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I just upgraded from QB Desktop Mac 2016 to QB Desktop Mac 2021 Trial to QB Desktop Mac 2021.
What is the best way to delete those old copies of the QB app (along with the various things they store in the system) without deleting anything I need to keep?
I have a great little utility called "App Cleaner" that does a good job of finding all the little pref files and other things apps stash in various places. When I ask it to delete QB 2016, it identifies 22 files, many of which (like logs), I bet I need to keep.
Is there an un-installer or other method of trashing old versions of the QB app without losing anything I need to keep?
Welcome to the Community, RC_in_MN.
You can delete old versions of QuickBooks by uninstalling them and removing their PLIST files.
Here's how:
After uninstalling QuickBooks, you'll need to remove its PLIST files from your computer to complete the deletion process.
You'll additionally be able to find many detailed resources about using QuickBooks in our help article archives.
I'll be here to help if there's any questions. Have a wonderful day!
Thanks, ZachE, this is great.
In addition to the plist files, I see a few other errant items that may need to go as well. Please let me know if I should clear out the following:
• "com.intuit.QuickBooks2016" located at User->Library->Application Support
• "com.intuit.QuickBooks2016" located at User->Library->Caches->
• "com.intuit.quickbooks2016.sfl" located at User->Library->Application Support->com.apple.sharedfilelist->com.apple.LSSharedFileList.Application.Recent.Documents
• "com.intuit.quickbooks2016.sfl2" located at User->Library->Application Support->com.apple.sharedfilelist->com.apple.LSSharedFileList.Application.Recent.Documents
• "com.intuit.QuickBooks2016.binarycookies_tmp_443_0.dat" located at User->Library->Cookies
• "com.intuit.QuickBooks2016.binarycookies" located at User->Library->Cookies
• "com.intuit.QuickBooks2016.binarycookies_tmp_453_0.dat" located at User->Library->Cookies
• "com.intuit.QuickBooks2016.LayoutDesigner.savedState" located at User->Library->Saved Application State
• "com.intuit.QuickBooks2016.savedState" located at User->Library->Saved Application State
Thanks again!
I appreciate you for getting back to us, RC_in_MN.
I'm here to share information about deleting PLIST files.
You can clear out the files that contains com.intuit.QuickBooks20XX. Take note that XX is the QuickBooks version you're using.
Feel free to pin this article for more information in removing PLIST files: Remove QuickBooks PLIST files.
You can also visit our Self-Help page if you have some question about reinstalling the QuickBooks Desktop for Mac.
I'm just a post-away if ever you need extra help in managing your QuickBooks file. Have a good one!
I will post the following in case it helps anyone else:
I want ahead and deleted all the files AppCleaner found that had “2016” in the file name and—when I relaunched QB 2021—found nothing missing. It did return window positions to their defaults, which was actually helpful.
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