| 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. |

rm -rf ~/renpy-sdk # or wherever installed

To completely wipe all traces of Ren’Py from your system, you must manually delete your project folders. if you want to keep your work.

In this article, we will walk you through every method to on Windows, macOS, and Linux. We will also cover how to remove lingering projects and configuration files to ensure a squeaky-clean system.

Ren'Py is a popular visual novel engine that, unlike many traditional applications, does not use a standard system installer (e.g., MSI, PKG, DEB) on most platforms. Instead, it is distributed as a self-contained, portable directory. Consequently, uninstalling Ren'Py typically involves deleting its folder(s) and manually removing user-specific configuration and cache files. This report provides platform-specific procedures for a complete uninstallation.

: 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

Tools like (free) or IObit Unlocker can force-delete stubborn Ren’Py files.