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How to Completely Uninstall Discord from Windows PC

Geeksdigit Team

August 6, 2026

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Discord is one of the most popular communication platforms for gamers, students, developers, and online communities. It offers text messaging, voice chat, video calls, screen sharing, and server-based communities, making it a versatile application for both personal and professional use. While Discord is easy to install, there may come a time when you want to remove it completely from your Windows PC. You might be switching to another communication platform, troubleshooting application issues, or simply freeing up storage space.

Uninstalling Discord isn’t always as straightforward as removing it through the Settings app. Like many desktop applications, Discord can leave behind cache files, user settings, logs, and other data even after it has been uninstalled. If you’re planning to perform a clean reinstall or permanently remove Discord, you’ll likely want to delete these leftover files as well.

This guide explains several methods to completely uninstall Discord from Windows 11 and Windows 10. You’ll learn how to remove the application using Windows Settings, Control Panel, Safe Mode, Command Prompt, and manual cleanup techniques to ensure no unnecessary Discord files remain on your computer.

What Happens When You Uninstall Discord?

When Discord is uninstalled normally, Windows removes the main application files, but certain user data often remains.

These leftover files may include:

• Cache files
• Configuration files
• Log files
• Temporary files
• User preferences
• Downloaded media
• Local storage
• Update files

Removing these folders provides a cleaner uninstall, especially if you plan to reinstall Discord later.

Method 1: Uninstall Discord from Settings

The Settings app is the easiest way to remove Discord.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Click Apps.
3. Select Installed apps.
4. Locate Discord.
5. Click the three-dot menu beside Discord.
6. Select Uninstall.
7. Click Uninstall again to confirm.
8. Follow the uninstall wizard if it appears.

Once finished, Discord is removed from Windows, although some user files may still remain.

Method 2: Uninstall Discord from Control Panel

The traditional Control Panel still supports uninstalling desktop applications.

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Select Programs.
3. Click Programs and Features.
4. Find Discord in the list.
5. Right-click it.
6. Choose Uninstall.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions.
8. Restart your computer if prompted.

This method performs the standard Discord uninstall process.

Method 3: Close Discord Before Uninstalling

Discord often continues running in the system tray even after its window is closed. If it’s running, the uninstall may not complete successfully.

1. Right-click the Discord icon in the notification area.
2. Choose Quit Discord.
3. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
4. Locate any Discord processes.
5. Select each one.
6. Click End task.
7. Proceed with the uninstall using your preferred method.

Ensuring Discord is fully closed prevents files from being locked during removal.

Method 4: Delete Discord’s AppData Folders

After uninstalling, Discord’s configuration and cache files are often left behind.

To remove them:

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type:

%AppData%

3. Press Enter.
4. Delete the Discord folder if it exists.

Next:

1. Press Windows + R again.
2. Type:

%LocalAppData%

3. Press Enter.
4. Delete the Discord folder.
5. Delete the SquirrelTemp folder if it exists and is related to Discord updates.

Removing these folders deletes most locally stored Discord data.

Method 5: Remove Discord Startup Entries

If Discord was configured to launch automatically, Windows may still retain its startup entry.

1. Open Task Manager.
2. Select the Startup apps tab.
3. Locate Discord.
4. If it still appears, right-click it.
5. Select Disable.
6. Restart your PC.

After the application has been completely removed, the startup entry should eventually disappear.

Method 6: Remove Discord from Startup Folder

Some installations or older versions may place shortcuts in the Startup folder.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type:

shell:startup

3. Press Enter.
4. Delete any Discord shortcuts.

Then check the common startup folder:

shell:common startup

Delete Discord shortcuts if present.

This ensures Discord no longer attempts to start with Windows.

Method 7: Delete Temporary Discord Files

Windows stores temporary files that may remain after Discord is removed.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type:

%Temp%

3. Press Enter.
4. Delete Discord-related temporary files.

Next:

Temp

Delete any remaining Discord temporary folders if available.

These files are not required once Discord has been uninstalled.

Method 8: Use Command Prompt to Remove Discord Folder (Advanced)

If certain folders refuse to delete, Command Prompt can help.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Navigate to the AppData folder if necessary.
3. Use the following command, replacing the path if required:

rmdir /s /q "%AppData%\Discord"

Remove the local folder:

rmdir /s /q "%LocalAppData%\Discord"

Close Command Prompt after the folders are deleted.

Only use these commands if the folders still exist after uninstalling Discord.

Method 9: Remove Discord Using Safe Mode

If Discord files are locked or cannot be removed normally, Safe Mode may help.

1. Restart your computer into Safe Mode.
2. Sign in to Windows.
3. Uninstall Discord using Settings or Control Panel.
4. Delete the remaining AppData folders.
5. Restart Windows normally.

Since fewer background processes run in Safe Mode, file removal is often easier.

Method 10: Restart Your Computer

After removing Discord and deleting its remaining folders, restart your PC.

Restarting helps Windows:

• Release locked files
• Refresh startup entries
• Remove pending uninstall information
• Complete background cleanup

Once Windows restarts, verify that Discord no longer appears in:

• Start Menu
• Installed apps
• Startup Apps
• Task Manager
• System tray

If none of these locations show Discord, the uninstall is complete.

How to Check Whether Discord Has Been Completely Removed

After uninstalling, you can verify that Discord has been removed by checking a few common locations.

Look in:

• Settings > Apps > Installed apps
• Control Panel > Programs and Features
• Task Manager
• Start Menu
• Desktop shortcuts
• AppData folders
• LocalAppData folders
• Startup Apps

If Discord no longer appears and its data folders have been deleted, the application has been completely removed from your PC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does uninstalling Discord delete my account?

No. Uninstalling Discord only removes the application from your computer. Your Discord account, servers, friends, messages, and cloud-based data remain available and can be accessed again by signing in on another device.

Will uninstalling Discord remove downloaded files?

Only Discord’s local application files, cache, and settings are removed if you delete the AppData folders. Files you’ve manually downloaded to other folders, such as Downloads or Documents, are not deleted.

Can I reinstall Discord later?

Yes. You can reinstall Discord at any time. Simply download the latest installer from Discord’s official website, install it, and sign in with your existing account.

Why do Discord folders remain after uninstalling?

Windows uninstallers often preserve user settings, logs, and cache files so that your preferences are restored if you reinstall the application. Deleting the AppData and LocalAppData folders removes this remaining data.

Conclusion

Completely uninstalling Discord from a Windows PC involves more than simply clicking the Uninstall button. While the standard uninstall removes the main program, leftover cache, settings, logs, and temporary files may remain on your system. By removing these additional folders from AppData, LocalAppData, and temporary directories, you can ensure a much cleaner uninstall.

For most users, uninstalling Discord through Settings followed by deleting the remaining Discord folders provides the most effective solution. Advanced methods such as Safe Mode or Command Prompt are only necessary if files become locked or refuse to delete. Whether you’re troubleshooting issues, preparing for a fresh installation, or simply removing software you no longer use, these methods will help you completely uninstall Discord from your Windows PC.