Uninstalling Steam on Windows 10? Yeah, it’s usually pretty straightforward, but sometimes Windows decides to throw a wrench in the works—like the uninstaller refuses, or Steam sticks around even after you click ‘Uninstall’.If you’re tired of fighting with it, here’s a rough rundown of what usually works, and some tips to make the whole thing smoother. Just a heads up: backing up your game data first isn’t a bad idea—because for some reason, Windows has to make it harder than necessary, and sometimes your saved games get caught in the crossfire. So, before diving in, consider copying your game folders out of the Steam directory — typically found at `
How to Uninstall Steam on Windows 10
Follow these steps — they’re what I’ve used after running into the typical Windows uninstaller hiccups or leftover files that refuse to go away. Each method is meant to cover different scenarios, especially if the usual ‘Control Panel’ route isn’t working.
Method 1: Use the Control Panel (the usual way, sometimes stubborn)
- Click the Start menu, type
Control Panel, and open it. If it’s missing, try searching for Settings instead, but Control Panel tends to be more consistent for uninstalling programs. - Navigate to Programs > Programs and Features. This is basically Windows’ list of all installed apps—your first stop.
- Scroll through and find Steam. Once you do, highlight it by clicking once.
- Click the Uninstall button near the top. Windows will prompt you for confirmation or show a small uninstaller window—be ready to click through it.
Sometimes, Windows will throw an error—like “Cannot uninstall”.On some setups, running this as an administrator helps (right-click the Control Panel icon and choose Run as administrator).Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary.
Method 2: Use the Steam uninstaller directly (sometimes better)
- Navigate to your Steam installation folder—likely at
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam. - Look for the file called
Uninstall.exeorSteamUninstall.exe. Double-click that instead of going through Control Panel, which sometimes bypasses stubborn errors. - This method can skip a few Windows layers of confusion, especially if Steam’s entries inside ‘Programs and Features’ are corrupted or half-removed.
Method 3: Use PowerShell or Command Prompt (for advanced users)
- Open PowerShell or Command Prompt as an administrator (right-click the icon and choose Run as administrator).
- Type the command to locate Steam:
Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product | Where-Object { $_. Name -like "*Steam*" }This will list Steam if it’s still registered with Windows. Confirm it’s the correct app, then run:
Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product -Filter "Name LIKE '%Steam%'" | ForEach-Object { $_. Uninstall() }This tries to remove Steam directly, but beware—this method can be a little hit-or-miss and might even break some dependencies. Use it if you’re comfortable with command-line stuff and have backed up everything.
Tip: Clean residual files if Steam is stubborn
If uninstalling doesn’t remove everything, you might be left with leftover folders—especially in the user directory. Head over to %LocalAppData%\Steam and delete it manually. Also, check in %ProgramFiles%\Steam. Because sometimes, Windows uninstaller leaves behind more than it deletes.
After deleting leftover folders, it’s not a bad idea to run a system cleaner or use third-party uninstallers like Revo Uninstaller to sweep away remaining remnants. But be careful—deleting files manually means you risk removing stuff you might want to keep, so double-check the paths.
Once all traces of Steam are gone, your PC is ‘clean’ and ready for a fresh install or just more free space. If you plan to reinstall later, just download the latest installer from the official Steam website.
Tips for Uninstalling Steam on Windows 10
- Back up those game saves, especially for big RPGs or multiplayer stuff you’ve invested hours into.
- Running the uninstaller as admin is often the magic trick that helps clear out stubborn parts.
- If all else fails, try using a third-party uninstaller—Revo or IOBit Uninstaller have helped me in the past when Windows refused to cooperate.
- Sometimes, a simple restart after removing files can complete the cleanup, especially if Windows cache keeps holding onto old data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reinstall Steam after uninstalling it?
Definitely. Just head over to the official Steam site and grab the latest installer. Usually, reinstalling is smooth, but make sure you backup your game data before uninstall if you want to keep progress.
Will uninstalling Steam delete my games?
Not exactly, unless you delete the game files manually. Steam عادةً stores games in %SteamInstallFolder%\steamapps\common. If you uninstall Steam without backing up, the game files in its directory will go poof, unless you move or backup them first.
How do I back up my game data?
You have a couple options: either copy the entire steamapps folder somewhere safe or use Steam’s built-in backup feature under Steam > Backup and Restore Games…. Fairly simple, and keeps all my progress intact.
Steam not uninstalling? What now?
Try running the uninstaller as an administrator, or boot into Safe Mode to remove it. If it continues to refuse, third-party uninstallers can sometimes do the trick, or you might have to force delete the folders—just be careful about leaving registry entries behind.
Is it worth uninstalling if not using?
Usually yes — it frees up space and frees system resources, especially if you’re not planning to game for a while. But if you’re considering reinstalling later, keep the installer handy or bookmark the download link.
Summary
- Open Control Panel, go to Programs & Features
- Find Steam, click Uninstall
- Run the uninstaller as admin if it stalls
- Delete leftover folders in Program Files and AppData if needed
- Use third-party uninstallers if stubborn
- Always back up your saved games first
Wrap-up
Uninstalling Steam can be simple — or a little annoying if Windows decides to play hardball. But with a few tricks up the sleeve, most of the time it’s just a matter of chasing down leftover files or running uninstaller tools. Whether you’re freeing up disk space or just want to clean up your system, knowing these steps should get you there without much fuss. Just maybe, keep that backup handy—you never know when you’ll need it. Fingers crossed this helps someone shave off a few frustrating hours.