Alex Ruben
How to Completely Uninstall Epic Games Launcher from Your Windows PC
If you are struggling to uninstall the Epic Games Launcher from your Windows PC, you’re not alone. Many users face issues with uninstall errors, background processes, or leftover files that complicate the removal process. This guide will walk you through effective methods to successfully uninstall the Epic Games Launcher, fix any uninstall errors, force removal if necessary, and clean up any remnants that may linger on your system.
Before we begin, ensure that you have administrator privileges on your PC, as some steps require elevated permissions. This guide assumes you are using a version of Windows 10 or Windows 11. Make sure to close any running instances of the Epic Games Launcher before proceeding with the uninstallation process.
Step 1: End Epic Games Processes
The first step is to ensure that no processes related to the Epic Games Launcher are currently running. To do this, open the Start Menu and type Task Manager, then click on it. In the Task Manager window, look for any processes associated with Epic Games. If you find any, right-click on each one and select End Task. Once you have ended all related processes, you can close the Task Manager.
Step 2: Uninstall Epic Games Launcher via Settings
Next, you will attempt to uninstall the Epic Games Launcher through the Windows settings. Open the Start Menu again and search for Settings. In the Settings window, click on Apps and then select Installed Apps. Use the search bar to find Epic Games Launcher. Click on the three horizontal dots next to it and select Uninstall. Confirm the action by clicking Uninstall again. If the application uninstalls successfully, you can move to the next step.
Step 3: Manual Uninstallation (If Necessary)
If the previous step did not work and the Epic Games Launcher remains installed, you can manually remove it. Begin by opening This PC and navigating to your C:\Program Files directory. Look for a folder named Epic Games. If it is not found there, check C:\Program Files (x86). Once you locate the folder, right-click on it and select the trash icon to delete it. Allow a few moments for the deletion process to complete.
Step 4: Remove Leftover Files
After deleting the main folder, you should clear out any leftover files. Open the Start Menu and search for Run. In the Run dialog, type in %LocalAppData% and press Enter. Scroll through the list to find the Epic Games folder and delete it by right-clicking and selecting the trash icon. Repeat this process for any other relevant folders, such as Epic Online Services and the Epic Games Launcher folder.
Step 5: Clear Temporary Files
The final step in the uninstallation process is to delete temporary files. Open the Run dialog again and type temp, then press Enter. In the Temp folder, select all files by pressing Ctrl + A and then right-click and choose the trash icon to delete them. If prompted, click Continue to confirm the deletions. It’s acceptable if a few files cannot be deleted, as long as you remove the majority.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
After successfully uninstalling the Epic Games Launcher, check your desktop for any lingering shortcuts. You can delete these by moving them to the recycle bin. If you encounter any errors during the process, ensure that you have closed all running applications and that you have administrative privileges. If the launcher is still visible after following these steps, restarting your computer may help finalize the uninstallation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if the Epic Games Launcher won’t uninstall?
If you encounter issues uninstalling the Epic Games Launcher, ensure that all related processes are terminated in the Task Manager and try the uninstall method again. If that fails, you may need to manually delete the files as described in Step 3.
Can I reinstall Epic Games Launcher after uninstalling?
Yes, you can reinstall the Epic Games Launcher anytime by downloading it from the official Epic Games Store website.
Will uninstalling Epic Games Launcher delete my games?
No, uninstalling the Epic Games Launcher will not delete your installed games. However, it will remove the launcher application itself, which you will need to run your games in the future.