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

Most games on Windows uninstall through Settings or Control Panel in under a minute. Open Settings, go to Apps > Apps & features, search for the game by name, click it, and select Uninstall. Windows will walk you through the removal. For older games or those installed outside the standard location, you may need to find the game folder manually and delete it, or run an uninstaller file that came with the game.

The method that works fastest for you depends on whether the game came from Steam, the Microsoft Store, a disc, a website read, or a third-party launcher like Epic Games or GOG. Each path removes the game files differently, and some leave behind settings or save files you may want to keep or delete separately.

Key Takeaways

  • Games installed through Steam, Epic Games, or the Microsoft Store uninstall directly from those launchers — this is the fastest and cleanest method.
  • Games installed manually or from a disc can be removed through Windows Settings > Apps > Apps & features, or by deleting the folder if no uninstaller exists.
  • Uninstalling a game does not automatically delete your save files, screenshots, or settings — you must delete those folders separately if you want them gone.
  • Leftover game files in AppData or Documents folders can take up significant space even after uninstall, so checking these locations saves storage.
  • Some games require you to uninstall through their launcher first before you can remove them from Windows, so check the game's folder before using Settings.

Uninstall games from Steam, Epic Games, or the Microsoft Store

If you installed the game through a launcher, uninstall it there first. Open Steam, find the game in your library, right-click it, and select Manage > Uninstall. Confirm the removal. Epic Games works the same way: click the three dots next to the game and select Uninstall. Microsoft Store games uninstall from Settings > Apps > Apps & features — search for the game and click Uninstall.

Uninstalling through the launcher is the cleanest method because the launcher knows exactly which files belong to the game and removes only those. It also updates your library so the game no longer appears in your list. This method takes one to three minutes depending on how large the game is.

After uninstalling through the launcher, check your storage to confirm the files are gone. Open File Explorer, go to the drive where you installed the game (usually C:), and look in the folder where the launcher stores games — Steam uses a folder called steamapps, Epic Games uses a folder called Epic Games. If the game folder is still there, delete it manually.

Remove games installed manually or from a disc

Games you downloaded directly or installed from a disc may have an uninstaller file in their folder. Open File Explorer, navigate to where you installed the game, and look for a file named uninstall.exe or setup.exe. Double-click it and follow the prompts. This removes the game files and any registry entries Windows created during installation.

If no uninstaller exists, use Windows Settings. Open Settings, go to Apps > Apps & features, search for the game by name, click it, and select Uninstall. Windows will remove the game and its registry entries. If the game does not appear in Apps & features, it may not have registered with Windows — in that case, delete the game folder manually by opening File Explorer, finding the folder, right-clicking it, and selecting Delete.

Deleting a folder manually is safe as long as you are certain it contains only the game. If you are unsure, check the folder size first — a game folder is usually at least 5 to 50 gigabytes. Do not delete folders in system directories like Windows or Program Files unless you are removing a game that was installed there and you are certain of what you are deleting.

Find and delete leftover save files and settings

Uninstalling a game does not delete your save files, screenshots, or game settings. These files live in separate locations on your computer. If you want to remove them completely, you must delete them manually. Open File Explorer and navigate to one of these locations: C:\Users\[Your Username]\Documents, C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local, or C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming.

Look for a folder with the game's name or the developer's name. For example, a game by Bethesda might have a folder called Bethesda or the game title. Open it and check the contents — you will usually see folders named Saves, Screenshots, or Settings. Delete these folders if you want to remove your game data. Be careful not to delete folders for other games or programs.

If you want to keep your save files but remove everything else, copy the Saves folder to a backup location before deleting the rest. This way you can reinstall the game later and restore your progress. AppData folders are hidden by default, so if you do not see them, open File Explorer, click View at the top, and check the box for Hidden items.

Check for game files in other common locations

Some games store files in unexpected places. Check your Downloads folder if you downloaded the game installer there — delete the installer file after uninstalling the game. Check your Desktop for any game shortcuts or folders. Check C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86) for any remaining game folders.

Games installed on an external drive or secondary hard drive may leave folders behind if you uninstall from Windows Settings. Open File Explorer, click This PC, and look at all your drives. If you see a game folder on a drive other than your main drive, delete it manually. Some games also create folders in C:\ProgramData, which is a hidden system folder — open File Explorer, enable hidden items in View, and navigate there to check.

Recover storage space after uninstalling

After you delete a game, Windows does not when ready reclaim the storage space. Run Disk Cleanup to free up that space. Open Settings, go to System > Storage, scroll down, and click Temporary files. Check the boxes for Temporary files, Recycle Bin, and Downloads (if you want to delete old installers), then click Remove files. This can free up several gigabytes.

If Disk Cleanup does not recover as much space as you expected, open File Explorer and check the Recycle Bin — deleted files sit there until you empty it. Right-click the Recycle Bin on your Desktop and select Empty Recycle Bin. After that, the space is truly freed and available for new files.

Reinstall a game you uninstalled

If you uninstalled a game through Steam, Epic Games, or the Microsoft Store, reinstalling is straightforward: open the launcher, search for the game, and click Install. The launcher downloads the game files again and installs them in the default location. This takes longer than uninstalling but is straightforward.

If you uninstalled a game you downloaded manually, you will need the installer file again. Check your Downloads folder or the website where you originally downloaded it. If the read link no longer works, search for the game online — many games are available through multiple sources. read the installer, run it, and follow the installation prompts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does uninstalling a game delete my save files?

No. Uninstalling removes the game program but leaves save files, screenshots, and settings behind. These files are stored separately in your Documents or AppData folders. If you want to delete them, you must find and delete those folders manually. If you want to keep them, do nothing — they will remain on your computer.

Why does my game still take up storage after I uninstalled it?

Leftover files in AppData, Documents, or ProgramData folders are taking up space. Use File Explorer to find and delete these folders. Also check your Recycle Bin — deleted files sit there until you empty it. After emptying the Recycle Bin, run Disk Cleanup to reclaim the space.

Can I uninstall a game while it is running?

No. Close the game completely before uninstalling. If the game is still running, Windows will not let you delete its files. If you try to uninstall and get an error, check your taskbar and system tray to make sure the game process is not still active, then try again.

What if a game will not uninstall?

Try uninstalling through the launcher first if the game came from Steam or Epic Games. If that does not work, restart your computer and try again. If the game still will not uninstall, delete the game folder manually using File Explorer. You may need to take ownership of the folder if Windows says you do not have permission — right-click the folder, select Properties, go to Security, and click Edit to change permissions.

Should I delete the game folder if the uninstaller fails?

Yes, but only after the uninstaller has finished or failed completely. Open File Explorer, find the game folder, and delete it. This removes the game files but may leave registry entries behind in Windows. These entries take up minimal space and do not affect performance, but if you want to clean them up, use a registry cleaner tool or uninstall the game through Settings > Apps & features if it still appears there.