How to uninstall from MacOS

[kawakode]

It seems a bit weird but I cannot uninstall the ControlR agent from my Mac Mini.
I tried closing it then deleting the app from the app list > no good
I tried Pearcleaner (uninstaller app) > no dice, controlr pops up again.

[bitbound]

Assuming it's still connecting to the server, you can uninstall it from the dashboard.

Otherwise, you can uninstall it from the terminal. Assuming the default options were used:

sudo /Library/Application\ Support/ControlR/default/ControlR.Agent uninstall

[kawakode]

Thank you for your answer, but sadly it seems that it's not managing to uninstall the app as it cannot terminate the agent process, which keeps restarting. I even deleted the agent from my console.

Here's the log : (note that control.mydomain.com is a placeholder for my real domain name used to host ControlR server)

kawa@Zombie ~ % sudo /Library/Application\ Support/ControlR/control.mydomain.com/ControlR.Agent uninstall
Password:
info: ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.AgentInstallerMac[0]
      Uninstall started.
[2026-08-28 13:04:28 INF] Uninstall started. {SourceContext="ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.AgentInstallerMac", ThreadId=1}
info: ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.AgentInstallerMac[0]
      Booting out services.
[2026-08-28 13:04:28 INF] Booting out services. {SourceContext="ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.AgentInstallerMac", ThreadId=1}
info: ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac[0]
      Stopping desktop client service for all logged-in users: app.controlr.desktop
[2026-08-28 13:04:28 INF] Stopping desktop client service for all logged-in users: app.controlr.desktop {SourceContext="ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac", ThreadId=1}
Boot-out failed: 5: Input/output error
warn: ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac[0]
      Failed to stop desktop client service for user 501.
      ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessStatusException: Process exited with status code 5
         at ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessManager.StartAndWaitForExit(ProcessStartInfo startInfo, TimeSpan timeout)
         at ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac.StopDesktopClientForUser(String uid, String serviceName)
[2026-08-28 13:04:28 WRN] Failed to stop desktop client service for user 501. {exception.type="ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessStatusException", SourceContext="ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac", ThreadId=12}
ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessStatusException: Process exited with status code 5
   at ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessManager.StartAndWaitForExit(ProcessStartInfo startInfo, TimeSpan timeout)
   at ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac.StopDesktopClientForUser(String uid, String serviceName)
info: ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac[0]
      Desktop client service stopped successfully for 1 users.
[2026-08-28 13:04:28 INF] Desktop client service stopped successfully for 1 users. {SourceContext="ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac", ThreadId=12}
info: ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac[0]
      Stopping agent service: app.controlr.agent
[2026-08-28 13:04:28 INF] Stopping agent service: app.controlr.agent {SourceContext="ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac", ThreadId=12}
Boot-out failed: 5: Input/output error
info: ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac[0]
      Failed to stop agent service.
      ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessStatusException: Process exited with status code 5
         at ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessManager.StartAndWaitForExit(ProcessStartInfo startInfo, TimeSpan timeout)
         at ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac.StopAgentService(Boolean throwOnFailure)
[2026-08-28 13:04:28 INF] Failed to stop agent service. {exception.type="ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessStatusException", SourceContext="ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac", ThreadId=7}
ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessStatusException: Process exited with status code 5
   at ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessManager.StartAndWaitForExit(ProcessStartInfo startInfo, TimeSpan timeout)
   at ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac.StopAgentService(Boolean throwOnFailure)
Boot-out failed: 3: No such process
info: ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.AgentInstallerMac[0]
      Uninstall completed.
[2026-08-28 13:04:28 INF] Uninstall completed. {SourceContext="ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.AgentInstallerMac", ThreadId=12}
Application will exit in 5 seconds. Press any key to interrupt.
No key pressed; shutting down.
kawa@Zombie ~ % sudo /Library/Application\ Support/ControlR/control.mydomain.com/ControlR.Agent uninstall
info: ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.AgentInstallerMac[0]
      Uninstall started.
[2026-08-28 13:04:48 INF] Uninstall started. {SourceContext="ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.AgentInstallerMac", ThreadId=1}
info: ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.AgentInstallerMac[0]
      Booting out services.
[2026-08-28 13:04:48 INF] Booting out services. {SourceContext="ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.AgentInstallerMac", ThreadId=1}
info: ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac[0]
      Stopping desktop client service for all logged-in users: app.controlr.desktop
[2026-08-28 13:04:48 INF] Stopping desktop client service for all logged-in users: app.controlr.desktop {SourceContext="ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac", ThreadId=1}
Boot-out failed: 5: Input/output error
warn: ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac[0]
      Failed to stop desktop client service for user 501.
      ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessStatusException: Process exited with status code 5
         at ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessManager.StartAndWaitForExit(ProcessStartInfo startInfo, TimeSpan timeout)
         at ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac.StopDesktopClientForUser(String uid, String serviceName)
[2026-08-28 13:04:48 WRN] Failed to stop desktop client service for user 501. {exception.type="ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessStatusException", SourceContext="ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac", ThreadId=5}
ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessStatusException: Process exited with status code 5
   at ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessManager.StartAndWaitForExit(ProcessStartInfo startInfo, TimeSpan timeout)
   at ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac.StopDesktopClientForUser(String uid, String serviceName)
info: ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac[0]
      Desktop client service stopped successfully for 1 users.
[2026-08-28 13:04:48 INF] Desktop client service stopped successfully for 1 users. {SourceContext="ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac", ThreadId=5}
[info: ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac[0]
      Stopping agent service: app.controlr.agent
2026-08-28 13:04:48 INF] Stopping agent service: app.controlr.agent {SourceContext="ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac", ThreadId=5}
Boot-out failed: 5: Input/output error
info: ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac[0]
      Failed to stop agent service.
      ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessStatusException: Process exited with status code 5
         at ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessManager.StartAndWaitForExit(ProcessStartInfo startInfo, TimeSpan timeout)
         at ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac.StopAgentService(Boolean throwOnFailure)
[2026-08-28 13:04:48 INF] Failed to stop agent service. {exception.type="ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessStatusException", SourceContext="ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac", ThreadId=12}
ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessStatusException: Process exited with status code 5
   at ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessManager.StartAndWaitForExit(ProcessStartInfo startInfo, TimeSpan timeout)
   at ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac.StopAgentService(Boolean throwOnFailure)
Boot-out failed: 3: No such process
info: ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.AgentInstallerMac[0]
      Uninstall completed.
[2026-08-28 13:04:48 INF] Uninstall completed. {SourceContext="ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.AgentInstallerMac", ThreadId=5}
Application will exit in 5 seconds. Press any key to interrupt.
No key pressed; shutting down.
kawa@Zombie ~ % sudo /Library/Application\ Support/ControlR/control.mydomain.com/ControlR.Agent uninstall
info: ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.AgentInstallerMac[0]
      Uninstall started.
[2026-08-28 13:05:21 INF] Uninstall started. {SourceContext="ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.AgentInstallerMac", ThreadId=1}
info: ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.AgentInstallerMac[0]
      Booting out services.
[2026-08-28 13:05:21 INF] Booting out services. {SourceContext="ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.AgentInstallerMac", ThreadId=1}
info: ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac[0]
      Stopping desktop client service for all logged-in users: app.controlr.desktop
[2026-08-28 13:05:21 INF] Stopping desktop client service for all logged-in users: app.controlr.desktop {SourceContext="ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac", ThreadId=1}
Boot-out failed: 5: Input/output error
warn: ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac[0]
      Failed to stop desktop client service for user 501.
      ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessStatusException: Process exited with status code 5
         at ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessManager.StartAndWaitForExit(ProcessStartInfo startInfo, TimeSpan timeout)
         at ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac.StopDesktopClientForUser(String uid, String serviceName)
[2026-08-28 13:05:21 WRN] Failed to stop desktop client service for user 501. {exception.type="ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessStatusException", SourceContext="ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac", ThreadId=7}
ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessStatusException: Process exited with status code 5
   at ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessManager.StartAndWaitForExit(ProcessStartInfo startInfo, TimeSpan timeout)
   at ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac.StopDesktopClientForUser(String uid, String serviceName)
info: ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac[0]
      Desktop client service stopped successfully for 1 users.
[2026-08-28 13:05:21 INF] Desktop client service stopped successfully for 1 users. {SourceContext="ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac", ThreadId=7}
[info: ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac[0]
      Stopping agent service: app.controlr.agent
2026-08-28 13:05:21 INF] Stopping agent service: app.controlr.agent {SourceContext="ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac", ThreadId=7}
Boot-out failed: 5: Input/output error
info: ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac[0]
      Failed to stop agent service.
      ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessStatusException: Process exited with status code 5
         at ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessManager.StartAndWaitForExit(ProcessStartInfo startInfo, TimeSpan timeout)
         at ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac.StopAgentService(Boolean throwOnFailure)
[2026-08-28 13:05:21 INF] Failed to stop agent service. {exception.type="ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessStatusException", SourceContext="ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac", ThreadId=5}
ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessStatusException: Process exited with status code 5
   at ControlR.Libraries.Shared.Services.Processes.ProcessManager.StartAndWaitForExit(ProcessStartInfo startInfo, TimeSpan timeout)
   at ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.ServiceControlMac.StopAgentService(Boolean throwOnFailure)
Boot-out failed: 3: No such process
info: ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.AgentInstallerMac[0]
      Uninstall completed.
[2026-08-28 13:05:22 INF] Uninstall completed. {SourceContext="ControlR.Agent.Shared.Services.Mac.AgentInstallerMac", ThreadId=7}
Application will exit in 5 seconds. Press any key to interrupt.
No key pressed; shutting down.

[bitbound]

/Library/Application\ Support/ControlR/control.mydomain.com/ControlR.Agent

It looks like you're using a specific instance ID (i.e. "controlr.mydomain.com"). You'll need to add the instance ID as a parameter to the uninstall command.

sudo /Library/Application\ Support/ControlR/control.mydomain.com/ControlR.Agent uninstall --instance-id "control.mydomain.com"

Substitute "controlr.mydomain.com" with your actual instance ID.

Instance IDs are used to isolate agent installations, allowing multiple agents to be installed simultaneously (e.g. that target different servers, have different versions, etc.).

A couple things to be aware of:

• The agent and desktop app are separate applications and are installed in different locations.
• On Mac, the agent is a LaunchDaemon (system level) and the desktop client is a LaunchAgent (user level).
• The agent auto-repairs the desktop client, which is why the desktop client returned after manual deletion and Pearcleaner.
  • This is by design. Nothing nefarious happening.
• If you changed your server's instance ID, it's possible to end up with two agent installs.
  • Check for installs under other instance IDs.

That said, I don't know the current state of your install, nor the initial state. So I can't be confident if the uninstall will work.

If it doesn't, you can try reinstalling it with the same instance ID, then uninstalling via the ControlR dashboard, or manually remove.

To manually remove, you'll want to:

• bootout and disable the agent LaunchDaemon (using sudo)
• bootout and disable the installer helper LaunchDaemon (using sudo)
• bootout and disable the desktop client LaunchAgent (as your user, without sudo)
• Delete the plist files
• Delete the application files

Locations:

• /Library/LaunchDaemons/app.controlr.agent.{instance-id}.plist
• /Library/LaunchDaemons/app.controlr.agent.installer.{instance-id}.plist
• /Library/LaunchAgents/app.controlr.desktop.{instance-id}.plist
• /Library/Application Support/ControlR/{instance-id}/
• /Applications/ControlR.{instance-id}.app/

[bitbound]

I AI'ed an uninstall script if you want to try it. I have use for it too since I sometimes break my installs while testing.

Use at your own risk, of course, but I did validate it on my Macbook Air M1 (Tahoe).

uninstall-agent-mac.sh