{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-find-apps-i-never-use","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-find-apps-i-never-use","category":{"id":"mac-storage-basics","title":"Mac storage basics"},"subcategory":{"id":"apps-macos","title":"Apps and macOS itself"},"question":"How do I find apps I never use on my Mac?","alt_questions":["unused apps mac","sort applications by last opened","apps not opened in a long time","find old apps mac","date last opened applications"],"short_answer":"In Finder's Applications list view, add the Date Last Opened column and sort by it. Check background tools before deleting, as their date may not update.","answer_markdown":"Open **Applications** in Finder, switch to **List view**, and use **View → Show View Options** to add the **Date Last Opened** column, then sort by it. Apps you haven't opened in months are candidates to delete, offload or move to an external drive.\n\nDate Last Opened isn't always recorded for apps that start in the background, so check before deleting something that runs quietly (like a sync or security tool).","answer_html":"

Open Applications in Finder, switch to List view, and use View → Show View Options to add the Date Last Opened column, then sort by it. Apps you haven't opened in months are candidates to delete, offload or move to an external drive.

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Date Last Opened isn't always recorded for apps that start in the background, so check before deleting something that runs quietly (like a sync or security tool).

","answer_text":"Open Applications in Finder, switch to List view, and use View → Show View Options to add the Date Last Opened column, then sort by it. Apps you haven't opened in months are candidates to delete, offload or move to an external drive.\n\nDate Last Opened isn't always recorded for apps that start in the background, so check before deleting something that runs quietly (like a sync or security tool).","tags":["apps","finder","unused"],"related":[{"id":"mac-storage-basics.can-i-delete-built-in-apple-apps","question":"Can I delete built-in Apple apps like GarageBand, iMovie or Pages?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/can-i-delete-built-in-apple-apps"},{"id":"mac-storage-basics.can-i-delete-old-install-macos-apps","question":"Can I delete an old \"Install macOS\" app from my Applications folder?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/can-i-delete-old-install-macos-apps"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"How do I find apps I never use on my Mac? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"In Finder's Applications list view, add the Date Last Opened column and sort by it. Check background tools before deleting, as their date may not update.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Mac storage basics","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/"},{"name":"How do I find apps I never use on my Mac?","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-find-apps-i-never-use"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-find-apps-i-never-use","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I find apps I never use on my Mac?","alternateName":["unused apps mac","sort applications by last opened","apps not opened in a long time","find old apps mac","date last opened applications"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Open Applications in Finder, switch to List view, and use View → Show View Options to add the Date Last Opened column, then sort by it. Apps you haven't opened in months are candidates to delete, offload or move to an external drive.\n\nDate Last Opened isn't always recorded for apps that start in the background, so check before deleting something that runs quietly (like a sync or security tool).","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-find-apps-i-never-use"}}]},"fragment":"
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Mac storage basics · Apps and macOS itself

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How do I find apps I never use on my Mac?

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Short answer: In Finder's Applications list view, add the Date Last Opened column and sort by it. Check background tools before deleting, as their date may not update.

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Open Applications in Finder, switch to List view, and use View → Show View Options to add the Date Last Opened column, then sort by it. Apps you haven't opened in months are candidates to delete, offload or move to an external drive.

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Date Last Opened isn't always recorded for apps that start in the background, so check before deleting something that runs quietly (like a sync or security tool).

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Last reviewed

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