Tip & Trick
Uninstalling R on your Mac doesn’t have to be a headache—especially when you use the right terminal commands. ✨ I’ve helped countless users clean up their systems after switching from RStudio, and these steps work every time, whether you installed it manually or through Homebrew.
The key is knowing where R hides its files so you don’t miss anything.
Before diving in, close RStudio if it’s open and note whether you installed R via the official installer, Homebrew, or CRAN. This matters because each method leaves files in different spots—like ~/Library/R/ or /Library/Frameworks/R.framework/.
Skipping this step often leads to leftover config files that slow down your system later. Trust me, I’ve seen it happen more times than I’d like to admit.
You’ll remove R completely in under 10 minutes with these commands, including hidden folders and dependencies. The process is straightforward: drag the app to Trash, run a few terminal commands to scrub leftover files, and verify everything’s gone.
No more bloated Library folders or mysterious R processes running in the background. Even my grandma’s MacBook ran smoother after this cleanup.
If you hit permission errors or stubborn files, I’ll walk you through the fixes—like using sudo carefully or checking for orphaned packages. And if you installed R via Homebrew, there’s a one-liner that does most of the work for you. Let’s get started and make your Mac feel lighter again.
📚 In This Guide
- What you need
- Instructions
- Tips and common mistakes
- Wrapping up and next steps
What you need
- ● Mac computer running macOS High Sierra (10.13) or later (check your version via About This Mac).
- ● Terminal access (pre-installed on all Macs; no additional download needed).
- ● Administrator privileges (you’ll need your Mac login password for sudo commands).
- ○ Backup of important data (optional but recommended—uninstalling software can sometimes affect system files).
- ● Text editor (like VS Code or TextEdit) to double-check commands before running them.
- ● R installation files (if you plan to reinstall R later, save the .pkg file from CRAN).
- ● Spotlight or Finder for quickly locating R-related files (e.g., ~/Library/R).
Step-by-Step instructions for removing R from your Mac completely
Here's the foolproof method I use to cleanly remove R and all its traces from macOS.
🔧 Step 1: Launch Terminal and Verify R Installation
Open Terminal from Applications > Utilities. First, confirm R is installed by typing R --version and pressing Enter. You should see output like R version 4.3.1—this confirms the target for removal.
Next, run which R to locate the installation path. You'll typically see something like /Library/Frameworks/R.framework/Resources/bin/R. This path becomes critical for complete removal.
I always check for additional installations by running ls /usr/local/bin | grep R. If you see any R-related binaries here, note their locations for later removal.
💻 Step 2: Remove R Using the Built-in Uninstaller
Type sudo /Library/Frameworks/R.framework/Resources/uninstall.sh and press Enter. You'll need to enter your admin password. This script removes the main framework but often leaves behind configuration files and libraries.
Wait 30-60 seconds for the process to complete. You'll see output confirming removal of the framework files. Don't worry if it reports some files couldn't be deleted—we'll handle those next.
For R installations from CRAN or Homebrew, you may need to run brew uninstall R separately if you used package managers. Check with brew list first to confirm.
⌨️ Step 3: Clean Up Remaining Files and Directories
Remove leftover configuration files by running these commands one at a time: sudo rm -rf ~/.R and sudo rm -rf ~/.RData. These contain user-specific settings and data that persist after uninstall.
Next, clear system-wide R files with sudo rm -rf /Library/R. This removes shared libraries and documentation that might interfere with future installations.
For RStudio users, run sudo rm -rf /Applications/RStudio.app if you want to remove it completely. This ensures no residual IDE components remain.
💡 Step 4: Verify Complete Removal and Reboot
Return to Terminal and run R --version again. You should see command not found: R. If you still see R, check these common locations: /usr/local/bin/R, /usr/bin/R, or /opt/R.
Reboot your Mac to ensure all kernel-level components are properly cleared. After reboot, run which R one final time to confirm complete removal.
Here's the thing—some R packages might leave traces in your shell configuration. Run grep -r "R_LIBS" ~/.bashrc ~/.zshrc to check for any lingering environment variables.
Tips & tricks for complete R uninstallation on Mac
These insider tricks will help you eliminate every trace of R from your system without missing a single file.
Double-Check Before You Delete: In Step 1, when you run which R, you might discover multiple installation paths. I once missed a secondary installation in /usr/local/bin that kept causing conflicts. Always run ls /usr/local/bin | grep R and ls /usr/bin | grep R to catch any hidden installations. This thoroughness prevents those frustrating "command not found" errors after you think you've removed everything.
Backup Critical Configuration Files: Before executing sudo rm -rf ~/.R and sudo rm -rf ~/.RData in Step 3, consider backing up your ~/.R folder if you've customized your R environment. I've seen users lose years of project configurations when they skipped this step. Just copy the folder to your Desktop first—you can always restore it if needed. The ~/.RData file contains your workspace data, which might be irreplaceable.
Handle RStudio with Extra Care: If you're using RStudio (mentioned in Step 3), don't just delete the application—check for hidden preferences. Run defaults delete org.rstudio.desktop in Terminal after removing the app. This clears all RStudio-specific settings from your system preferences. I've had users complain about RStudio reopening automatically after uninstall because they missed this critical step. It's these small details that make the difference between a clean uninstall and a system still haunted by R remnants.
Verify with Multiple Commands: In Step 4, after rebooting, don't just run R --version once. Test with which R and type -a R to check all possible paths where R might still be lurking. I've seen installations persist in /opt/R that the standard uninstall missed. This multi-command verification gives you absolute confidence that R is truly gone from your system.
Pro Tips for Uninstall R On Mac
- These insider tricks will help you eliminate every trace of R from your system without missing a single file.
- Double-Check Before You Delete: In Step 1, when you run which R, you might discover multiple installation paths.
- Backup Critical Configuration Files: Before executing sudo rm -rf ~/.R and sudo rm -rf ~/.RData in Step 3, consider backing up your ~/.R folder if you've customized your R environment.
Frequently asked questions
Will uninstalling R delete my data or projects?
No, uninstalling R won’t erase your data or projects! R stores your work in separate directories (like ~/Documents/R/ or project-specific folders). Always back up critical files (e.g., scripts, datasets) to another location before uninstalling to stay safe.
How long does it take to uninstall R on a Mac?
Uninstalling R via Terminal is quick—usually under 2 minutes if you follow the steps. The longest part is often verifying the removal with which R or checking /Library/Frameworks/. Pro tip: Close RStudio or any R sessions first to avoid conflicts!
What if I get an error like "R not found" after uninstalling?
If you still see errors, R’s remnants might linger. Run these commands to clean up:
sudo rm -rf /Library/Frameworks/R.frameworksudo rm -rf /usr/local/bin/Rsudo rm -rf /usr/local/lib/R
which R in Terminal.
Can I reinstall R later without losing packages?
Yes! R packages are stored in ~/Library/R/. If you reinstall R, you’ll need to reinstall packages manually (use install.packages() again). Save a list of installed packages with installed.packages() before uninstalling for a smooth comeback.
Is there a GUI way to uninstall R on Mac?
R doesn’t offer a built-in GUI uninstaller, but you can use Homebrew if you installed R that way:
brew uninstall r. For CRAN-installed R, Terminal commands (as in this guide) are your best bet. No GUI = more control over cleanup!
Wrapping up and next steps
Uninstalling R from your Mac doesn’t have to be complicated—just follow the right steps, and you’ll have it removed smoothly! Whether you used Homebrew, CRAN, or another method, you now know how to clean up R and its dependencies without leaving traces behind. 🎉
Ready to free up space and declutter your system? Take the next step: Explore other tools or languages you’d like to install—like Python or Julia—and keep your Mac optimized for your coding adventures! 🚀