While software programs usually live in the Applications folder in macOS, they can be found all over the place. That’s because some apps are really tiny utilities that applications or services require and which shouldn’t be launched by a user. Others have to be in a particular folder to be accessible by Safari or other software.
If you’re trying to clean out unneeded and unwanted apps, or are engaged in a 32-bit purge—see our article on the need for that in the upcoming macOS 10.15—you can use System Information to help.
System Information reveals location details among other data about each app.
System Information reveals location details among other data about each app.
System Information reveals location details among other data about each app.
This utility gathers all the detail about hardware and software on your computer, including applications. It also reveals where each app is located, but you have to take a few extra steps to navigate to the app.
Hold down the Option key and select the menu, and then select System Information.
Click on the Applications link in the left navigation bar under Software, and wait for the spinner in the lower-right corner to finish and the list to fill out.
Select any app you want to reveal or remove. (You can also select more than one to generate a list in step 4.)
In the pane below the list, System Information shows a variety of details about the app. One of those items is Location. Use your cursor to highlight the text from the first slash to the last one, just before the app name and then copy it. (See example below.)
In the Finder, select Go > Go To Folder and paste that path in.
The folder containing that app now appears in the Finder.
For instance, I have a number of old Adobe apps, mostly related to updating and registering Adobe apps, that remain orphaned in various places, like the detritus washed up on a beach after a storm.
Now use Go To Folder to open the folder containing the app.
Now use Go To Folder to open the folder containing the app.
Now use Go To Folder to open the folder containing the app.
One of them is AAM Registration Notifier.app. In System Information, I find the Location field reads /Applications/Utilities/Adobe Application Manager/LWA/AAM Registration Notifier.app and I copy /Applications/Utilities/Adobe Application Manager/LWA/ into the “Go to the folder” dialog when I selected Go > Go To Folder.
This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by Macworld reader Charles.
Ask Mac 911
We’ve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently along with answers and links to columns: read our super FAQ to see if your question is covered. If not, we’re always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours to mac911@macworld.com including screen captures as appropriate, and whether you want your full name used. Every question won’t be answered, we don’t reply to email, and we cannot provide direct troubleshooting advice.
Author: Glenn Fleishman, Senior Contributor
Glenn Fleishman’s most recent books include Take Control of iOS and iPadOS Privacy and Security, Take Control of Calendar and Reminders, and Take Control of Securing Your Mac. In his spare time, he writes about printing and type history. He’s a senior contributor to Macworld, where he writes Mac 911.