🔍 Finds and safely deletes app leftovers in common macOS Library folders

find-in-library.sh

#!/bin/bash

# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# 🔍 Finds and safely deletes app leftovers in common macOS Library folders
#
# This script searches macOS user and system Library directories for files or
# folders that match a given keyword (e.g., "Lorem", "Lorem Ipsum").
# It helps identify residual files from previously installed apps that may
# continue running in the background or occupy disk space.
#
# It supports interactive deletion with confirmation prompts for each match,
# and handles both files and directories.
#
# Features:
#   - Searches safe-to-modify paths: ~/Library, /Library/LaunchAgents, etc.
#   - Excludes SIP-protected paths like /System/Library
#   - Handles directories using `rm -rv`
#   - Automatically escalates privileges (sudo) for /Library paths
#   - Pretty colored output and emojis for clarity
#
# Usage:
#   ./find-in-library.sh "Keyword"
# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

# Color setup
GREEN="\033[0;32m"
RED="\033[0;31m"
YELLOW="\033[1;33m"
BLUE="\033[0;34m"
NC="\033[0m" # No Color

# Check for search term
if [ -z "$1" ]; then
    echo -e "${RED}❌ Please provide a search term.${NC}"
    echo -e "🔍 Usage: ${YELLOW}$0 \"Your Keyword\"${NC}"
    exit 1
fi

KEYWORD="$1"
echo -e "${BLUE}🔍 Searching for: ${YELLOW}${KEYWORD}${NC}"

# Search paths (excluding SIP-protected ones)
SEARCH_DIRS=(
    "$HOME/Library"
    "$HOME/Library/LaunchAgents"
    "/Library/LaunchAgents"
    "/Library/LaunchDaemons"
)

FOUND=false
for DIR in "${SEARCH_DIRS[@]}"; do
    if [ -d "$DIR" ]; then
        echo -e "${BLUE}📁 Searching in: ${DIR}${NC}"
        RESULTS=$(find "$DIR" -iname "*$KEYWORD*" 2>/dev/null)

        if [ -n "$RESULTS" ]; then
            echo -e "${GREEN}✅ Matches found:${NC}"
            echo "$RESULTS"

            IFS=$'\n'
            for FILE in $RESULTS; do
                echo -en "${YELLOW}🗑️  Delete?${NC} ${FILE} [y/N]: "
                read -r CONFIRM
                if [[ "$CONFIRM" =~ ^[Yy]$ ]]; then
                    if [ -d "$FILE" ]; then
                        echo -e "${BLUE}📂 Removing directory...${NC}"
                        rm -rv "$FILE"
                    else
                        if [[ "$FILE" == /Library/* ]]; then
                            sudo rm -v "$FILE"
                        else
                            rm -v "$FILE"
                        fi
                    fi
                else
                    echo -e "${BLUE}➡️  Skipped.${NC}"
                fi
            done
            FOUND=true
        else
            echo -e "${YELLOW}⚠️  No matches found in this location.${NC}"
        fi
    fi
done

if [ "$FOUND" = false ]; then
    echo -e "${RED}🚫 No matches found anywhere for '${KEYWORD}'.${NC}"
else
    echo -e "${GREEN}🎉 Done! All matching files processed.${NC}"
fi