./uninstall.sh if available.Remove Ren'Py Projects and Files:
sudo pacman -R renpy
Only if your games (projects) were saved inside the Ren’Py installation folder. If you built distributions (PC/Mac/Linux builds of your game), those are standalone and unaffected.
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|-------|-------|----------|
| "Access denied" when deleting folder | Ren'Py or a project is running | Close launcher, check Task Manager for python.exe or renpy.exe. Reboot in Safe Mode if necessary. |
| Reinstallation still shows old settings | Residual %APPDATA%\RenPy or ~/.renpy | Delete those folders before reinstalling. |
| Steam uninstall leaves files | Steam only removes its own installed files | Manually delete leftover directories from steamapps/common. |
| Symbolic links in projects | Projects may have linked assets | Use rm carefully; check ls -l for links before deletion. |
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To uninstall Ren'Py, you simply delete the folder where you originally unzipped it. Ren'Py does not use a traditional installer and will not appear in your system's Control Panel or "Add/Remove Programs" list. Quick Removal Steps
Locate the Ren'Py Folder: Find the directory where the Ren'Py executable (renpy.exe on Windows, renpy.sh on Linux, or the Ren'Py app on macOS) is located. uninstall renpy
Delete the Folder: Right-click the folder and select Delete or move it to your Trash/Recycle Bin.
Clear Residual Save Data (Optional): If you want to completely wipe all traces, including save files from games you were developing or playing, you must manually delete them from your system's AppData or equivalent local storage folder. Windows: %APPDATA%/RenPy/ macOS: ~/Library/RenPy/ Linux: ~/.renpy/ Developer vs. Player Removal
For Developers: If you are reinstalling to fix an error, deleting the main SDK folder and downloading a fresh copy is usually sufficient. Your project preferences (like the preferred text editor) are often stored outside the SDK folder, so they may persist after a reinstall.
For Players: Deleting the game folder will remove the game, but your persistent data (seen text, unlocked CGs) and save files will remain in the system folders mentioned above until manually deleted. Quickstart — Ren'Py Documentation
Uninstalling Ren'Py is straightforward because it is a "portable" application. It doesn't use a traditional installer that writes to your system registry, so removing it is mostly a matter of deleting the folder where you extracted it. 1. Remove the Main Application
Since Ren'Py runs from a self-contained folder, follow these steps: Locate the folder: Find the directory where you originally saved Ren'Py (e.g., C:\renpy-8.x.x on Windows or your Applications folder on macOS). Delete the folder: Right-click the folder and select (Windows) or Move to Trash Empty Trash: If you installed Ren'Py manually, navigate to the
Clear your Recycle Bin or Trash to fully reclaim the disk space. 2. Clear Persistent Data (Optional)
Even after deleting the app, Ren'Py often leaves behind "persistent data" (save files and configuration settings) in a separate system folder. If you want a completely clean slate, delete these folders: , and hit Enter. Look for a folder named
Delete the subfolder corresponding to your specific project or the Ren'Py launcher. Open Finder and press Cmd + Shift + G ~/Library/RenPy/ and hit Enter. Delete the folders inside. Navigate to in your file manager (you may need to "Show Hidden Files"). Delete the contents. 3. Clean up the SDK Environment (Developers Only)
If you used the Ren'Py launcher to download specific Android (RAPT) or iOS (scripts) build tools, these might be stored in a different location depending on your preferences. Open your file explorer and search for android-sdk if you remember setting a custom path.
If you used the default settings, these were likely inside the main Ren'Py folder you deleted in Step 1. Summary Checklist Remove App Delete the main Ren'Py directory. Clear Saves Delete the ~/Library/ Icons/Shortcuts
Manually delete any desktop or taskbar shortcuts you created. Remove Ren'Py Projects and Files:
Uninstalling Ren'Py is unusual compared to most software because it doesn't typically appear in your "Add or Remove Programs" list. Since it is a portable application, removal primarily involves manually deleting its folders. 1. Removing the Launcher (The Engine)
To remove the core Ren'Py development environment, locate the folder you originally unzipped it into (often named something like renpy-8.x-sdk) and delete the entire directory. This removes the engine, the launcher, and any built-in documentation or tutorials. 2. Deleting Project Files
If you created games, they are stored in the projects directory within your Ren'Py folder by default.
To scrap a project: Simply delete that specific game's folder from the projects directory.
Launcher Settings: Ren'Py stores some configuration data (like your preferred text editor) outside the main SDK folder so they remain even if you delete the launcher. 3. Clearing Persistent Data & Saves
Even after deleting the main folder, "leftover" files like save data and persistent variables may still exist on your system. These are often stored in hidden system folders: Quickstart — Ren'Py Documentation
Report ID: RP-UNINST-2025-01
Date: [Current Date]
Author: Technical Documentation Dept.
Version: 1.0
Topic: Safe and complete removal of Ren'Py engine and its associated projects, launcher data, and configuration files.
Ren’Py doesn’t install itself in the traditional sense (no registry entries on Windows, no system files). It runs as a portable application. That means uninstalling is usually just deleting the folder. However, there are a few extra places to check for a clean removal.