How to Completely Uninstall Discord on PC and Mac: A Comprehensive Guide
Discord has become an indispensable communication tool for gamers, communities, and businesses alike. However, there might come a time when you need to uninstall it from your computer, whether it’s to troubleshoot issues, free up space, or simply because you no longer need it. While the uninstallation process might seem straightforward, completely removing Discord requires a few extra steps to ensure all associated files and data are purged from your system. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of uninstalling Discord on both Windows PC and Mac, covering all the necessary steps to achieve a clean and thorough removal.
Why Completely Uninstall Discord?
Before diving into the how-to, let’s understand why a complete uninstallation is important:
* **Freeing Up Disk Space:** Discord, along with its cache and temporary files, can accumulate a significant amount of disk space over time. Removing these files can help reclaim valuable storage, especially on computers with limited space.
* **Resolving Software Conflicts:** Sometimes, conflicts between Discord and other applications can lead to instability or performance issues. A clean uninstall can resolve these conflicts and allow you to reinstall Discord without encountering the same problems.
* **Troubleshooting Issues:** If you’re experiencing persistent issues with Discord, such as crashes, errors, or connectivity problems, a complete uninstallation followed by a fresh installation can often resolve these issues.
* **Privacy Concerns:** Removing all associated files can help ensure your privacy, as cached data might contain personal information.
Uninstalling Discord on Windows PC
Here’s a step-by-step guide to completely uninstalling Discord on a Windows PC:
Step 1: Close Discord Completely
Before you start the uninstallation process, make sure Discord is completely closed. This means exiting the application from the system tray as well as from the main window.
1. **Check the System Tray:** Look for the Discord icon in the system tray (usually located in the lower-right corner of your screen). If you see it, right-click the icon and select “Quit Discord” or “Close Discord.”
2. **Task Manager:** If Discord is still running in the background, open the Task Manager by pressing `Ctrl + Shift + Esc`.
3. In the Task Manager, go to the “Processes” tab.
4. Look for any processes related to Discord (e.g., Discord.exe).
5. Select each Discord process and click “End Task” to close them.
Step 2: Uninstall Discord via the Control Panel
The standard method to uninstall applications on Windows is through the Control Panel.
1. **Open the Control Panel:**
* **Windows 10/11:** Click the Start button, type “Control Panel,” and press Enter.
* **Windows 7/8:** Click the Start button and select “Control Panel.”
2. **Navigate to Programs and Features:**
* In the Control Panel, click on “Programs” and then “Programs and Features.”
* If you’re in the “Category” view, click on “Uninstall a program” under the “Programs” section.
3. **Find Discord in the List:**
* Scroll through the list of installed programs until you find “Discord.”
4. **Uninstall Discord:**
* Select “Discord” and click the “Uninstall” button at the top of the list. A confirmation window might appear; click “Yes” to proceed.
5. **Follow the Uninstallation Wizard:**
* Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation process. This usually involves clicking “Next” a few times and then “Finish.”
Step 3: Remove Discord’s Remaining Files and Folders
Even after uninstalling Discord through the Control Panel, some files and folders might remain on your system. These files can accumulate over time and take up valuable disk space. To completely remove Discord, you need to manually delete these remaining files.
1. **Open File Explorer:** Press `Windows Key + E` to open File Explorer.
2. **Enable Hidden Items:** By default, some folders are hidden. To view them, you need to enable the “Hidden items” option in File Explorer.
* **Windows 10/11:** Click the “View” tab at the top of the File Explorer window. In the “Show/hide” group, check the box next to “Hidden items.”
* **Windows 7/8:** Click the “Organize” button, select “Folder and search options,” go to the “View” tab, and under “Hidden files and folders,” select “Show hidden files, folders, and drives.”
3. **Navigate to the AppData Folder:** The AppData folder contains application-specific data, including Discord’s configuration and cache files. To access it, type `%appdata%` in the File Explorer address bar and press Enter. This will take you to the `C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming` folder.
4. **Delete the Discord Folder:**
* In the AppData\Roaming folder, locate the “Discord” folder.
* Right-click the “Discord” folder and select “Delete.” Confirm the deletion if prompted.
5. **Navigate to the LocalAppData Folder:** Now, go to the LocalAppData folder. Type `%localappdata%` in the File Explorer address bar and press Enter. This will take you to the `C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local` folder.
6. **Delete the Discord Folder:**
* In the AppData\Local folder, locate the “Discord” folder.
* Right-click the “Discord” folder and select “Delete.” Confirm the deletion if prompted.
7. **Empty the Recycle Bin:** After deleting the Discord folders, empty the Recycle Bin to permanently remove the files from your system. Right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and select “Empty Recycle Bin.” Confirm the action if prompted.
Step 4: Remove Discord from the Registry (Optional, Advanced Users)
This step is optional and only recommended for advanced users who are comfortable working with the Windows Registry. Incorrectly modifying the registry can cause system instability or even prevent Windows from starting. If you’re not comfortable with this step, it’s best to skip it.
1. **Open the Registry Editor:**
* Press `Windows Key + R` to open the Run dialog box.
* Type `regedit` and press Enter.
* If prompted by User Account Control, click “Yes” to allow Registry Editor to make changes to your device.
2. **Back Up the Registry (Highly Recommended):** Before making any changes to the registry, it’s essential to create a backup. This will allow you to restore the registry to its previous state if something goes wrong.
* In the Registry Editor, click “File” and then “Export.”
* Choose a location to save the backup file (e.g., your desktop).
* Enter a name for the backup file (e.g., “RegistryBackup”).
* In the “Export range” section, make sure “All” is selected.
* Click “Save.”
3. **Search for Discord Registry Keys:**
* Press `Ctrl + F` to open the Find dialog box.
* Type `Discord` in the “Find what” field and click “Find Next.”
4. **Delete Discord Registry Keys:**
* If the search finds a registry key or value related to Discord, carefully examine it to ensure it’s actually associated with Discord.
* If you’re sure it’s safe to delete, right-click the key or value and select “Delete.” Confirm the deletion if prompted.
* Press `F3` to continue searching for more Discord-related registry keys and values. Repeat the deletion process until no more results are found.
5. **Close the Registry Editor:** Once you’ve finished removing Discord registry keys, close the Registry Editor.
Step 5: Restart Your Computer
After completing all the above steps, restart your computer to ensure that all changes are applied and any remaining Discord processes are terminated. This is a crucial step to ensure a clean and complete uninstallation.
Uninstalling Discord on Mac
Uninstalling Discord on a Mac is generally simpler than on Windows, but it still requires a few steps to ensure a complete removal.
Step 1: Quit Discord Completely
As with Windows, the first step is to make sure Discord is completely closed.
1. **Check the Dock:** Look for the Discord icon in the Dock. If you see a small dot underneath the icon, it means the application is running.
2. **Right-Click and Quit:** Right-click the Discord icon in the Dock and select “Quit.”
3. **Force Quit (If Necessary):** If Discord doesn’t quit normally, you can force quit it.
* Press `Command + Option + Esc` to open the Force Quit Applications window.
* Select “Discord” in the list and click “Force Quit.” Confirm the action if prompted.
Step 2: Move Discord to the Trash
The primary method for uninstalling applications on macOS is by moving them to the Trash.
1. **Open Finder:** Click the Finder icon in the Dock.
2. **Go to the Applications Folder:** Click “Applications” in the Finder sidebar.
3. **Find Discord in the List:** Scroll through the list of applications until you find “Discord.”
4. **Move to Trash:** Drag the “Discord” icon to the Trash icon in the Dock, or right-click the icon and select “Move to Trash.”
5. **Empty the Trash:** Right-click the Trash icon in the Dock and select “Empty Trash.” Confirm the action if prompted. This will permanently delete Discord from your Mac.
Step 3: Remove Discord’s Remaining Files and Folders
Even after moving Discord to the Trash, some files and folders might remain on your system. These files are typically stored in the Library folder.
1. **Open Finder:** Click the Finder icon in the Dock.
2. **Go to the Library Folder:** The Library folder is hidden by default in macOS. To access it, you need to use the “Go” menu in Finder.
* Click “Go” in the Finder menu bar.
* Hold down the `Option` key on your keyboard. While holding the `Option` key, you should see the “Library” option appear in the Go menu.
* Click “Library.”
3. **Delete Discord-Related Folders:** Inside the Library folder, you’ll find several subfolders where Discord might have stored data. Check the following folders and delete any folders or files related to Discord:
* **~/Library/Application Support:** Look for a folder named “Discord” and delete it.
* **~/Library/Caches:** Look for a folder named “com.hnc.Discord” or similar and delete it.
* **~/Library/Preferences:** Look for a file named “com.hnc.Discord.plist” or similar and delete it.
* **~/Library/Saved Application State:** Look for a folder named “com.hnc.Discord.savedState” and delete it.
4. **Empty the Trash:** After deleting the Discord folders, empty the Trash to permanently remove the files from your system. Right-click the Trash icon on your desktop and select “Empty Trash.” Confirm the action if prompted.
Step 4: Restart Your Mac
After completing all the above steps, restart your Mac to ensure that all changes are applied and any remaining Discord processes are terminated. This is a crucial step to ensure a clean and complete uninstallation.
Troubleshooting Common Uninstallation Issues
Sometimes, you might encounter issues during the uninstallation process. Here are some common problems and their solutions:
* **Discord is Still Running:** Make sure you’ve completely closed Discord before attempting to uninstall it. Check the system tray (Windows) or the Dock (Mac) and force quit the application if necessary.
* **Unable to Delete Files:** If you’re unable to delete Discord’s remaining files and folders, it might be because the files are still in use. Restart your computer and try again. If that doesn’t work, try booting your computer in Safe Mode and deleting the files from there.
* **Uninstallation Wizard Errors:** If you encounter errors during the uninstallation wizard, try downloading the latest version of Discord and running the installer again. The installer might include an uninstallation option that can fix corrupted installations.
* **Registry Errors (Windows):** If you encounter errors while editing the registry, restore the registry backup you created before making any changes. If you didn’t create a backup, you might need to restore your computer to a previous state using a system restore point.
Reinstalling Discord
After completely uninstalling Discord, you can reinstall it by downloading the latest version from the official Discord website ([https://discord.com/](https://discord.com/)). Follow the installation instructions provided on the website.
Conclusion
Completely uninstalling Discord involves more than just removing the application through the Control Panel or moving it to the Trash. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure that all associated files and data are purged from your system, freeing up disk space, resolving potential software conflicts, and addressing privacy concerns. Whether you’re using a Windows PC or a Mac, this comprehensive guide provides you with the necessary information to achieve a clean and thorough Discord uninstallation. Remember to exercise caution when editing the registry (Windows) and always back up your data before making any significant changes to your system. By taking these precautions, you can ensure a smooth and successful uninstallation process.