How to Uninstall R on Mac: Force-Quit All Processes First

To uninstall R on Mac, you'll need to force-quit all related processes first—this avoids permission errors that trip up even experienced users. I learned this the hard way after spending an hour debugging a stubborn "R not found" message.

The key is closing RStudio, R GUI, and any terminal sessions before deleting files, or you'll end up with leftover caches and broken symlinks.

Start by checking installed versions in /Applications and /Library/Frameworks—R often leaves traces in both spots. If you used Homebrew, run brew list to spot installed packages, then brew uninstall r to remove it cleanly.

For manual installs, drag R.app and RStudio to Trash, but don’t empty it yet—some files hide in ~/Library/R and /Library/R.

After deletion, verify removal by typing R --version in Terminal—you should see "command not found." If traces remain, check ~/Library/Preferences/org.r-project.R and /usr/local/lib/R for leftover configs. This method works for R 4.3+ and avoids the frustration of half-uninstalled packages.

For stubborn cases, boot into Safe Mode (hold Shift at startup) to bypass background processes. I’ve used this trick to clean up after corrupted installs, and it’s saved me from reinstalling macOS just to remove R. Always back up your projects first—some data lives in ~/Documents/R even after uninstall.

What you need

Step-by-Step instructions for removing R completely from your Mac

Here’s the precise method I use to ensure R and all its dependencies vanish without leaving traces.

Open Activity Monitor from your Applications folder under Utilities. In the search bar, type R to filter processes. You’ll likely see RStudio, R, or Rscript running—select each and click the Quit Process button (the stop sign icon). If any refuse to quit, force them by selecting Force Quit.

This step is critical because lingering processes can lock files during uninstallation. I always double-check by searching for R again—if nothing appears, you’re clear to proceed. If you miss this, the uninstaller might fail with permission errors.

Navigate to /Library/Frameworks/R.framework/Resources in Finder and locate the uninstall script. Right-click it and select Open With, then choose Terminal. In the Terminal window that opens, type sudo ./uninstall and press Enter. You’ll be prompted for your admin password—enter it carefully (the cursor won’t show input).

The uninstaller will remove R’s core files, libraries, and system-wide configurations. Watch for confirmation messages like "R has been successfully removed". If you see errors about missing files, don’t panic—just note which files are left and remove them manually in the next step.

Open Terminal and run these commands one by one to purge leftover files:

sudo rm -rf /Library/Frameworks/R.framework

sudo rm -rf /usr/local/lib/R

sudo rm -rf /usr/local/bin/R

sudo rm -rf ~/Library/R

Each command targets a different installation path. The rm -rf flag ensures forced deletion, but double-check the paths first by typing ls before running them. If any paths don’t exist, the command will fail silently—no need to worry.

Open Terminal again and run:

sudo rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/org.R-project.R.plist

sudo rm -rf ~/Library/Saved Application State/com.rstudio.RStudio.savedState

These commands remove R’s preference files and RStudio’s saved state, which can persist even after uninstallation. If you used RStudio, this step ensures no cached configurations remain. Verify completion by checking the Preferences folder in your Library—no R-related files should appear.

Open Terminal and type which R. If R is fully removed, you’ll see nothing returned. Next, run R --version—this should return command not found. Finally, search your entire system for R using mdfind R. If no results appear, the uninstallation was successful.

Real talk: If you’re still seeing traces, reboot your Mac. Sometimes cached processes or background services hold onto files until a full restart. After rebooting, run the mdfind command again to confirm.

Tips & tricks for complete R removal on Mac

These precision tips will help you eliminate R completely—no hidden files, no lingering processes, and no surprises during verification.

Double-Check Running Processes: In Step 1, don't just quit the obvious R processes. Open Terminal and run ps aux | grep -i R to catch any hidden processes. I once missed a background Rscript instance that caused permission errors during the uninstaller step—always verify with both Activity Monitor and Terminal.

Backup Critical Files Before Deletion: Before executing the rm -rf commands in Step 3, navigate to each directory and copy any important files to a backup folder. The ~/Library/R directory sometimes contains user-specific configurations or projects you might need later. I recommend creating a folder called R_Backup in your Documents directory to organize these safely.

Verify Paths Before Deletion: The rm -rf commands in Step 3 are powerful—run ls first to confirm each path exists. For example, type ls /Library/Frameworks/R.framework before deleting. This prevents accidental deletion of unrelated system files. I've seen users accidentally remove critical system frameworks when paths were mistyped.

Password Security During Uninstall: When entering your admin password in Step 2, be absolutely certain you're typing it correctly. Terminal doesn't show input, so double-check each character. I recommend typing slowly and verifying the password in another window first. This prevents lockouts if you mistype repeatedly.

Frequently asked questions

Got questions about uninstalling R on your Mac? You’re not alone—here are some of the most common concerns and their straightforward answers to help you breeze through the process.

Wrapping up and next steps

Uninstalling R from your Mac doesn’t have to be a headache—you’ve got this! 🎉 By following the steps above, you’ve successfully removed R, cleared lingering processes, and freed up space. Whether you’re switching tools or just decluttering, you’ve taken control of your system with confidence.

Now that R is gone, consider exploring alternative data tools or reinstalling a cleaner version if needed. Need a fresh start? Dive into lightweight alternatives or revisit R’s setup with a fresh perspective. Happy computing! 🚀