How to Delete Epic Games Launcher From Your PC or Mac
Epic Games Launcher is the desktop client used to access the Epic Games Store, manage game libraries, and run titles like Fortnite. But if you've moved on from those games, freed up disk space, or simply want a cleaner system, uninstalling it is straightforward — with a few details worth knowing before you start.
What Happens When You Uninstall the Epic Games Launcher
Removing the launcher itself doesn't automatically delete your installed games. Epic stores game files separately from the launcher directory, so titles like Fortnite or anything else you've downloaded will still occupy space on your drive until you remove them individually. If you want a complete cleanup, it's worth uninstalling your games first through the launcher before removing the launcher itself.
Your Epic Games account and any purchased games or progress tied to it remain intact on Epic's servers. Uninstalling the client is a local action — you can reinstall the launcher and log back in at any time without losing your library.
How to Uninstall Epic Games Launcher on Windows
Standard uninstall via Settings (Windows 10/11):
- Open Settings → Apps (or Apps & Features on Windows 10)
- Search for Epic Games Launcher in the app list
- Click on it, then select Uninstall
- Follow the on-screen prompts to complete removal
Via Control Panel (alternative method):
- Open Control Panel → Programs → Programs and Features
- Locate Epic Games Launcher in the list
- Right-click and choose Uninstall
The uninstaller will walk through a short confirmation sequence. The process typically takes under a minute on most systems.
Removing Leftover Files After Uninstall 🧹
The standard uninstaller removes the core application but often leaves behind residual folders containing caches, logs, and settings. These are harmless but take up space. To clear them manually:
- Navigate to C:Users[YourUsername]AppDataLocalEpicGamesLauncher
- Navigate to C:Users[YourUsername]AppDataRoamingEpic
- Delete both folders if present
The AppData folder is hidden by default. To access it, type %appdata% or %localappdata% directly into the Windows File Explorer address bar.
Some users also check the C:Program Files (x86)Epic Games directory for any remaining files after the uninstaller runs.
How to Uninstall Epic Games Launcher on Mac
- Open Finder → Applications
- Locate Epic Games Launcher
- Drag it to the Trash, or right-click and select Move to Trash
- Empty the Trash to complete removal
Leftover files on Mac may remain in these locations:
- ~/Library/Application Support/Epic
- ~/Library/Caches/com.epicgames.EpicGamesLauncher
- ~/Library/Preferences/ (look for Epic-related .plist files)
The ~/Library folder is hidden by default in macOS. Access it by holding Option and clicking the Go menu in Finder, then selecting Library.
Should You Uninstall Games First?
| Scenario | Recommended Approach |
|---|---|
| Want to remove everything Epic-related | Uninstall games via launcher first, then remove launcher |
| Just removing the launcher, keeping games | Uninstall launcher only; game files remain intact |
| Freeing up maximum disk space | Uninstall all games individually, then remove launcher and leftover folders |
| Planning to reinstall later | Just remove the launcher; your account and library are cloud-saved |
If you uninstall the launcher without removing games first, those game directories stay on your drive indefinitely — they won't show up in any app list, so you'd need to locate and delete the folders manually.
Why the Launcher Sometimes Resists Closing Before Uninstall
On Windows, the Epic Games Launcher runs background processes even when the main window is closed. If the uninstaller reports that the application is still running, you'll need to fully quit it first:
- Right-click the system tray icon (bottom-right of the taskbar) and select Exit
- Or open Task Manager → find EpicGamesLauncher.exe → End Task
Attempting to uninstall while the process is active can cause the uninstaller to stall or fail to remove all components.
Variables That Affect the Cleanup Process 🖥️
How thorough you need to be depends on several factors that vary by user:
- How long you've had the launcher installed — older installs tend to accumulate more cached data and log files in the AppData or Library folders
- Whether Fortnite or other live-service games were installed — these often have their own sub-processes and update services that may leave additional registry entries (Windows) or preference files (Mac)
- Your OS version — the file paths and uninstall interfaces differ slightly between Windows 10 and Windows 11, and between macOS versions
- Whether you used a third-party uninstaller — tools like Revo Uninstaller (Windows) or AppCleaner (Mac) can automate the leftover file removal, though how thoroughly they scan depends on the tool and its settings
A basic uninstall through system settings handles the launcher application itself cleanly in most cases. The deeper cleanup — tracking down cache folders, registry remnants, or orphaned game directories — is where individual setups start to diverge meaningfully.