Last updated: 2026-04-23 · 4 min read
Cleanup Guides

How to Completely Uninstall Element on Mac

Quick answer

Dragging Element to the Trash leaves cache, encrypted store behind in folders like ~/Library/Application Support/Element. This guide walks you through every manual step — plus a one-click alternative with OptiClear that finds every related file across your Mac.

Application
Element
File Location
~/Library/Application Support/Element
What Gets Cleaned
cache, encrypted store
Space Recovered
200 MB – 2 GB
Risk Level
Caution
Category
Communication

Manual Cleanup Steps

  1. Quit the app completely (⌘+Q in the menu bar).
  2. Open Finder and press ⌘+Shift+G to open "Go to Folder".
  3. Paste this path and press Enter:
    ~/Library/Application Support/Element
  4. Select the files you no longer need and move them to Trash. Empty Trash to reclaim the space.

Manual cleanup is tedious and easy to get wrong. OptiClear scans your entire Mac in seconds, finds every related file, and removes them safely — files always go to Trash first, never permanent deletion.

Download OptiClear — Free for macOS

One-Click Cleanup with OptiClear

Manual cleanup is tedious and easy to get wrong. OptiClear scans your entire Mac in seconds, finds every related file, and removes them safely — files always go to Trash first, never permanent deletion.

Download OptiClear — Free for macOS →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to delete these files manually?

Yes — files in ~/Library/Application Support/Element are app-generated and safe to remove after quitting the app. Risk level: Caution. macOS or the app will recreate anything still needed.

Will I lose my settings or data?

Manual removal of the support folder resets the app to defaults. To keep settings, back up the location first or use OptiClear's selective cleanup.

Download OptiClear — Free for macOS