama application..."
rm -rf /Applications/Ollama.app 2>/dev/null || true
rm -rf ~/Applications/Ollama.app 2>/dev/null || true
rm -rf ~/.Trash/Ollama.app 2>/dev/null || true
rm -rf /Users/lopezm/.Trash/Ollama.app 2>/dev/null || true

# Step 3: Remove Ollama data and config directories
echo "Step 3: Removing Ollama data directories..."
rm -rf ~/.ollama 2>/dev/null || true
rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Ollama 2>/dev/null || true
rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/ollama 2>/dev/null || true
rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/com.electron.ollama 2>/dev/null || true
rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/com.electron.ollama.ShipIt 2>/dev/null || true
rm -rf ~/Library/HTTPStorages/com.electron.ollama 2>/dev/null || true
rm -rf ~/Library/HTTPStorages/com.electron.ollama.binarycookies 2>/dev/null || true

# Step 4: Remove Ollama preferences
echo "Step 4: Removing Ollama preferences..."
rm -f ~/Library/Preferences/com.electron.ollama.plist 2>/dev/null || true
rm -f ~/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.electron.ollama.ShipIt.*.plist 2>/dev/null || true

# Step 5: Remove Electron cache directories
echo "Step 5: Removing Electron cache directories..."
rm -rf /private/var/folders/*/*/*/*/com.electron.ollama* 2>/dev/null || true
rm -rf /System/Volumes/Data/private/var/folders/*/*/*/*/com.electron.ollama* 2>/dev/null || true

# Step 6: Remove Ollama CLI if installed via homebrew
echo "Step 6: Checking for Homebrew installation..."
if command -v brew &> /dev/null; then
    brew uninstall ollama 2>/dev/null || true
    brew untap ollama/tap 2>/dev/null || true
fi

# Step 7: Remove Ollama binary from common locations
echo "Step 7: Removing Ollama binaries..."
sudo rm -f /usr/local/bin/ollama 2>/dev/null || true
sudo rm -f /opt/homebrew/bin/ollama 2>/dev/null || true
rm -f ~/bin/ollama 2>/dev/null || true

# Step 8: Clear Raycast cache
echo "Step 8: Clearing Raycast cache..."
rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/com.raycast.macos/urlcache/ollama 2>/dev/null || true

# Step 9: Remove any LaunchAgents
echo "Step 9: Removing LaunchAgents..."
rm -f ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.ollama.* 2>/dev/null || true
rm -f ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.electron.ollama.* 2>/dev/null || true

# Step 10: Final cleanup - empty trash
echo "Step 10: Final cleanup..."
osascript -e 'tell application "Finder" to empty trash' 2>/dev/null || true

echo ""
echo "==================================="
echo "Ollama removal complete!"
echo "==================================="
echo ""
echo "Note: Some files in npm/node modules and Python packages contain"
echo "Ollama references but are just integrations/libraries, not the"
echo "actual Ollama application. These are safe to keep unless you want"
echo "to remove those specific packages."
echo ""
echo "If you see any permission denied errors above, you may need to"
echo "manually check those locations with sudo access."
<!-- gh-comment-id:3215755449 --> @lopezm94 commented on GitHub (Aug 22, 2025): This script this the trick for me on MacOS, it's AI generated, execute at your own risk, I was desperate to get it out of my pc. This stopped ollama from trying to install back the CLI at startup. These directories where selected by filtering from executing the command `find / -name "*ollama*" 2>/dev/null` suggested above. ```shell #!/bin/bash echo "===================================" echo "Complete Ollama Removal Script" echo "===================================" echo "" # Step 1: Kill all Ollama processes echo "Step 1: Killing all Ollama processes..." pkill -f ollama || true killall Ollama 2>/dev/null || true sleep 2 # Step 2: Remove Ollama from Applications and Trash echo "Step 2: Removing Ollama application..." rm -rf /Applications/Ollama.app 2>/dev/null || true rm -rf ~/Applications/Ollama.app 2>/dev/null || true rm -rf ~/.Trash/Ollama.app 2>/dev/null || true rm -rf /Users/lopezm/.Trash/Ollama.app 2>/dev/null || true # Step 3: Remove Ollama data and config directories echo "Step 3: Removing Ollama data directories..." rm -rf ~/.ollama 2>/dev/null || true rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Ollama 2>/dev/null || true rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/ollama 2>/dev/null || true rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/com.electron.ollama 2>/dev/null || true rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/com.electron.ollama.ShipIt 2>/dev/null || true rm -rf ~/Library/HTTPStorages/com.electron.ollama 2>/dev/null || true rm -rf ~/Library/HTTPStorages/com.electron.ollama.binarycookies 2>/dev/null || true # Step 4: Remove Ollama preferences echo "Step 4: Removing Ollama preferences..." rm -f ~/Library/Preferences/com.electron.ollama.plist 2>/dev/null || true rm -f ~/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.electron.ollama.ShipIt.*.plist 2>/dev/null || true # Step 5: Remove Electron cache directories echo "Step 5: Removing Electron cache directories..." rm -rf /private/var/folders/*/*/*/*/com.electron.ollama* 2>/dev/null || true rm -rf /System/Volumes/Data/private/var/folders/*/*/*/*/com.electron.ollama* 2>/dev/null || true # Step 6: Remove Ollama CLI if installed via homebrew echo "Step 6: Checking for Homebrew installation..." if command -v brew &> /dev/null; then brew uninstall ollama 2>/dev/null || true brew untap ollama/tap 2>/dev/null || true fi # Step 7: Remove Ollama binary from common locations echo "Step 7: Removing Ollama binaries..." sudo rm -f /usr/local/bin/ollama 2>/dev/null || true sudo rm -f /opt/homebrew/bin/ollama 2>/dev/null || true rm -f ~/bin/ollama 2>/dev/null || true # Step 8: Clear Raycast cache echo "Step 8: Clearing Raycast cache..." rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/com.raycast.macos/urlcache/ollama 2>/dev/null || true # Step 9: Remove any LaunchAgents echo "Step 9: Removing LaunchAgents..." rm -f ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.ollama.* 2>/dev/null || true rm -f ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.electron.ollama.* 2>/dev/null || true # Step 10: Final cleanup - empty trash echo "Step 10: Final cleanup..." osascript -e 'tell application "Finder" to empty trash' 2>/dev/null || true echo "" echo "===================================" echo "Ollama removal complete!" echo "===================================" echo "" echo "Note: Some files in npm/node modules and Python packages contain" echo "Ollama references but are just integrations/libraries, not the" echo "actual Ollama application. These are safe to keep unless you want" echo "to remove those specific packages." echo "" echo "If you see any permission denied errors above, you may need to" echo "manually check those locations with sudo access." ```
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@lomeat commented on GitHub (Nov 7, 2025):

t's AI generated

it's a definitely good script otherwise

<!-- gh-comment-id:3501081641 --> @lomeat commented on GitHub (Nov 7, 2025): > t's AI generated it's a definitely good script otherwise
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@shrestha-roshan commented on GitHub (Jan 12, 2026):

https://docs.ollama.com/macos#uninstall

Here's the official way:

sudo rm -rf /Applications/Ollama.app
sudo rm /usr/local/bin/ollama
rm -rf "~/Library/Application Support/Ollama"
rm -rf "~/Library/Saved Application State/com.electron.ollama.savedState"
rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/com.electron.ollama/
rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/ollama
rm -rf ~/Library/WebKit/com.electron.ollama
rm -rf ~/.ollama
<!-- gh-comment-id:3739346371 --> @shrestha-roshan commented on GitHub (Jan 12, 2026): https://docs.ollama.com/macos#uninstall Here's the official way: ``` sudo rm -rf /Applications/Ollama.app sudo rm /usr/local/bin/ollama rm -rf "~/Library/Application Support/Ollama" rm -rf "~/Library/Saved Application State/com.electron.ollama.savedState" rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/com.electron.ollama/ rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/ollama rm -rf ~/Library/WebKit/com.electron.ollama rm -rf ~/.ollama ```
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@forgit1925 commented on GitHub (Feb 15, 2026):

This script worked for me at once! No errors encountered

echo "Stopping Ollama..."

Kill running processes

pkill -9 ollama 2>/dev/null

Detect current user

USER_HOME="$HOME"

echo "Removing binaries..."
sudo rm -f /usr/local/bin/ollama

echo "Removing app..."
sudo rm -rf /Applications/Ollama.app

echo "Removing user data..."
rm -rf "$USER_HOME/.ollama"
rm -rf "$USER_HOME/Library/Application Support/Ollama"
rm -rf "$USER_HOME/Library/Caches/ollama"

echo "Removing temp files..."
rm -rf /private/var/folders///*/C/com.electron.ollama 2>/dev/null

echo "Unloading launch agent..."
launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.ollama.ollama.plist 2>/dev/null
rm -f ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.ollama.ollama.plist

echo "Cleanup finished"

<!-- gh-comment-id:3904672378 --> @forgit1925 commented on GitHub (Feb 15, 2026): This script worked for me at once! No errors encountered echo "Stopping Ollama..." # Kill running processes pkill -9 ollama 2>/dev/null # Detect current user USER_HOME="$HOME" echo "Removing binaries..." sudo rm -f /usr/local/bin/ollama echo "Removing app..." sudo rm -rf /Applications/Ollama.app echo "Removing user data..." rm -rf "$USER_HOME/.ollama" rm -rf "$USER_HOME/Library/Application Support/Ollama" rm -rf "$USER_HOME/Library/Caches/ollama" echo "Removing temp files..." rm -rf /private/var/folders/*/*/*/C/com.electron.ollama 2>/dev/null echo "Unloading launch agent..." launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.ollama.ollama.plist 2>/dev/null rm -f ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.ollama.ollama.plist echo "Cleanup finished"
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@WalterGropius commented on GitHub (Apr 12, 2026):

guys!! if u installed ollama a long time ago with brew its prob the prob. run which ollama 😜

<!-- gh-comment-id:4231565795 --> @WalterGropius commented on GitHub (Apr 12, 2026): guys!! if u installed ollama a long time ago with brew its prob the prob. run which ollama 😜
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Reference: github-starred/ollama#1170