Completely Uninstalling ReShade: A Step-by-Step Guide for Gamers
ReShade is a fantastic tool that allows gamers to inject post-processing effects into their favorite games, significantly enhancing visual fidelity and creating custom looks. However, there might come a time when you want to remove ReShade. Perhaps you’re experiencing compatibility issues, wish to revert to the game’s original appearance, or simply want to free up system resources. Whatever your reason, completely uninstalling ReShade is crucial to avoid potential conflicts and ensure optimal game performance. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, ensuring a clean and complete removal of ReShade from your system.
## Understanding Why a Clean Uninstall is Important
Before diving into the uninstallation process, it’s essential to understand why a simple deletion of ReShade files isn’t sufficient. ReShade integrates deeply into the game’s rendering pipeline by injecting its own files and modifying game files. A partial removal can leave remnants that might cause:
* **Compatibility Issues:** Remaining ReShade files can conflict with newer game updates, other post-processing tools, or even system drivers, leading to crashes, graphical glitches, or performance degradation.
* **Performance Problems:** Leftover ReShade shaders and configurations can continue to consume system resources, even when ReShade is not actively used, resulting in lower frame rates and stuttering.
* **Unwanted Visual Effects:** In some cases, remnants of ReShade might persist and apply unwanted visual effects, even after you think you’ve removed it.
Therefore, following a thorough uninstallation process is crucial to ensure a clean slate and prevent any future issues.
## Step-by-Step Guide to Uninstalling ReShade
This guide provides detailed instructions for uninstalling ReShade, covering various scenarios and potential issues. Follow these steps carefully to ensure a complete removal.
### 1. Identifying the Installed Games
The first step is to identify all the games where you have installed ReShade. ReShade is installed on a per-game basis, so you need to uninstall it from each game individually. Keep a list of these games handy as you progress through the following steps. This might seem obvious, but it’s easy to forget which games you’ve modified, especially if you’ve used ReShade extensively.
### 2. Locating the Game’s Installation Directory
For each game on your list, you need to find its installation directory. This is the folder where the game’s executable file (.exe) is located. The process for finding the installation directory varies depending on the game platform:
* **Steam:**
1. Open the Steam client.
2. Go to your Library.
3. Right-click on the game and select “Properties”.
4. Click on the “Local Files” tab.
5. Click the “Browse…” button. This will open the game’s installation directory in File Explorer.
* **Origin:**
1. Open the Origin client.
2. Go to your Game Library.
3. Right-click on the game and select “View Game Properties”.
4. Click on “Advanced Launch Options”.
5. The “Game install location” will be displayed here. Note that this is sometimes inaccurate. If so, you may need to right-click the game and select “Repair” – this will at least show you the progress bar within the installation folder.
* **Epic Games Launcher:**
1. Open the Epic Games Launcher.
2. Go to your Library.
3. Click on the three dots next to the game’s name and select “Manage”.
4. Click on the folder icon next to “Installation”. This will open the game’s installation directory in File Explorer.
* **GOG Galaxy:**
1. Open the GOG Galaxy client.
2. Select the game in your library.
3. Click the “Customize” button (the slider icon) and select “Manage installation” -> “Show folder”. This will open the game’s installation directory in File Explorer.
* **Standalone Games (Installed from Disc or Other Sources):**
* The installation directory is usually located in the folder you chose during the installation process. Check your desktop shortcuts or start menu entries to see the target path, which usually reveals the installation directory.
Write down the installation directory for each game. You’ll need this information in the following steps.
### 3. Removing ReShade Files
Now that you have the installation directories, you can proceed with removing the ReShade files. In each game’s installation directory, look for the following files and folders and delete them:
* **d3d9.dll:** This is the main ReShade DLL file for DirectX 9 games.
* **d3d10.dll:** This is the main ReShade DLL file for DirectX 10 games.
* **d3d11.dll:** This is the main ReShade DLL file for DirectX 11 games.
* **d3d12.dll:** This is the main ReShade DLL file for DirectX 12 games.
* **dxgi.dll:** This is another common ReShade DLL file, often used in DirectX 10 and 11 games. Sometimes this is named `dinput.dll` instead, or as well as `dxgi.dll`.
* **opengl32.dll:** This is the main ReShade DLL file for OpenGL games.
* **ReShade.ini:** This file contains the ReShade configuration settings.
* **ReShade.log:** This file contains ReShade’s log information (optional, but good to remove).
* **ReShade-Shaders (folder):** This folder contains the shader effects used by ReShade. It is typically located directly in the game’s installation directory, or sometimes within a subfolder.
* **shaderpacks (folder):** Some more recent versions of ReShade may place shader packs within their own `shaderpacks` folder within the main installation directory. Delete this, if present.
* **ReShade.fx:** This file is sometimes present, although less common than the DLLs and INI.
* **Any other files or folders with “ReShade” in the name:** Carefully examine the game directory for any other files or folders that clearly relate to ReShade. Avoid deleting anything you’re unsure about, but err on the side of caution and remove anything that *looks* like a ReShade component.
**Important Notes:**
* **Multiple DLLs:** Some games might use multiple DirectX versions, so you might find several of these DLL files (e.g., d3d9.dll, d3d11.dll). Make sure to delete all of them.
* **Administrator Privileges:** You might need administrator privileges to delete some of these files. If you encounter permission errors, try running File Explorer as an administrator.
* **Hidden Files:** Ensure that you have enabled the display of hidden files and folders in File Explorer (View -> Options -> View -> Show hidden files, folders, and drives).
* **Double check DLLs:** Some games use DLLs with similar names to the ReShade DLLs, but they are *not* ReShade. For instance, a game might have its own `d3d9.dll` for rendering, and deleting it will break the game. If you’re unsure, back up the DLL before deleting it, and test the game after removing it. If the game doesn’t work, restore the backed-up DLL.
### 4. Removing Modified Game Files (If Applicable)
In rare cases, ReShade might modify game files directly, particularly configuration files. This is less common with modern versions of ReShade, but it’s worth checking for.
* **Configuration Files:** Look for any configuration files (usually with extensions like .ini, .cfg, or .txt) that might have been modified by ReShade. Check their modification dates to see if they correspond to the time when you installed ReShade. If you suspect a file has been modified, compare it to a backup (if you have one) or a clean version from a fresh game installation. Reverting the file to its original state can help resolve any remaining issues.
* **Backup Before Modifying:** If you choose to modify any game files, always create a backup first. This will allow you to easily restore the original file if something goes wrong.
### 5. Removing ReShade from the Global Shader Cache (NVIDIA and AMD)
Both NVIDIA and AMD drivers maintain a shader cache to improve game performance. However, this cache can sometimes store compiled ReShade shaders, which might cause issues even after you’ve removed the ReShade files. Clearing the shader cache can help ensure a completely clean removal.
#### NVIDIA Shader Cache:
1. Open the NVIDIA Control Panel.
2. Go to “Manage 3D settings”.
3. Click on the “Global Settings” tab.
4. Scroll down to “Shader Cache”.
5. Set the “Shader Cache” to “Off”.
6. Restart your computer.
7. After restarting, go back to the NVIDIA Control Panel and set “Shader Cache” back to “On”. This will force the driver to rebuild the shader cache from scratch.
Alternatively, you can manually clear the NVIDIA shader cache by deleting the contents of the following folder (you might need to show hidden folders to see this):
`C:\Users\
#### AMD Shader Cache:
1. Open the AMD Radeon Settings.
2. Click on the “Gaming” tab.
3. Click on “Global Settings”.
4. Scroll down to “Shader Cache”.
5. Set “Shader Cache” to “AMD optimized” or “Off” (temporarily disabling it).
6. Restart your computer.
7. After restarting, go back to the AMD Radeon Settings and set “Shader Cache” back to your preferred setting (“AMD optimized” is usually recommended).
Alternatively, you can manually clear the AMD shader cache by deleting the contents of the following folder (you might need to show hidden folders to see this):
`C:\Users\
**Important:** Clearing the shader cache will cause games to recompile shaders the first time you play them, which might result in slightly longer loading times and temporary performance dips. This is normal and will only happen once.
### 6. Removing ReShade from the System Registry (Advanced Users Only)
**Warning:** Modifying the Windows Registry can be risky and can cause system instability if done incorrectly. This step is optional and only recommended for advanced users who are comfortable with editing the registry. **Back up your registry before proceeding.**
ReShade might create entries in the Windows Registry to store configuration settings or integration information. Removing these entries can help ensure a completely clean removal, but it’s not strictly necessary for most users.
1. Open the Registry Editor (regedit.exe). Type `regedit` into the Windows search bar and press Enter.
2. Click “Yes” if prompted by User Account Control.
3. Before making any changes, back up the registry. Go to File -> Export. Choose a location to save the backup file and give it a name (e.g., “registry_backup”).
4. Use the “Find” function (Ctrl+F) to search for “ReShade”.
5. Carefully review each search result. If the entry clearly relates to ReShade and doesn’t appear to be essential for other programs, you can delete it by right-clicking and selecting “Delete”.
6. Repeat the search until you have reviewed all occurrences of “ReShade” in the registry.
**Important Considerations:**
* **Be absolutely sure** that the registry entry you are deleting is related to ReShade. Deleting the wrong entry can cause serious problems.
* **Don’t delete entire keys (folders) unless you are 100% certain** that they are solely dedicated to ReShade.
* **If in doubt, leave it alone.** It’s better to have a few leftover registry entries than to risk damaging your system.
### 7. Restarting Your Computer
After completing all the above steps, it’s essential to restart your computer. This will ensure that all changes are applied and that any lingering ReShade processes are terminated.
### 8. Testing the Game
After restarting, launch the game and verify that ReShade has been completely removed. Check for the following:
* **No ReShade Overlay:** The ReShade overlay (usually displayed in the top-left corner of the screen) should not be visible.
* **No Visual Effects:** The game should look like it did before you installed ReShade, with no custom visual effects applied.
* **No Performance Issues:** The game should run smoothly, without any performance degradation caused by leftover ReShade files.
If you still encounter issues, double-check the steps above and ensure that you have removed all ReShade files from the game’s installation directory and cleared the shader cache.
## Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even after following these steps, you might encounter some issues. Here are some common problems and their solutions:
* **ReShade Overlay Still Appears:** This usually indicates that you have missed some ReShade files in the game’s installation directory. Double-check the directory and make sure you have deleted all the DLL files, ReShade.ini, and the ReShade-Shaders folder.
* **Game Crashes After Removing ReShade:** This could be caused by deleting the wrong DLL file or by modifying game files incorrectly. Restore any backed-up files and try again. If the problem persists, try verifying the integrity of the game files through the game platform (Steam, Origin, etc.).
* **Performance Issues Persist:** This might be due to leftover shader cache data. Make sure you have cleared the shader cache for your NVIDIA or AMD graphics card.
* **Visual Glitches or Artifacts:** This could be caused by corrupted game files or driver issues. Try updating your graphics drivers or reinstalling the game.
* **Game Fails to Launch:** This can be caused by deleting a core game DLL thinking it was a ReShade DLL. Restore any backed up DLLs and try again. If you didn’t back up the DLLs, try verifying the integrity of the game files through the game platform (Steam, Origin, etc.).
## Preventing ReShade Issues in the Future
To avoid future issues with ReShade, consider the following tips:
* **Create Backups:** Before installing ReShade or modifying any game files, create backups of the original files. This will allow you to easily revert to the original state if something goes wrong.
* **Use a Mod Manager:** For games that support mod managers, consider using one to install and manage ReShade. This can simplify the installation and uninstallation process and reduce the risk of conflicts.
* **Keep ReShade Updated:** Use the latest version of ReShade, as newer versions often include bug fixes and compatibility improvements.
* **Read the Documentation:** Before installing ReShade, read the official documentation and any community guides to understand the installation process and potential issues.
* **Be Careful When Modifying Files:** Only modify game files if you are confident in your ability to do so. Always create backups before making any changes.
## Conclusion
Uninstalling ReShade completely requires a meticulous approach, but by following this comprehensive guide, you can ensure a clean removal and avoid potential issues. Remember to identify all installed games, locate their installation directories, remove all ReShade files, clear the shader cache, and optionally, remove ReShade entries from the system registry. By taking these steps, you can enjoy your games without any lingering ReShade effects or performance problems. Always prioritize backing up important files before making any changes, and don’t hesitate to seek help from online communities or forums if you encounter any difficulties.