A Clean Farewell: How to Fully Uninstall Discord

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Whether you’re switching to a different communication platform or performing a fresh installation, there are times when you need to fully uninstall Discord from your computer. A complete uninstallation ensures that all files, settings, and traces of Discord are removed. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of fully uninstalling Discord from both Windows and macOS.

Uninstalling Discord on Windows

Step 1: Uninstall via Control Panel

  1. Open Control Panel: Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog. Type control panel and press Enter to open the Control Panel.
  2. Navigate to Programs: In the Control Panel, click on “Uninstall a program” under the “Programs” category.
  3. Find Discord: Scroll through the list of installed programs and locate “Discord.”
  4. Uninstall: Right-click on “Discord” and select “Uninstall.” Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation.

Step 2: Delete Discord App Data

  1. Delete App Data: Press Win + R again to open the Run dialog. Type %appdata% and press Enter. Locate the “Discord” folder, right-click it, and choose “Delete.”
  2. Delete Local App Data: Similarly, type %localappdata% in the Run dialog and delete the “Discord” folder from here as well.

Step 3: Remove Registry Entries (Advanced)

Please note that editing the Windows Registry can be risky if not done correctly. It’s recommended to create a backup of your registry before making any changes.

  1. Open Registry Editor: Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
  2. Navigate to Discord Entries: In the Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Discord and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Discord.
  3. Delete Discord Entries: Right-click on the “Discord” entries and select “Delete.”

Uninstalling Discord on macOS

Step 1: Delete the App

  1. Quit Discord: Make sure Discord is not running. If it is, right-click the Discord icon in the menu bar and select “Quit Discord.”
  2. Move to Trash: Open Finder and navigate to the “Applications” folder. Locate “Discord,” click and drag it to the Trash in your dock.
  3. Empty Trash: Right-click on the Trash icon in your dock and select “Empty Trash” to permanently delete the application.

Step 2: Delete App Data

  1. Open Finder: In Finder, click on “Go” in the menu bar and select “Go to Folder.”
  2. Enter App Data Path: Type ~/Library/Application Support/ and press Enter. Locate the “discord” folder and move it to Trash.

Step 3: Remove Discord Preferences

  1. Navigate to Preferences: While still in Finder, click on “Go” in the menu bar and select “Go to Folder.”
  2. Enter Preferences Path: Type ~/Library/Preferences/ and press Enter. Locate any files starting with “com.discord” and move them to Trash.

Final Thoughts

Fully uninstalling Discord ensures that all associated files and settings are removed from your system. This can be especially helpful if you’re experiencing issues with Discord or if you’re performing a clean installation.

Before proceeding with any uninstallation, consider backing up any important chat logs or settings you wish to keep. After the uninstallation, you can always reinstall Discord to resume your communication and collaboration activities.

Remember that the steps outlined in this guide involve making changes to your computer’s system. Exercise caution and follow the instructions carefully to avoid any unintended consequences.