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

How to Completely Uninstall Things 3 on Mac

Quick answer

Dragging Things 3 to the Trash leaves cache, database behind in folders like ~/Library/Containers/com.culturedcode.ThingsMac. This guide walks you through every manual step — plus a one-click alternative with OptiClear that finds every related file across your Mac.

Application
Things 3
File Location
~/Library/Containers/com.culturedcode.ThingsMac
What Gets Cleaned
cache, database
Space Recovered
100 MB – 1 GB
Risk Level
Caution
Category
Tasks & Calendar

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/Containers/com.culturedcode.ThingsMac
  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/Containers/com.culturedcode.ThingsMac 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