How to uninstall unreal engine
If you’re looking to uninstall Unreal Engine from your computer, you’ve come to the right place. Unreal Engine is a powerful tool for game development, but it can take up a significant amount of space on your hard drive. Whether you’re no longer using Unreal Engine or you need to free up disk space, this guide will walk you through the steps to uninstall it completely.
Uninstalling Unreal Engine is a straightforward process, but it’s important to do it correctly to ensure that all the files and associated components are removed. Failure to uninstall it correctly may result in leftover files and registry entries, which could potentially cause issues in the future.
To uninstall Unreal Engine, follow these steps:
Step 1: Backup your projects
If you have any projects or game files that you want to keep, make sure to back them up before uninstalling Unreal Engine. This will prevent any potential loss of data or work.
Step 2: Uninstall Unreal Engine via the Epic Games Launcher
To uninstall Unreal Engine, open the Epic Games Launcher on your computer. Navigate to the Unreal Engine tab, click on the “Library” section, and locate the version of Unreal Engine you want to uninstall. Right-click on it and select “Uninstall”. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation process.
Step 3: Remove any leftover files and folders
Once the uninstallation process is complete, it’s a good idea to manually check for any leftover files or folders related to Unreal Engine. These files are typically located in the installation directory or in the AppData/Local folder. Make sure to delete them to free up disk space.
By following these steps, you can easily uninstall Unreal Engine from your computer and reclaim valuable disk space. Whether you’re looking to free up space or you’re no longer using the software, properly uninstalling Unreal Engine will ensure that all associated components are removed, preventing any potential issues in the future.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Uninstall Unreal Engine
Uninstalling Unreal Engine from your computer is a straightforward process that can be done by following these steps:
Step 1: Close all running Unreal Engine applications.
Before uninstalling Unreal Engine, make sure that you have closed all running Unreal Engine applications, including the Epic Games Launcher.
Step 2: Launch the Control Panel.
Open the Control Panel on your computer. You can do this by searching for “Control Panel” in the Start menu or by pressing the Windows key + X and selecting “Control Panel”.
Step 3: Navigate to the Programs and Features section.
In the Control Panel, click on the “Programs” or “Programs and Features” option. This will open a list of all installed programs on your computer.
Step 4: Locate Unreal Engine in the list of installed programs.
Scroll through the list of installed programs and locate Unreal Engine. It may be listed as “Unreal Engine”, “Unreal Engine 4”, or “Epic Games Launcher”.
Step 5: Uninstall Unreal Engine.
Right-click on Unreal Engine and select “Uninstall” or “Change/Remove”. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation process.
Step 6: Delete remaining Unreal Engine files and folders (optional).
After uninstalling Unreal Engine, you may choose to delete any remaining Unreal Engine files and folders manually. These can typically be found in the “Program Files” or “Program Files (x86)” folder on your computer.
Step 7: Restart your computer.
Once you have completed the uninstallation process and deleted any remaining files, restart your computer to ensure that all changes take effect.
By following these steps, you can successfully uninstall Unreal Engine from your computer and free up valuable storage space.
Why You May Want to Uninstall Unreal Engine
Unreal Engine is a powerful and robust game development platform that offers a wide range of features and tools. However, there may be several reasons why you may want to uninstall Unreal Engine from your system.
Incompatible Hardware or Software
One of the primary reasons for uninstalling Unreal Engine is if your hardware or software is not compatible with the platform. Unreal Engine has its system requirements, and if your computer does not meet these requirements, you may experience performance issues or other technical difficulties. Uninstalling Unreal Engine allows you to free up system resources and avoid potential compatibility problems.
Switching to a Different Game Development Platform
Another reason you might want to uninstall Unreal Engine is if you have decided to switch to a different game development platform. Perhaps you have found another engine that better suits your needs or offers additional features that Unreal Engine does not have. Uninstalling Unreal Engine would allow you to streamline your development process and focus on mastering the new platform.
It’s important to note that the reasons for uninstalling Unreal Engine are subjective and dependent on individual needs and circumstances. If you no longer have a use for Unreal Engine or if it no longer fits your game development goals, then uninstalling it could be a viable option.
Check System Requirements to Uninstall Unreal Engine
Before you begin the process of uninstalling Unreal Engine, it is important to ensure that your system meets the minimum requirements. This will help to prevent any issues or complications during the uninstallation process.
Here are the basic system requirements to uninstall Unreal Engine:
Operating System:
- Windows 7 or later
- macOS 10.13 or later
- Linux distributions that are officially supported by Unreal Engine
Hardware:
- Minimum 8GB RAM (16GB recommended)
- Minimum 100GB of free disk space (200GB recommended)
- Processor with SSE2 instruction set support
- DirectX 11 compatible graphics card (for Windows users)
Make sure that your system meets these requirements before proceeding with the uninstallation process. If your system does not meet the minimum requirements, it is recommended to upgrade your hardware or operating system before attempting to uninstall Unreal Engine.
Backup Your Projects and Data Before Uninstalling Unreal Engine
Before you uninstall Unreal Engine from your computer, it is highly recommended to perform a backup of all your projects and data related to the engine. Uninstalling Unreal Engine might lead to the removal of important files and assets that you have created or downloaded. By creating a backup, you can ensure that you don’t lose any of your work.
1. Saving Your Projects
To backup your projects, follow these steps:
- Open Unreal Engine and navigate to the “Projects” tab.
- Select the project you want to backup and right-click on it.
- Choose “Show in Folder” to open the project folder.
- Copy the entire project folder to a safe location on your computer or an external storage device.
2. Exporting Custom Assets
If you have created or downloaded any custom assets for your projects, it is important to export them before uninstalling Unreal Engine. Here’s how:
- In the Unreal Engine Editor, open the content browser.
- Select the assets you want to export. You can use Ctrl+Click or Shift+Click to select multiple assets.
- Right-click on the selected assets and choose “Export” from the context menu.
- Select the destination folder where you want to save the exported assets.
- Click “Export” to save the assets to the chosen location.
By following these steps, you can ensure that all your projects and related data are backed up before uninstalling Unreal Engine. This way, you can safely remove the engine from your computer without the risk of losing any valuable work or assets.
Completely Uninstalling Unreal Engine from Windows
If you want to completely uninstall Unreal Engine from your Windows computer, you can follow the steps below to ensure a thorough removal of all associated files and folders.
Step | Description |
---|---|
1 | Open the Control Panel by searching for it in the Start Menu. |
2 | Click on “Uninstall a program” under the Programs section. |
3 | Locate Unreal Engine in the list of installed programs. |
4 | Right-click on Unreal Engine and select “Uninstall”. |
5 | Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation process. |
6 | After the uninstallation is complete, restart your computer. |
7 | Open your File Explorer and navigate to the location where Unreal Engine was installed. The default installation path is typically “C:Program FilesEpic GamesUnreal Engine”. Delete this folder and any other associated folders if they exist. |
8 | Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog. Enter “%appdata%” without quotes and press Enter. Delete the “UnrealEngine” folder if it exists. |
9 | Next, press the Windows key + R again to open the Run dialog. Enter “regedit” without quotes and press Enter. This opens the Registry Editor. |
10 | Navigate to “HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware”, and delete the “Epic Games” folder. |
11 | Navigate to “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARE”, and delete the “Epic Games” folder. |
12 | Navigate to “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREWOW6432Node”, and delete the “Epic Games” folder. |
By following these steps, you can completely uninstall Unreal Engine from your Windows computer. However, please note that this process will delete all settings, projects, and saved data associated with Unreal Engine, so make sure to back up any important files before proceeding.
Alternative Methods to Uninstall Unreal Engine
If you are unable to uninstall Unreal Engine through the standard methods, such as the Control Panel or the Epic Games Launcher, you can try alternative methods:
- Manual Uninstallation:
- Locate the installation directory of Unreal Engine. By default, it is installed in the “Program Files” folder on your C: drive.
- Delete the Unreal Engine folder.
- Open the “AppData” folder in your user directory, then navigate to “Local” > “EpicGamesLauncher” and delete the folder.
- Delete any remaining Unreal Engine files or folders in other directories.
- Third-Party Uninstallers:
- Contact Epic Games Support:
You can manually uninstall Unreal Engine by removing the relevant files and folders from your computer. This process can be time-consuming and may require advanced technical knowledge. Make sure to backup any important projects or files before proceeding.
Consider using third-party uninstaller software to remove Unreal Engine completely from your computer. These tools can help you delete any leftover files or registry entries that may be missed by the standard uninstallation methods.
If you are still having issues with uninstalling Unreal Engine, you can contact Epic Games Support for assistance. They may be able to provide further guidance or troubleshooting steps to help you remove Unreal Engine from your system.