How to Remove NordVPN from macOS

You have successfully installed and set up your new macOS (or Mac) device, and you are now presented with the opportunity to explore all of the awesome features that Apple has curated for you. While you are at it, why not remove any other apps you do not need or use on a regular basis? That is the beauty of the Mac platform. You are not restricted to one app. You can try out various programs and see what works best for you. In this guide, we will teach you how to remove NordVPN from your Mac.

Remove NordVPN from Your Mac

If you read our previous article on How to Use a VPN on the Mac, you will know that we recommend purchasing the NordVPN app as it is the most popular and trusted choice among users. However, if you do not wish to use NordVPN on your Mac, then you should remove it since it is not Apple’s recommended VPN app. To remove NordVPN from your Mac, follow these steps:

Uninstall NordVPN from your device

Open the App Store on your Mac and search for the word “nordvpn”. When the app pops up, click on the Uninstall button. You will be asked to confirm the uninstall. Once removed, you can no longer use the app on your device.

Remove NordVPN configuration files

NordVPN is pretty resourceful when it comes to persisting data on your Mac. In order to completely remove it, you will need to remove the configuration files that are stored in your Mac’s “/Users//Library/Preferences” folder. This is where all of the app’s settings are saved, as well as other helpful information that the developer chooses to store there. To remove these files, follow these steps:

Make a backup of the folder

Make sure that you have copies of all of the documents and media on your computer before beginning. While it is not recommended to delete the folder “/Users//Library/Preferences” manually, you can achieve the same goal by making a backup of the folder as an offline copy before doing anything else. This way, you can easily restore everything if you make a mistake. Before backing up the folder, make sure that no important files or data are currently stored in it. If you have trouble locating the folder, then use the Finder menu to go to “Go > Go to Folder” and type in the following path:

/Users//Library/Preferences

Delete the configuration files

As mentioned above, the Configuration files are stored in the “/Users//Library/Preferences” folder on your Mac. Before deleting these files completely, you should make a backup of them in case something goes wrong. To do this, follow these steps:

Open the Terminal utility

The Terminal is a vital part of any Mac user’s toolkit. One of its popular features is the ability to back up your data, as well as to perform various system and software maintenance tasks. To access the Terminal, click on the Apple logo in the top left corner of your screen and wait for the menu to appear. From the Mac menu, select “Terminal”. A new window will open up with the familiar “#” (a pound symbol) prompt at the center of it. Type in the following command into the window:

sudo rm -rf /Users//Library/Preferences/nordvpn.plist

The above command will remove all of the configuration files for the NordVPN app. While it is not recommended to delete these files manually, the Terminal allows you to do this with ease. Simply follow the above steps and you will soon have a pristine macOS. Unless…

…you need to recover your device

If you have done every single thing correctly and you removed everything that you possibly can, then you should still have some issues with your device. If this is the case, then you have two choices: 1. Contact the developer of the app or 2. Install an app that can help you recover your device (these are also completely free). To choose an app to help you recover your device, open the App Store on your Mac and search for “recover” or “undelete”. You can get started with two popular choices: Recuva and DaisyDisk.

Once you launch one of these apps, you will be presented with a list of the data that was recently stored on your device. You can choose what parts of your phone or tablet you want to restore and press the “Unlock” button to continue. If you have a paid version of the app, then you can choose to restore all of the data including the settings if you wish. To remove NordVPN from your Mac, simply repeat the above steps.

If you have anymore questions about the process, then feel free to give us a call at 866-505-6888. We are always happy to help. If you found this article valuable, then you may also want to check out our guide to the Best VPN for Torrenting or our guide to the Best VPN for P2P File Sharing.