Many Mac users discover, after installing McAfee, that it not only consumes system resources but also often runs in the background, pops up frequently, and even presents significant obstacles when attempting to uninstall it. You may have manually dragged it to the trash, only to have the system prompt that 'some components are still running'; or you may uninstall it, but still see residual processes lingering in the Activity Monitor. Rather than trying repeatedly, it's better to get it done in one go. This article will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how to uninstall McAfee completely, whether it's using the official uninstall tool, manually deleting files, or cleaning up hidden remnants, you will find an efficient method that suits you to say goodbye to this stubborn security software truly.

Part 1. What Is McAfee and Why Should You Remove It from Your Mac?

McAfee is a widely used security software designed to provide users with real-time virus scanning, network protection, and malware detection services. It is commonly used on Windows systems and has also launched a Mac version to meet the security needs of multi-platform users. However, many Mac users have found that after installing McAfee, it not only starts slowly and consumes high resources but may also cause the system to lag, increase fan speed, and even lead to compatibility conflicts with other programs, so they want to replace another Mac malware scanner.

Even more frustrating is that McAfee's uninstallation process is far from being as simple as its installation. Some users have attempted to manually delete it, only to find that residual components continue to run in the background, affecting system stability. Other users have encountered issues with McAfee not functioning properly after upgrading their systems, yet they cannot find an effective uninstallation method. These real-world problems have made "How to uninstall McAfee" one of the frequently searched terms among Mac users.

Therefore, completely removing McAfee not only helps restore a Mac's smoothness but also avoids conflicts between security software. Whether you are planning to switch to another antivirus program or want to free up system resources, understanding how to uninstall McAfee safely and efficiently is a vital first step.

Part 2. Things You Should Do Before Uninstalling McAfee on Mac

Before officially starting to uninstall McAfee, several important steps need to be completed in advance to ensure that the uninstallation process goes smoothly and does not adversely affect the system. The following preparations are recommended to be taken seriously, especially before manually uninstalling or using the McAfee Uninstaller:

• Exit all McAfee-related processes

Open Activity Monitor, search for and force quit all background programs that start with McAfee. If McAfee is still running, forcibly deleting it will prompt 'The program is currently in use,' resulting in uninstallation failure.

• Disconnect from the internet (optional)

In some cases, McAfee's background components may attempt to reconnect to restore services. Temporarily disconnecting from the internet can prevent automatic restarts or interference with the uninstallation process.

• Back up important files

Although uninstalling McAfee itself won't affect documents, if you are using McAfee's built-in encryption or file protection features, it is advised to decrypt or transfer related files in advance to avoid loss. You can choose to backup phone to Google, so you can see your backup information even if you're using different devices, as long as you're logged in to the same account.

• Disable system protection features (if applicable)

In the latest macOS, certain security policies may restrict the complete uninstallation of third-party software. To ensure a clean removal, you can temporarily disable System Integrity Protection (SIP) and then perform the uninstallation.

Part 3. How to Uninstall McAfee Manually

If you haven't used the official McAfee uninstaller, you can choose to uninstall it manually. Although it's somewhat tedious, you can thoroughly remove McAfee from your Mac by following the steps below.

Step 1. Exit all McAfee programs.
Open Activity Monitor and search for McAfee and force quit the relevant processes one by one (such as VShieldScanner, com.mcafee.menulet, etc.), ensuring that no background components are still running.

Step 2. Delete the application files.
Open Finder and go to the Applications folder. Locate McAfee Endpoint Security for Mac or other McAfee-related applications, drag them to the Bin, and choose the Empty Bin tab.

Step 3. Clear Residual system files.
McAfee leaves configuration and runtime files in several system paths, and you need to delete the residual items in the following directories manually:

• ~/Library/Application Support/McAfee/

• ~/Library/Preferences/com.mcafee.*.plist

• /Library/Application Support/McAfee/

• /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.mcafee.*

• /Library/LaunchAgents/com.mcafee.*

In Finder, you can press Command + Shift + G, paste the path, and delete the corresponding folders or files.

Step 4. Check if there are any related items in the system settings
Open System Preferences or Settings and confirm if there are still McAfee plugins in Security & Privacy; delete them in a timely manner. If the firewall feature is enabled, also turn off McAfee's proxy or protection configuration in the network settings.

After completing the above steps, it is recommended that you restart the computer to confirm if the system has returned to normal. Although the manual removal process is complicated, it can help you achieve the goal of how to uninstall McAfee completely.

Part 4. Best McAfee Uninstall Tool Without Data Left

If you find it too complicated to delete manually, or are worried about missing hidden files, you might want to choose a professional McAfee Uninstall Tool to help you clean up with one click. Among many tools, we recommend using Apeaksoft Mac Cleaner. It not only supports quick identification of McAfee and all its related files but also ensures that the uninstallation process leaves no data residue, allowing you to truly learn how to delete McAfee without having to search for hidden paths.

Step 1. After the download is complete, double-click the file and drag Apeaksoft Mac Cleaner into the Applications folder to complete the installation. Once launched, click on the ToolKit tab on the left side of the main interface, and select the Uninstall function module. The system will begin scanning all installed applications on the Mac.

Step 2. After waiting for the scan to complete, look for McAfee in the list on the left. Click and it will automatically list all relevant files. Check all the items displayed in the list to ensure nothing is missed, then click the Clean button in the lower right corner of the interface.

Step 3. After confirming the prompt, the software will automatically uninstall McAfee and delete all residual data. Once the deletion is complete, you will see a Clean up successful message. Although it is not mandatory, restarting your Mac after the uninstallation is recommended to ensure that McAfee has completely exited all background processes.

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