Complete Clean Uninstall of Airmail on macOS - Library Folders to Remove for a Fresh Reinstall
On macOS, simply moving Airmail.app to the Trash and reinstalling it does not perform a true clean install. macOS retains all of Airmail's preferences, caches, and account data inside several user Library folders, which means that when you reinstall the app, it automatically picks up these existing files and behaves exactly as it did before — making it impossible to start fresh.
This guide describes the complete procedure to fully remove Airmail and all of its data from your Mac, so that the next installation behaves as a brand-new setup.
When to use this procedure
Use this procedure only when:
You have already attempted standard troubleshooting and the issue persists.
A support agent has explicitly recommended a clean reinstall.
You wish to permanently remove Airmail and all of its data from your Mac.
Important: this procedure removes all Airmail accounts, custom rules, signatures, aliases, and local message caches. Server-side messages (IMAP, Exchange, iCloud, Gmail) are not affected and will be re-downloaded automatically when you re-add your accounts. However, please note any custom configuration before proceeding.
Step 1 — Quit Airmail completely
Right-click the Airmail icon in the Dock and choose Quit. To be sure the application is no longer running, open Activity Monitor (Applications > Utilities) and verify that no "Airmail" process is listed. If any are still present, select them and click the X button at the top of the window to terminate them.
Step 2 — Remove the application bundle
In Finder, open the Applications folder and move Airmail.app to the Trash. Do not empty the Trash yet — we will do this at the end of the procedure.
Step 3 — Remove Airmail's data from your user Library
In Finder, open the Go menu and choose "Go to Folder…" (keyboard shortcut: Shift + Cmd + G). For each of the items in the list below, paste the path into the dialog, press Return, and move the folder or file that opens to the Trash. Some items may not exist on your system, which is normal:
~/Library/Containers/it.bloop.airmail2
~/Library/Containers/it.bloop.airmailXC
~/Library/Group Containers/2A6Z2NHGT7.airmail
~/Library/Application Support/it.bloop.airmail2
~/Library/Application Support/Airmail
~/Library/Caches/it.bloop.airmail2
~/Library/Preferences/it.bloop.airmail2.plist
~/Library/Saved Application State/it.bloop.airmail2.savedState
The "~" character represents your home folder — the dialog will resolve it automatically when you press Return.
Step 4 — Empty the Trash and restart your Mac
From the Finder menu, choose "Empty Trash." This step permanently removes Airmail and all of its data. Then restart your Mac to ensure that all background services and macOS caches are fully reset before the new installation.
Step 5 — Reinstall Airmail
Open the Mac App Store and reinstall Airmail. On the first launch you should see the initial setup screen, which confirms that the previous installation has been fully removed. You can now re-add your accounts:
For most major providers (iCloud, Gmail, Outlook.com, Office 365), Airmail can automatically detect server settings.
For shared Exchange accounts and generic IMAP servers, please have your server address, username, and password available.
If you are running macOS Tahoe 26 and Airmail does not appear under System Settings > General > Open at Login after the reinstall, please refer to our guide "Airmail Missing from Login Items & Background Activity on macOS Tahoe 26" for the recommended manual workaround.
Need help?
If you encounter any difficulty during the clean reinstall procedure, please reply to your existing support thread or open a new conversation with our team. We will be glad to assist you step by step.
Airmail Support Team
Updated on: 05/08/2026
Thank you!