The fastest way to remove a game from your computer
To delete a game on Windows, open Settings, go to Apps > Apps & features, find the game in the list, click it, and select Uninstall. Follow the prompts to remove it completely. On Mac, drag the game from your Applications folder to the Trash, then empty the Trash. This removes the game files and frees up the storage space it was using.
The method depends on where you installed the game and which operating system you use. Games bought through Steam, Epic Games Store, or other launchers have their own uninstall buttons inside the launcher itself, which is usually faster than using system settings. Games you bought directly from a publisher's website or disc may only appear in your system settings.
Key Takeaways
- Windows users should uninstall through Settings > Apps > Apps & features, where they can see all installed games in one place.
- Games installed through Steam, Epic Games Store, or other launchers uninstall fastest through the launcher's library, not system settings.
- Mac users drag the game to Trash and then empty the Trash to remove it completely.
- Uninstalling a game frees up storage space when ready, but leftover files in Documents or Downloads folders may remain and need manual deletion.
- Restarting your computer after uninstalling can prevent errors if you plan to reinstall the same game later.
Uninstalling a game through Windows Settings
Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then pressing Enter. Click Apps in the left sidebar, then select Apps & features. Scroll through the list until you find the game you want to remove. Click the game name once to highlight it, then click the three dots (⋯) that appear to the right, and select Uninstall.
A window will pop up asking you to confirm the uninstall. Click Uninstall again. The game's own uninstaller may then open—follow its prompts, which usually involve clicking "Next" and then "Finish." This process takes one to five minutes depending on the game's size. When it finishes, the game will no longer appear in your Apps & features list.
Some games leave behind folders in your Documents, Downloads, or AppData folders that contain saved games, settings, or temporary files. These do not affect your computer's performance, but you can delete them manually if you want to reclaim a small amount of extra space. To find these folders, open File Explorer, navigate to your Documents folder, and look for a folder with the game's name or the publisher's name.
Uninstalling through Steam, Epic Games Store, and other launchers
If you installed the game through Steam, open Steam and click Library at the top. Find the game in your list, right-click it, and select Manage > Uninstall. Confirm the uninstall in the window that appears. Steam will remove the game files in two to ten minutes depending on the game's size.
For Epic Games Store, open the launcher, click Library on the left, find the game, click the three dots (⋯) next to it, and select Uninstall. Confirm when prompted. The process is similar in GOG, Ubisoft+, Xbox App, and other launchers—look for a menu icon (three dots or a gear) next to the game name and choose Uninstall.
Uninstalling through the launcher is faster and cleaner than using Windows Settings because the launcher knows exactly which files belong to the game and removes them all at once. You do not need to use Windows Settings to remove games installed through these services—the launcher handles everything.
Removing games on Mac
Open Finder and click Applications in the sidebar on the left. Scroll through the list to find the game you want to delete. Click the game once to select it, then press Command + Delete, or right-click and select Move to Trash. The game will disappear from your Applications folder.
straightforward moving a game to Trash does not fully remove it from your Mac—you must empty the Trash to complete the deletion. Click the Trash icon in your Dock (usually at the bottom right of the screen), then click Empty Trash in the window that opens. Once you empty the Trash, the game is completely removed and the storage space is freed.
Some games installed through the Mac App Store or third-party launchers may have their own uninstall process. Check the game's launcher or the publisher's website if dragging to Trash does not work. Games that came with an installer disc or downloaded installer may also leave behind preference files in your Library folder, but these take up minimal space and do not need to be removed.
What happens to your saved games and settings
Uninstalling a game does not automatically delete your saved games or custom settings. Most games store these files separately from the game itself—often in a folder named after the game inside your Documents, Downloads, or a hidden system folder. If you plan to reinstall the game later and want to keep your progress, these files will still be there.
If you want to delete your saved games along with the game, you must find and delete them manually. On Windows, check your Documents folder, AppData\Local, and AppData\Roaming for folders with the game's name. On Mac, check your Library/process Support folder. Deleting these folders is optional—they take up very little space and do not affect your computer's performance if left behind.
Freeing up storage space after uninstalling
Uninstalling a game when ready frees up the storage space it occupied. To see how much space you reclaimed, open Settings on Windows, go to System > Storage, and look at the amount of free space shown at the top. On Mac, click the Apple menu, select About This Mac, and click Storage to see your available space.
If you uninstalled a large game but did not see much change in your free space, leftover files in Documents, Downloads, or AppData folders are likely still taking up room. You can safely delete these manually. Another reason for minimal space recovery is if your hard drive is nearly full—Windows and Mac both need some free space to function properly, so they may not show the full amount you freed until other operations complete.
If you are running low on storage and need to delete multiple games, uninstall the largest ones first. You can see how much space each game uses by right-clicking its folder in your Documents or Applications folder and selecting Properties (Windows) or Get Info (Mac).
Troubleshooting uninstall problems
If a game will not uninstall and you see an error message, the most common cause is that the game is still running in the background. Close the game completely, then try uninstalling again. If the error persists, restart your computer and attempt the uninstall when ready after restarting, before opening any other programs.
On Windows, if a game still will not uninstall through Settings, try uninstalling it through the Control Panel instead. Press the Windows key, type "Control Panel," and open it. Click Programs > Programs and Features, find the game, click it, and select Uninstall. This sometimes works when the Settings method fails.
If you installed the game through a launcher like Steam or Epic Games Store but it still appears in your Windows Apps list after uninstalling through the launcher, uninstall it again through Settings. This removes the leftover entry. If a game folder remains on your hard drive after uninstalling and you cannot delete it manually, restart your computer in Safe Mode (Windows) or restart and hold Command + S (Mac) to try deleting it again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will uninstalling a game delete my saved games?
No. Saved games are usually stored in a separate folder that the uninstaller does not touch. Your progress will remain on your computer even after you uninstall the game. If you reinstall the game later, it will find your old saves automatically in most cases.
Can I uninstall a game while it is running?
No. You must close the game completely before uninstalling it. If you try to uninstall while the game is open, the uninstaller will either fail or leave behind files that cannot be removed. Close the game, wait a few seconds, then start the uninstall process.
How much storage space will I get back?
The amount depends on the game's size. Small indie games may use 1 to 5 GB, while large modern games can use 50 to 150 GB or more. Check the game's size in your Apps & features list (Windows) or Applications folder (Mac) before uninstalling to see how much space you will reclaim.
What if the uninstall button is grayed out?
A grayed-out uninstall button usually means the game is still running or the system is busy. Close the game, close any launchers, and restart your computer. Then try uninstalling again. If it remains grayed out, the game may require administrator permissions—right-click the uninstall button and select "Run as administrator."
Do I need to restart my computer after uninstalling?
Most games uninstall without requiring a restart. However, restarting after uninstalling can prevent errors if you plan to reinstall the same game when ready afterward. It is not necessary for normal use, but it is a safe step if you encounter problems.