Help · Mac apps

How to uninstall Karabiner-Elements on a Mac.

By Grant and Brad, who make Pangalin's apps · Updated 10 October 2026

Karabiner-Elements installs a virtual keyboard driver, so remove it with its own uninstaller rather than the Trash.

Uninstall Karabiner-Elements

Open Karabiner-Elements Settings and go to the Uninstall tab.
Click Launch uninstaller.
Enter your Mac password.

The developer also documents a command-line uninstall in Karabiner-Elements' manual, for when the app won't open.

Leftovers (optional)

Karabiner-Elements' manual says these can stay and are harmless; remove them if you want a clean slate:

~/.config/karabiner (your settings; keep it if you might reinstall)
~/.local/share/karabiner
/var/log/karabiner
/Library/Application Support/org.pqrs/tmp

Afterwards

Check System Settings › General › Login Items & Extensions for anything still named Karabiner; see login items. An app that's still in your Trash can stay listed there until you empty the Trash or restart; that's normal macOS behaviour.
Empty the Trash when you're sure. Emptying the Trash is permanent.

Based on the Karabiner-Elements manual, checked October 2026. Menu names can change between versions.

Then check for anything Karabiner-Elements left behind.

Once the app is gone, Pangalin Uninstaller's free Leftovers scan lists files left behind by apps that are no longer installed, by name and size. Apple's files are never included. It also shows where each one is and moves the ones you choose to the Trash in one go, with Undo.

Download free for Mac See the guide

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