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

Most games on Windows uninstall through the Settings app, which takes about two minutes. Some older games or those installed outside the standard folders may need manual removal. The method you use depends on whether the game came from Steam, the Microsoft Store, your disc, or a direct read from a publisher's website.

Before you uninstall, back up any saved games you want to keep — uninstalling removes the game files, and saved data sometimes goes with them. Steam and the Microsoft Store usually preserve saves in their own cloud storage, but games installed directly to your hard drive may not.

Key Takeaways

  • Games from Steam, the Microsoft Store, or Epic Games uninstall through their own launcher apps, which is faster and cleaner than using Windows Settings.
  • Games installed directly to your PC uninstall through Settings > Apps > Apps and Features, where you can search by name and click Uninstall.
  • Some games leave behind leftover files in your Documents or AppData folders even after uninstalling, which you can delete manually if you want to free up space.
  • Saved game files are usually separate from the game installation, so uninstalling does not delete your progress unless you manually remove the save folder.

Uninstalling games from Steam

Open Steam and go to your Library. Find the game you want to remove, right-click it, and select Manage > Uninstall. Steam will ask you to confirm, then delete the game files. This usually takes a few minutes depending on the game size.

Your saved games stay in Steam's cloud storage by default, so you can reinstall the game later and pick up where you left off. If you want to delete the saves too, right-click the game again after uninstalling, select Properties > Local Files, and look for a button to delete cloud saves — not all games offer this option.

Uninstalling games from the Microsoft Store or Xbox app

Open the Microsoft Store or Xbox app, go to your Library, find the game, and click the three dots next to it. Select Uninstall and confirm. The game removes itself within a minute or two.

Games from the Microsoft Store save progress to your Microsoft account automatically, so reinstalling later restores your saves. If you want to delete the saves permanently, you will need to do that through the game's own settings or account page — the uninstall process does not touch them.

Uninstalling games installed directly to your PC

Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I. Go to Apps > Apps and Features. Scroll down or search for the game by name. Click it, then click Uninstall and confirm.

Windows removes the main game folder and its registry entries. However, some games create extra folders in Documents, Downloads, or AppData that do not uninstall automatically. If you want to clean these up, open File Explorer, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete to show hidden files, and navigate to C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData. Look for folders with the game name or publisher name and delete them manually. Be careful not to delete anything else in AppData — other programs use it too.

Uninstalling games from Epic Games Launcher

Open the Epic Games Launcher, click Library on the left, find the game, click the three dots next to it, and select Uninstall. Confirm the removal.

Epic Games stores saves in the cloud for most games, so your progress is safe. If you want to check where saves are stored for a specific game, look in the game's settings or the Epic Games website — some older games save locally instead.

Removing leftover files after uninstalling

After uninstalling through any method, check these folders for leftover game files: C:\Program Files, C:\Program Files (x86), C:\Users\[Your Username]\Documents, and C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local. You can delete any folders with the game name or publisher name to free up space.

Be cautious when deleting from AppData — if you are unsure whether a folder belongs to the game, search the folder name online first. Some games share folders with other software, and deleting the wrong one can break other programs. If you are not confident, leave the files alone — they take up minimal space and will not cause problems.

What to do if a game will not uninstall

If the uninstall button is greyed out or the process fails, the game files may be in use. Close the game completely, close the launcher, and try again. If that does not work, restart your PC and attempt the uninstall while no other programs are running.

For games that still refuse to uninstall, you can delete the game folder manually. Open File Explorer, navigate to where the game is installed (usually C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86)), right-click the game folder, and select Delete. This removes the files but may leave behind registry entries that do not affect your system. If you want to clean those up, you can use the built-in Disk Cleanup tool (search "Disk Cleanup" in Windows) or a third-party tool like CCleaner, though this is optional.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling a game delete my saved games?

Not usually. Steam, the Microsoft Store, and Epic Games all save your progress to the cloud by default, so uninstalling does not touch it. Games installed directly to your PC may save locally in Documents or AppData, which survive uninstallation. Check the game's settings to see where saves are stored if you are unsure.

Can I uninstall a game while it is running?

No. Close the game and its launcher completely before uninstalling. If the uninstall button will not work, restart your PC and try again. Windows prevents you from deleting files that are currently in use.

What is the difference between uninstalling and deleting a game folder?

Uninstalling through Settings or a launcher removes the game files and cleans up registry entries that Windows uses to track the installation. Deleting the folder manually removes the files but leaves registry entries behind. Both free up space, but uninstalling is cleaner. Manual deletion is only necessary if the uninstall process fails.

Do I need to uninstall a game before reinstalling it?

No. You can reinstall over an existing installation, and the launcher will replace the old files with new ones. Uninstalling first is cleaner and ensures you start fresh, but it is not required.

Why does my game still show up in my library after uninstalling?

Steam, the Microsoft Store, and Epic Games keep uninstalled games in your library so you can reinstall them later. This is normal. The game is not taking up space on your hard drive — only the library entry remains. You can hide it from your library view if you prefer, but you cannot delete the entry itself without deleting your account.