To "uninstall" the Ren'Py engine, you do not use a standard uninstaller; instead, you simply delete the folder where you extracted it. Because Ren'Py is a standalone "portable" application, it doesn't register itself in your operating system's programs list or create a Start Menu shortcut automatically. How to Completely Remove Ren'Py
Delete the SDK Folder: Locate the renpy- folder (often found in your Documents or Downloads) and move it to the Trash/Recycle Bin.
Remove Project Data (Optional): Deleting the engine folder usually won't delete your game projects unless you saved them inside that folder. Most projects are stored in a separate directory defined in your Ren'Py Preferences.
Clear AppData/Persistent Files: Ren'Py stores configuration settings and "persistent" save data outside the main folder. To wipe these:
Windows: Press Win + R, type %AppData%, and delete the RenPy folder. macOS: Look in ~/Library/RenPy/. Cleaning Up Game Artifacts for Developers
If your goal is to "clean" a game for distribution rather than uninstalling the engine itself: Delete Ren'py Saves
To uninstall Ren'Py, you do not use a traditional uninstaller because the software is "portable" and does not typically install itself into system-level directories. Instead, you must manually delete its primary folder and, if necessary, its hidden configuration files. 1. Delete the Main Ren'Py Folder
Since Ren'Py is distributed as a ZIP, DMG, or tarball, it runs from whichever folder you extracted it into.
Windows/Linux: Locate the folder where you unzipped Ren'Py (e.g., renpy-8.1.1-sdk). Right-click it and select Delete.
macOS: Open your Applications folder (or wherever you moved the Ren'Py app), right-click the Ren'Py icon, and select Move to Trash. 2. Remove Persistent Data and Game Saves
Even after deleting the main folder, Ren'Py often leaves behind "persistent data" (like your launcher preferences and game save files) in a hidden system directory. Windows: Press Win + R, type %appdata%, and press Enter. Locate the folder named RenPy.
Open it and delete the specific folder for your project, or delete the entire RenPy folder to wipe all local data. macOS: Open Finder and press Cmd + Shift + G. Type ~/Library/RenPy/ and press Enter. Delete the folders inside to remove save data and settings. Linux: Navigate to your home directory (~). Look for a hidden directory named .renpy. Delete this directory to clear all persistent settings. 3. Cleanup for Projects
If you created games using Ren'Py, your project files are stored in a "Projects Directory". Quickstart — Ren'Py Documentation
To uninstall Ren'Py, you simply delete the folder where you originally unzipped or installed it. Because Ren'Py is a "portable" engine, it does not typically use a standard OS uninstaller or leave complex registry entries like traditional software. Step-by-Step Removal uninstall renpy
Locate the Folder: Find the directory where the Ren'Py launcher resides.
Backup Your Projects: If you want to keep your work, copy the projects folder (found inside the Ren'Py directory or at a path specified in your preferences) to a safe location before deleting everything.
Delete: Right-click the folder and select Delete or move it to the Trash/Recycle Bin. Cleaning Up Remaining Files
While the engine itself is gone after deleting the folder, some user-specific data might remain:
Persistent Data & Saves: Ren'Py often stores game-specific save data and persistent variables in a hidden directory.
Windows: %APPDATA%/RenPy/ (Copy and paste this into your File Explorer address bar). macOS: ~/Library/RenPy/. Linux: ~/.renpy/.
Visual Studio Code: If you installed VS Code through the Ren'Py launcher, you may need to uninstall it separately through your system's "Add or Remove Programs" if you no longer need it.
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.
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 To "uninstall" the Ren'Py engine, you do not
To uninstall Ren'Py, you do not use a standard Windows "Add or Remove Programs" uninstaller because Ren'Py is distributed as a portable SDK. This means removing it is as simple as deleting its files manually. 🗑️ Core Uninstallation Process
Since Ren'Py does not install itself into your system registry, follow these steps to remove the engine:
Locate the Folder: Find the directory where you originally unzipped the Ren'Py SDK (e.g., renpy-8.x.x-sdk).
Delete the Folder: Right-click the folder and select Delete. This removes the launcher and the engine files.
Empty Trash: Permanent removal requires clearing your Recycle Bin or Trash. 🛠️ Removing Residual Data
Ren'Py stores configuration and persistent data (like save files) outside of the main folder so that settings aren't lost when you update the engine. To completely wipe all traces, you must clear these locations: 1. Persistent Settings and Saves Ren'Py saves data in platform-specific application folders:
Windows: Press Win + R, type %APPDATA%/RenPy, and delete the folders related to your projects. macOS: Look in ~/Library/RenPy/. Linux: Check ~/.renpy/. 2. Project Files
If you have created games, they are typically stored within the /projects folder inside the Ren'Py directory.
Note: If you want to keep your games but remove the engine, move your project folders to a safe location before deleting the main Ren'Py folder. ⚠️ Important Considerations
Backups: Always back up your project directory before uninstalling if you plan to continue development later.
Text Editors: If you installed Visual Studio Code or Atom through the Ren'Py launcher, those are often separate installations. You may need to uninstall them individually through your OS settings if you no longer need them.
Registry: Because it is portable, Ren'Py won't leave "ghost" entries in your Windows Registry, making it a "clean" removal by nature.
If you're having trouble with a specific version, many developers recommend simply downloading a new version into a different folder rather than performing a full uninstallation, as Ren'Py handles multiple versions side-by-side without conflict. If you tell me why you're uninstalling, I can help with: Go to https://www
Troubleshooting specific errors (e.g., "borked" launcher or label errors). Updating to a newer version (like moving from 7.x to 8.x).
Moving your projects to a new computer without losing save data. How tf do I uninstall renpy? - Lemma Soft Forums
Once you have successfully uninstalled Ren’Py, reinstalling is easy:
.zip or .tar.bz2 file to a fresh location (e.g., C:\RenPy_New).renpy.exe (Windows), renpy.app (Mac), or renpy.sh (Linux).Tip: Do not extract the new version over an old, partially deleted installation. Always use a clean folder.
On Windows, Ren’Py used to offer a proper .exe installer. Modern versions prefer a .zip file (portable). Here is how to handle both.
Because you downloaded the portable ZIP version, which does not register itself with Windows. Just delete the folder.
Ren'Py projects (visual novels) can be stored either inside the Ren'Py folder or separately. To fully uninstall all traces:
game that contain script.rpy – likely Ren'Py projects.renpy or renpy-* folders from Documents, Desktop, or development directories.Step 1 – Delete application bundle
/Applications or wherever renpy.app is located.renpy.app to Trash.Step 2 – Remove support files
~/Library/RenPy → delete folder.~/Library/Preferences/org.renpy.renpy.plist (if exists).~/Library/Caches/org.renpy.renpy.Step 3 – Clear launcher data
~/.renpy (hidden folder; press Cmd+Shift+. in Finder to view).Step 4 – Empty Trash.
| Platform | Paths |
|----------|-------|
| Windows | C:\path\to\renpy-*\%APPDATA%\RenPy%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\RenPy.lnk |
| macOS | /Applications/renpy.app~/Library/RenPy~/.renpy~/Library/Caches/renpy |
| Linux | ~/renpy-sdk/~/.renpy~/.local/share/renpy~/.cache/renpy |
| Steam (All OS) | Steam → Uninstall + remove steamapps/common/RenPy SDK |