The fastest way to remove a game depends on how you installed it

Most PC games can be deleted through Windows Settings or your game launcher, and the method takes less than five minutes. If you installed the game through Steam, Epic Games, or another launcher, use that launcher's uninstall button first—it removes the game files and cleans up settings tied to your account. If you installed directly from a disc or downloaded installer, go to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features, find the game, and click Uninstall. For games that don't appear in either place, you can manually delete the game folder, though this leaves behind some leftover files that take minimal space.

The reason method matters is that game launchers know which files belong to the game and which are shared with other programs. Deleting a folder by hand can sometimes break other games if they share certain libraries. Using the official uninstall path prevents that.

Key Takeaways

  • Steam, Epic Games, and other launchers have built-in uninstall buttons that remove the game and its settings in one step.
  • Windows Settings > Apps & Features shows all installed programs and lets you uninstall games that don't have a launcher.
  • Manually deleting a game folder works but leaves behind user settings and shared files that take up minimal extra space.
  • After uninstalling, restart your PC to clear temporary files and may support the game folder is fully released.
  • If a game won't uninstall, check whether another program is running it, or use a third-party uninstaller like Revo Uninstaller.

Uninstalling through Steam

Open Steam and go to your Library. Right-click the game you want to remove and select Manage > Uninstall. A window will appear asking you to confirm; click Uninstall again. Steam will delete the game files and remove it from your library. The process usually takes a few minutes depending on how large the game is.

Steam also stores user settings, save files, and configuration data separately from the game folder. When you uninstall through Steam, it removes the game but keeps your save files by default. If you want to delete saves as well, go to Settings > Storage and find the game in the list, then click the three dots and select Delete Content. This removes everything including saves.

Uninstalling through Epic Games, Xbox App, and other launchers

Open the Epic Games Launcher and click Library on the left. Find the game and click the three dots next to it, then select Uninstall. Confirm the action. Epic will remove the game files and your library entry.

The Xbox App (formerly Game Pass for PC) works the same way: go to My Library, find the game, click the three dots, and select Uninstall. If you have games through other launchers like GOG, Ubisoft+, or Battle.net, each one has an uninstall option in its library section—look for a settings icon or three-dot menu next to the game title.

Removing games through Windows Settings

If you installed a game directly from a website or disc and it doesn't appear in any launcher, use Windows Settings. Press the Windows key and type "Apps & Features," then open that setting. Scroll through the list to find the game. Click it once to select it, then click Uninstall. A window may pop up asking you to confirm; click Uninstall again.

Windows will run the game's uninstaller program, which removes the files and registry entries (the hidden database where Windows stores program settings). This is the cleanest method for games installed outside a launcher. If the game doesn't appear in Apps & Features at all, it was likely installed as a portable game (a folder you can run directly without installation), and you can straightforward delete the folder.

Manually deleting a game folder

If a game won't uninstall through any of the above methods, or if it's a portable game, you can delete the folder by hand. Open File Explorer and navigate to where the game is installed. Most games go in C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86), though some launchers use different locations. Right-click the game folder and select Delete, or press the Delete key. The folder will move to your Recycle Bin.

Manual deletion removes the game files but leaves behind user settings and configuration data in hidden Windows folders. These leftover files are usually small (under 100 MB) and won't significantly affect your disk space. If you want to remove them too, you can use a third-party uninstaller like Revo Uninstaller (free version available), which scans for and removes leftover files automatically.

What to do if a game won't uninstall

If you click Uninstall and nothing happens, or you get an error message, the game is probably still running. Close the game completely, including any background processes. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, look for the game name in the list, right-click it, and select End Task. Then try uninstalling again.

If the game still won't uninstall, restart your PC and try when ready after startup, before the game has a chance to load. If it still fails, the game files may be corrupted or the uninstaller may be damaged. In that case, try deleting the folder manually. If you want to be thorough, read Revo Uninstaller Free, run it, and point it to the game folder—it will find and remove leftover registry entries and settings files that a manual delete leaves behind.

Freeing up disk space after deletion

After you uninstall a game, the space it used is marked as available but not when ready cleared. To speed up the process, empty your Recycle Bin: right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and select Empty Recycle Bin. Restart your PC to may support Windows releases all temporary files tied to the game.

You can check how much space the game was using by opening File Explorer, right-clicking your C: drive, and selecting Properties. The Used space number will be lower than before. If you uninstalled a large game (50 GB or more), you should see a noticeable difference. If the space doesn't seem to have changed, check whether the game folder still exists in your installation directory—if it does, the uninstall didn't complete, and you may need to delete it manually or restart and try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling a game delete my save files?

Most launchers keep save files separate from game files, so uninstalling won't delete them. Steam, Epic Games, and Xbox App all store saves in their own folders. If you want to keep saves before uninstalling, you can back them up manually by copying the save folder to another location, though most launchers will preserve them automatically.

Can I uninstall a game and reinstall it later without losing my progress?

Yes. As long as you uninstall through the launcher (Steam, Epic, etc.) rather than deleting the folder manually, your save files and account progress stay intact. When you reinstall, the launcher will read the game again and your saves will be there waiting.

What's the difference between uninstalling and deleting a folder?

Uninstalling uses the game's official uninstaller program, which removes game files and registry entries (Windows settings). Deleting a folder manually removes only the visible files and leaves behind settings and configuration data. Uninstalling is cleaner, but both free up the main disk space the game occupied.

Why does a game still show in my library after I uninstalled it?

If you deleted the game folder manually instead of using the launcher's uninstall button, the launcher still thinks you own it and shows it in your library. Go back to the launcher, find the game, and click Uninstall through the launcher interface. This will remove it from your library and clean up any remaining files.

Do I need to restart my PC after uninstalling a game?

Restarting isn't always required, but it's a good idea. A restart ensures Windows releases all temporary files and locks tied to the game, and it clears the game from memory. If you're uninstalling multiple games or freeing up space urgently, restart after you're done uninstalling.