How to Uninstall TurboTax and Do a Clean Reinstall

This is the most important step, so please don't skip it. Your return is stored in a separate data file, but you should still copy it somewhere safe before you touch the program. Find your file, which ends in an extension like .tax2024, and copy it to a USB drive or a cloud folder.

This is an independent guide. We're not affiliated with Intuit. Take your time with the backup.

A clean reinstall is worth a shot when:

• The program crashes on launch or freezes over and over.
• Updates refuse to install no matter what you try.
• You're seeing errors that mention missing or corrupted files.
• A repair or a simple restart hasn't solved the problem.

Open Settings, head to Apps, and find TurboTax in the list of installed programs. Click it and choose Uninstall, then follow the prompts. After it finishes, restart your computer so any locked files get released.

Open the Applications folder, find TurboTax, and drag it to the Trash. Then empty the Trash. Restart your Mac to clear out anything left in memory. This removes the program while leaving your saved tax files untouched in their own spot.

Now reinstall using your original CD or the download from your account, and enter your license code again. Once the program is running and fully updated, open your backed-up tax file. Your data should load exactly as it did before, since the reinstall only replaced the software.

If a clean reinstall doesn't fix things, the trouble may be coming from somewhere else, like antivirus interference, low disk space, or an operating system that no longer meets requirements. Check your free space and your system specs against the requirements for your tax year before you assume the software itself is to blame.