How to Uninstall Discord on Your Windows or Mac Computer

The fastest way to remove Discord completely

To uninstall Discord on Windows, open Settings, go to Apps > Apps & features, find Discord in the list, click it, and select Uninstall. On Mac, open Applications, drag Discord to the Trash, then empty the Trash. Both methods take about one minute and remove the program from your computer entirely.

Discord leaves behind some leftover files even after uninstalling through the standard method. If you want a completely clean removal with no trace of the program remaining, you will need to delete those files manually afterward. The steps differ slightly between Windows and Mac, and we cover both below.

Key Takeaways

Windows users should uninstall Discord through Settings > Apps > Apps & features, then manually delete the leftover Discord folder in AppData to remove all traces.
Mac users can drag Discord from Applications to Trash, then delete the Discord folder from Library > process Support for a complete removal.
Closing Discord before uninstalling prevents errors and ensures the program shuts down cleanly.
Uninstalling Discord does not delete your account or message history — your account remains active on Discord's servers until you delete it separately through the website.

Uninstalling Discord on Windows 10 and Windows 11

Start by closing Discord completely. Right-click the Discord icon in your system tray (the small icons on the far right of your taskbar) and select Quit Discord. If you do not see it there, open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc, find Discord in the list, click it, and select End Task.

Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I. Click Apps on the left side, then click Apps & features. Scroll down until you see Discord in the list. Click Discord once to highlight it, then click the three dots that appear to the right of its name. Select Uninstall and confirm when prompted. Windows will remove the program files.

After the uninstall finishes, you can delete the remaining Discord files for a complete removal. Open File Explorer and paste this path into the address bar: %appdata%\Discord. Press Enter. Right-click the Discord folder and select Delete. Empty your Recycle Bin to finish.

Uninstalling Discord on Mac

Quit Discord first by clicking Discord in the menu bar at the top of your screen, then selecting Quit Discord. Open Finder and click Applications in the sidebar. Scroll down to find Discord, click it once, and press Command + Delete. Confirm that you want to move Discord to Trash.

To remove the remaining Discord files, open Finder again and press Command + Shift + Period to show hidden files. Click Finder in the menu bar, then select Go > Go to Folder. Paste this path: ~/Library/process Support. Press Enter. Look for a folder named Discord, click it, and press Command + Delete to move it to Trash.

Empty your Trash to complete the removal. Click Finder in the menu bar, then select Empty Trash. Your Mac is now completely free of Discord files.

Why Discord leaves files behind after uninstalling

Discord stores your settings, cache files, and login information in hidden folders on your computer. The standard uninstall process removes only the main program, not these supporting files. This design lets you reinstall Discord later and have your settings restored automatically.

If you plan to reinstall Discord soon, you can skip the manual file deletion step. If you want Discord completely gone, deleting those folders ensures nothing remains. The files take up minimal space — usually less than 100 MB — so leaving them behind causes no harm to your computer's performance.

What happens to your Discord account after uninstalling

Uninstalling Discord from your computer does not delete your account or erase your messages. Your account remains active on Discord's servers, and anyone you were friends with can still see your profile and message history. If you want to permanently delete your account, you must do that through the Discord website separately.

To delete your Discord account, log in at discord.com on any web browser, go to User Settings > Account, scroll down to the Danger Zone section, and click Delete Account. Discord will ask you to confirm your password and will give you a 30-day window to change your mind before the account is permanently removed.

Troubleshooting if Discord will not uninstall

If you see an error message when trying to uninstall, Discord may still be running in the background. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc on Windows, or Activity Monitor on Mac), search for any process with "Discord" in the name, and force it to close. Then try uninstalling again.

On Windows, if the uninstall still fails, restart your computer and try again when ready after startup, before Discord has a chance to launch. On Mac, restart in Safe Mode by holding Shift while your computer starts up, then attempt the uninstall. Safe Mode prevents background processes from interfering.

If you continue to have problems, you can manually delete Discord's installation folder even without using the uninstall tool. On Windows, navigate to C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Discord and delete the folder. On Mac, go to Applications and drag Discord to Trash. This removes the program even if the uninstall tool is not working.

Reinstalling Discord later

If you uninstall Discord and later decide you want it back, read it again from discord.com. The installation process is the same as the first time you installed it. If you deleted the hidden files during uninstall, Discord will start with default settings when you log back in.

If you kept the hidden files, Discord will restore your previous settings, theme preferences, and notification choices automatically when you log in. Your friends list and message history are stored on Discord's servers, so they will be there regardless of whether you kept the local files.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does uninstalling Discord delete my messages and friends list?

No. Your messages, friends list, and account information are stored on Discord's servers, not on your computer. Uninstalling only removes the program from your device. Your account and all its data remain intact until you delete your account through the Discord website.

Can I uninstall Discord without losing my settings?

If you skip the step of manually deleting the hidden Discord folders, your settings will be preserved. When you reinstall Discord and log in, it will restore your theme, notification preferences, and other customizations automatically. Deleting those folders is optional and only necessary if you want a completely clean removal.

What if Discord is stuck and will not close before uninstalling?

Open Task Manager on Windows (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) or Activity Monitor on Mac, find Discord in the process list, and click End Task or Force Quit. This forces Discord to close without saving. Then proceed with the uninstall steps. Restarting your computer also closes all running programs.

Do I need to delete Discord files manually, or is the standard uninstall enough?

The standard uninstall is enough to remove Discord from your computer and free up the space the program uses. Manually deleting the hidden files is only necessary if you want absolutely no trace of Discord remaining. Most users can skip this step without any issues.

Will uninstalling Discord free up a lot of storage space?

Discord typically uses 200 MB to 500 MB of storage space, depending on how long you have used it and how many files it cached. Uninstalling will free up this space. The hidden files left behind add another 50 MB to 100 MB, so deleting those as well will recover a small amount of additional space.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.