How to uninstall Squirrel on Mac

Copy Squirrel's user dictionaries and custom configuration before removing the input method. The Rime user-data guide identifies ~/Library/Rime for configuration, learned dictionaries and option state. Keep a full verified copy outside that folder and any configured sync root.

Switch input methods before removal

Finish typing and switch to another installed input source first. The official FAQ removes Squirrel from input-source settings, removes its app from /Library/Input Methods, then signs out and back in. Modern macOS input settings are under System Settings › Keyboard › Text Input › Edit. Keep at least one working input source.

After Squirrel is stopped, copy ~/Library/Rime, then move only /Library/Input Methods/Squirrel.app to the Trash in Finder. A manually copied per-user app can instead be at ~/Library/Input Methods/Squirrel.app, the path used in the recorded test; inspect the actual copy and leave other input methods alone. Keep ~/Library/Rime unless you deliberately want its dictionaries and settings gone. Sign out and back in after removal, saving other work first.

If you installed it with Homebrew

The cask uses a pkg installer. Ordinary uninstall processes the current im.rime.inputmethod.Squirrel and older com.googlecode.rimeime.Squirrel.pkg receipts and deletes /Library/Input Methods/Squirrel.app, independently of zap:

brew uninstall --cask squirrel-app

Zap names ~/Library/Caches/com.googlecode.rimeime.inputmethod.Squirrel, ~/Library/Caches/im.rime.inputmethod.Squirrel, ~/Library/Preferences/com.googlecode.rimeime.inputmethod.Squirrel.plist and ~/Library/Preferences/im.rime.inputmethod.Squirrel.plist; it does not name ~/Library/Rime. Direct brew uninstall --cask --zap squirrel-app ignores Mole's checkboxes. Mole uses zap only when its whole scope passes selection, ownership and safety checks; selected remnants otherwise use its own Trash flow.

Check the result

pgrep -ifl squirrel
ls -ld "/Library/Input Methods/Squirrel.app" "$HOME/Library/Input Methods/Squirrel.app" "$HOME/Library/Rime"

No process match means this pattern found no matching arguments. Printed apps or data remain; retained Rime data is expected. Missing-path errors concern only those entries; other errors are inconclusive and do not verify dictionary recovery or the enabled input-source list.

What Mole lists

Review the input-method entry individually rather than assuming every discovered input method is selected. Exact app-ID cache/preferences follow their default rules, while cask fallback or other reviewed data starts unchecked with Remove data and settings with apps off; enabling it can preselect eligible unshared app data. Inspect ~/Library/Rime separately and keep wanted dictionaries; the option does not add an undiscovered folder or change enabled input sources for you.

What this test covered

On September 22, 2026, Squirrel 1.1.2 was extracted from a pkg and copied into the per-user Input Methods folder without running the installer or enabling it as an input source. The input-method row was individually selected; the app, preferences and HTTP storage were removed, while ~/Library/Rime remained. Full installer removal, enabled-input use, dictionary restoration and Homebrew were not tested.