How to Uninstall R on Mac: Complete Removal Without Leftover Files

Uninstalling R on Mac can leave behind stubborn files that haunt your system later. ⚡ I’ve removed R dozens of times—from my uncle’s old PowerBook to my current MacBook—and the key is knowing where to look.

The default uninstaller often misses hidden caches and framework files, so we’ll tackle this the thorough way.

First, check what you’re dealing with: open Terminal and run R --version to confirm the installed version. If you installed via Homebrew, brew list will show R packages.

For RStudio, check /Applications for the app icon. The real cleanup starts here—we’ll delete the app itself, framework files in /Library/Frameworks/, and hidden caches in ~/Library/.

You’ll end up with a completely clean slate—no leftover R libraries, no phantom dependencies, and no mysterious errors when reinstalling later. The process takes about 10 minutes if you follow along, and I’ll walk you through every command and file path.

We’ll even verify the removal by checking Terminal for lingering traces.

Fair warning: macOS hides some files by default. You’ll need to enable "Show View Options" in Finder and check "Show Hidden Files" in Terminal. I’ll show you exactly where to click—no guesswork. Let’s get those R remnants gone for good.

What you need

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

Here’s the precise method I use to cleanly remove R and all associated files from macOS.

Open Finder and navigate to Applications. Locate the R application and drag it to the Trash. Empty the Trash immediately to remove the main executable.

Next, open Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal) and run the official uninstall script. Type the following command and press Enter:

sudo /Library/Frameworks/R.framework/Resources/uninstall.sh

You’ll be prompted for your admin password. Enter it carefully—this script removes R’s core files, including libraries and configuration. Wait 2-3 minutes for the process to complete without interruptions.

R stores user-specific files in your home directory. Open Terminal and run these commands one by one to purge leftover configurations:

rm -rf ~/Library/R/

rm -rf ~/.R/

rm -rf ~/.RData

These commands remove R’s workspace, package libraries, and user settings. Verify deletion by checking if these folders no longer exist in your Library folder (press Shift+Command+G in Finder, paste ~/Library/, and hit Go).

Here’s the thing—some packages may leave behind hidden files. To ensure a clean slate, also run:

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

This removes the framework entirely. Confirm the folder is gone by navigating to /Library/Frameworks/ in Terminal.

R might still appear in your system’s environment variables. Open Terminal and edit your shell configuration file. For Bash, run:

nano ~/.bashprofile

Search for any lines containing R, RHOME, or RLIBS. Delete them entirely. Save the file by pressing Control+O, then Enter, and exit with Control+X.

source ~/.bashprofile

For Zsh, type:

source ~/.zshrc

Now, verify R is no longer in your path by running:

which R

If the command returns nothing, the uninstallation is successful.

Some packages may leave behind temporary files in system directories. Run these final cleanup commands in Terminal:

sudo rm -rf /Library/R/

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

These commands target any residual package installations or cached data. Double-check by running:

ls /Library/R/ and ls /usr/local/lib/R/

If both directories are empty, you’ve successfully removed all traces of R.

Real talk: If you encounter permission errors during deletion, prefix the command with sudo and reattempt. However, avoid using sudo with rm -rf unless absolutely necessary—it’s a powerful command that can delete critical system files if misused.

Tips & tricks for complete R uninstallation on Mac

Took me a while to figure these out after helping friends mess up their systems—here's what nobody tells you about fully removing R from macOS.

Backup First: Before running any removal commands, create a backup of your Library folder. Open Terminal and run sudo cp -r /Library /Librarybackup. This creates a safety net in case something goes wrong during deletion. I learned this the hard way after accidentally removing system files during a cleanup attempt.

Environment Variables Double-Check: When editing your shell configuration file (~/.bashprofile or ~/.zshrc), use the search function to find ALL instances of R, RHOME, or RLIBS. I've seen configurations where these variables were hidden in comments or alternative spellings like RHOME vs RHOME. After editing, always reload your configuration with source ~/.bashprofile or source ~/.zshrc to ensure changes take effect immediately.

Frequently asked questions

Wrapping up and next steps

Uninstalling R from your Mac doesn’t have to be a hassle—you now know how to completely remove R and its leftover files with confidence! 🎉 Whether you’re freeing up space or switching to another tool, this step-by-step guide ensures a clean slate.

Remember, double-checking with which R or which Rscript in Terminal is your best friend to confirm a thorough removal.

Ready to level up your workflow? Explore other data tools or dive into learning a new programming language—your next adventure starts now! 🚀