How to remove PDFSpark (Mac)

What is PDFSpark

PDFSpark is a software application that is presented as a tool for Mac users, offering features such as opening, converting, and annotating PDF files. However, despite its seemingly useful functionality, PDFSpark has been categorized as an unwanted application or potentially unwanted program (PUP) due to its behavior and distribution methods. Once installed on a Mac, PDFSpark exhibits adware-like behavior, which can be intrusive and detrimental to the user experience. Adware is a type of software designed to display advertisements on your computer, redirect search requests to advertising websites, and collect marketing data about you. Adware like PDFSpark can also pose privacy concerns, as it may track users’ browsing habits, collect personal information, and share it with third parties for advertising purposes. This data collection is often done without transparent disclosure to the user, leading to potential privacy violations. Removing PDFSpark from a Mac involves several steps to ensure that all components of the application and any related adware are eliminated.

How PDFSpark infects Mac computers

The infection process of PDFSpark typically involves deceptive marketing strategies known as “bundling.” This method includes packaging the unwanted application with other software, often without the clear consent or knowledge of the user. When users download and install free software or updates from the internet, they may inadvertently agree to install PDFSpark as part of the package. The installation dialogs during the setup process of the bundled software may be designed to obscure the presence of PDFSpark or make it seem like a beneficial addition to the software being installed. Users might rush through the installation process without noticing the pre-checked boxes or hidden options that authorize the installation of PDFSpark.

1. Download PDFSpark Removal Tool
2. Remove PDFSpark from Login Items
3. Remove/Uninstall PDFSpark from Applications
4. Remove PDFSpark from browsers
5. Reset browser settings
6. Remove PDFSpark files and folders
7. Block PDFSpark ads and pop-ups
8. How to protect from threats, like PDFSpark

Remove PDFSpark manually for free

Note: PDFSpark sets up to start on macOS startup. Therefore, before starting the removal, perform these steps:

1. Open System Preferences, choose Users & Groups.
2. Choose your account (set up as Current User).
3. Click Login Items tab.
4. Find “PDFSpark” entry. Select it, and click the “-“ (minus) button to remove it.

Note 2: PDFSpark won’t quit just by closing it, therefor use Force Quit to end the process.

1. Press 3 buttons at the same time: Option, Command, and Esc (Escape). This is similar to Control-Alt-Delete on a Windows PC.
2. Choose PDFSpark in the list.
3. Click Force Quit button.

Here is a manual step-by-step tutorial for full PDFSpark removal from your computer. This works 99% and was checked with the latest versions of PDFSpark installer on operating systems with the latest updates and browser versions.

Remove PDFSpark from Applications

Remove PDFSpark from Mac:

1. In the Finder sidebar, click Applications.
2. PDFSpark might have an Uninstaller. If you see Uninstall PDFSpark or PDFSpark Uninstaller, double-click it and follow the onscreen instructions.
3. Otherwise, drag PDFSpark from the Applications folder to the Trash (located at the end of the Dock).
4. Then choose Finder > Empty Trash.

Cannot uninstall PDFSpark

If you can’t uninstall PDFSpark using instructions above, or it keeps coming back, you can use free AppCleaner for Mac to remove all residual data and libraries of PDFSpark. Follow instructions below:

1. Download free AppCleaner.
2. Drag PDFSpark from Applications folder to AppCleaner window.
3. Choose files and folders you want to remove along with PDFSpark.
4. Click Delete button.

Remove PDFSpark add-on from your browsers

Removing PDFSpark from Applications often does not bring the desired effect. It is a browser extension, and it may still be active in Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Here are instructions on how to remove the PDFSpark extension from your browsers manually.

Safari:

1. Start Safari on your Mac, click Safari to open drop-down menu and choose Preferences
2. Click Extensions tab.
3. Find PDFSpark extension.
4. Click Uninstall button to remove it.

Google Chrome:

1. Start Google Chrome browser
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://extensions.
3. Find PDFSpark extension.
4. Click the trash can icon to remove it.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:addons.
3. Choose PDFSpark extension.
4. Click Disable or Remove button.

Reset browser settings

To finish PDFSpark removal, reset your browser settings to make sure, there are no leftover items in browser folders.

Reset Safari:

1. Start Safari on your Mac, click Safari to open drop-down menu and choose Preferences
2. Go to the Privacy section of Safari’s preferences.
3. Click Remove All Website Data button.
4. In the opened window, click Remove Now button to remove data stored by websites in Safari.
5. Go to the Advanced section of Safari’s preferences.
6. Click the Show Develop menu in menu bar option.
7. In the menu, click Develop and select Empty Caches from this menu.
8. Again, go to Safari menu and choose Clear History….
9. Choose to clear all history and click Clear History button.

Reset Google Chrome:

1. Start Google Chrome browser
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://settings.
3. Scroll down and find Show advanced settings link.
4. Click on it and scroll down to the bottom again.
5. Click Reset settings button and click Reset to confirm.

Reset Mozilla Firefox:

1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:support.
3. Click Refresh Firefox… button.
4. Click Refresh Firefox to confirm.

Remove following files and folders of PDFSpark


~/Library/Application Support/.[random_string]/Services/com.PDFSpark.service.app
~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.PDFSpark.service.plist
/Library/Application Support/.[random_string]/System/com.PDFSpark.system
/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.PDFSpark.system.plist


Download AdGuard for Mac to block malicious pop-ups, that promote PDFSpark

AdGuard is the best ad-blocker, internet filtering, and internet security application for macOS. It can cut out unwanted banners from site pages, block pop-ups, stop redirects, and prevent users from visiting potentially dangerous resources. Use it to stop ads promoting PDFSpark in browsers.

How to protect Mac OSX from adware, like PDFSpark

Mac OSX is known to be one of the safest operating systems, and for a long time, there was no need for antivirus products for Mac. But with the growing popularity of Mac computers and notebooks and evolving technology, viruses, trojans, adware, toolbars, hijackers, and other malware paved the way for Mac users. We recommend you to use one of the best anti-malware for Mac available — Malwarebytes for Mac.