I’ve been trying to declutter my Ubuntu system a bit, and one of the things that’s been bothering me for a while is that I have LibreOffice installed, but I hardly ever use it. I initially installed it when I thought I’d need it for work, but it turns out I just prefer using Google Docs more. Now I feel like it’s just taking up unnecessary space and adding extra clutter to my app list.
The issue is, I’m not entirely sure how to completely remove LibreOffice. I mean, I could just uninstall it through the software manager, but I’ve heard that sometimes applications leave behind configuration files or other residual data that can stick around and take up space. I’m the kind of person who likes a clean slate, so I want to make sure I do it right and remove all traces of it.
I remember the last time I tried to remove a program, I ended up still seeing some files pop up when I searched for them later on. It’s kind of annoying when that happens, and I really don’t want to deal with that this time around. If I can manage to get it all cleared out, that would be ideal!
So, I’m wondering, what steps do I need to follow to make sure LibreOffice is completely gone? Like, can someone guide me through the whole process? Should I use the terminal for this, or is it better to stick with the GUI? And after doing the uninstallation, is there anything specific I should do to check that it’s all removed? Are there any hidden files or folders that I should look out for just to be thorough?
I’d really appreciate any tips or personal experiences you’ve had with this since I don’t want to be stuck with leftover files and bloat. I’m all ears for any advice or step-by-step instructions! Thanks in advance!
How to Completely Remove LibreOffice from Ubuntu
If you want to get rid of LibreOffice and make sure there’s nothing left behind, here’s a simple guide to help you out. You can use either the terminal or the GUI, but using the terminal is generally more thorough. Here’s how to do it step by step:
Step 1: Uninstall LibreOffice
Open your terminal (you can find it in your applications or press
Ctrl + Alt + T
).Type this command to uninstall LibreOffice:
This command will remove LibreOffice and any related packages. The
--purge
option will help remove configuration files too.Step 2: Clean Up Residual Files
After uninstalling, you can clean up the residual files by running:
This will remove any packages that were automatically installed and are no longer needed.
Step 3: Remove User Configuration Files
Next, let’s get rid of any leftover configuration files in your user directory. These are usually hidden files, so you can check by running:
This command deletes the LibreOffice configuration folder. Be careful with
rm -rf
as it can delete things permanently!Step 4: Double-check for Any Leftovers
To make sure all is well, you can search for any remaining files by running:
If you find anything, you can delete it with the
rm
command. Just make sure you’re deleting the right stuff!Final Notes
That’s pretty much it! You should have successfully removed LibreOffice and all of its traces. If you prefer using the Software Center, you can start there too, but using the terminal is generally more comprehensive.
Just remember, if you ever need LibreOffice again, you can easily reinstall it with:
Happy decluttering!
To completely remove LibreOffice from your Ubuntu system, it is recommended to use the terminal for a thorough cleanup. Start by opening your terminal and inputting the following command to uninstall LibreOffice:
sudo apt-get remove --purge libreoffice*
. The--purge
option ensures that not only the application is removed, but also any associated configuration files. After running this command, it’s a good idea to usesudo apt-get autoremove
to clear out any orphaned dependencies that were installed with LibreOffice but are no longer needed. This should significantly declutter your system.After the uninstallation, it’s prudent to check for any lingering files. You can look for hidden configuration directories in your home folder by typing
ls -a ~/
in the terminal. Specifically, look for directories like.config/libreoffice
and.cache/libreoffice
. If they exist, you can safely remove them usingrm -rf ~/.config/libreoffice
andrm -rf ~/.cache/libreoffice
. To ensure everything is truly cleared, you can use the commandfind ~/ -name "*libreoffice*"
to check for any unexpected remnants. This comprehensive approach will help you maintain a clean and organized system.