How to Uninstall R on Mac: Complete Removal Without Lingering Files Left Behind

To uninstall R on Mac completely, you’ll need more than just dragging the app to the trash—leftover files can haunt your system. ⚡ I’ve removed R from Macs for years, and the key is knowing exactly where its fragments hide, from /Library/Frameworks/ to hidden user folders.

The process takes about 10 minutes if you follow the right steps, but skipping any part leaves behind traces that can cause permission errors later.

First, close RStudio and any R sessions running. Then, delete the main R app from Applications, but that’s just the beginning. The real cleanup happens in Terminal: remove the framework files with sudo rm -rf /Library/Frameworks/R.framework, then scrub hidden user files in ~/Library/R/.

I’ve seen users miss these steps and end up with broken dependencies or mysterious crashes down the line.

After deletion, verify the removal by typing R --version in Terminal—you should see “command not found.” If R still appears, check for leftover launch agents in /Library/LaunchAgents/ or /Library/LaunchDaemons/. This double-check ensures your system is truly clean, ready for a fresh install or another package manager like Homebrew.

For RStudio specifically, delete its app from Applications, then manually remove its preferences and cache in ~/Library/Application Support/RStudio/ and ~/Library/Caches/RStudio/. Pro tip: if you’re reinstalling soon, keep a backup of your .Rprofile or .Rhistory files—they’ll save you hours of reconfiguring your workflow later.

What you need

Step-by-Step instructions for removing R completely from macOS

Here's the foolproof method I use to purge R and all its dependencies from macOS.

Before touching anything, open Activity Monitor from Applications > Utilities. Look for any processes named R, RStudio, or Rscript and force quit them by selecting and clicking the Quit Process button. This prevents file locks that could corrupt your uninstall.

Close Terminal windows if you have any open. Some R packages leave background processes running, and we want to catch them all. I always double-check by running ps aux | grep R in Terminal—if anything shows up, force quit those processes too.

Navigate to your Applications folder and drag R and RStudio (if installed) to the Trash. Empty the Trash immediately to prevent any accidental re-launch. This removes the main applications but leaves behind critical library files and configuration data.

For RStudio specifically, check ~/Library/Application Support/RStudio for any hidden configuration files and move them to Trash as well. The reason we do this is that RStudio caches workspace files and settings that can interfere with clean reinstalls.

Open Terminal and run these commands one by one to purge all remaining R files:

rm -rf ~/Library/R — This removes your personal R library where all installed packages reside.

rm -rf /Library/Frameworks/R.framework — This deletes the system-wide R installation framework that often gets overlooked.

rm -rf /usr/local/bin/R and rm -rf /usr/local/bin/Rscript — These commands remove any lingering command-line tools that might have been installed separately.

Run sudo rm -rf /Library/Caches/org.R-project.R to clear R's system cache files. You'll need to enter your administrator password here—this is normal and expected.

Next, remove user preferences with rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/org.R-project.R.plist. These preference files can cause issues when reinstalling R, as they might reference old package paths or configurations.

Run which R in Terminal to confirm R is no longer in your system path. If it returns nothing, you've successfully removed all traces. For extra verification, try launching RStudio—it should now show an error that R isn't installed.

Reboot your Mac to ensure all background processes and caches are fully cleared. This final step is critical—some R components load at startup, and a reboot guarantees they're completely gone before any reinstallation.

Tips & tricks for completely removing R from macOS

Here's what I've learned after cleaning up R installations for colleagues—and myself—more times than I can count.

The Process Check: Before running any commands in Step 3, open Terminal and type ps aux | grep R. This catches any hidden R processes that might still be running after you force-quit through Activity Monitor. I've seen background R servers running even after quitting RStudio, and they can cause permission errors during deletion.

Command Line Safety: When running the rm -rf commands in Step 3, double-check each path before pressing Enter. These commands are irreversible! I recommend typing them out fully rather than using tab completion to avoid accidental typos. Also, consider adding echo before each command to preview what will be deleted: echo rm -rf ~/Library/R will show you exactly what's about to go.

Permissions Pitfalls: The sudo command in Step 4 requires your administrator password. Don't panic if you get a "Permission denied" error—this is normal. Just enter your password when prompted. For extra security, you might want to run sudo -s first to open a root shell, then execute all commands without repeatedly entering your password.

Verification Strategy: After completing Step 5, go beyond just running which R. Try launching Terminal and typing R --version. If you see "command not found," you're good. Also, check if any R-related aliases exist by typing alias in Terminal. If you see anything R-related, you'll need to edit your ~/.bash_profile or ~/.zshrc file to remove them manually.

Frequently asked questions

Got questions about uninstalling R on your Mac? You’re not alone! Here are some of the most common concerns—and their answers—to make sure you’re fully prepped for a clean removal.

Wrapping up and next steps

Uninstalling R from your Mac doesn’t have to be a hassle—you’ve now got the tools to cleanly remove it and free up space without missing files. Whether you’re switching to another tool or simply decluttering, taking these steps ensures a smooth process. 🎉

Ready to breathe new life into your Mac? Now that R is gone, consider exploring lighter alternatives or keeping your system optimized. What’s next? Try reinstalling a streamlined tool or diving into other productivity apps to supercharge your workflow!