How to Uninstall the Epic Games Launcher
Not a fan of the Epic Games launcher? If you’re looking to ditch the gaming platform, you can remove the launcher from your PC or Mac using this guide.
Epic Games is the platform of choice for PC gamers who enjoy Fortnite, Gears of War, Fall Guys, and more. If you’re looking for a Steam alternative, you might think about Epic Games as your first port of call, with hundreds of available games for you to enjoy.
What happens if you aren’t a fan of the company or the platform? If you’re not keen on Epic Games and you’ve decided to move on from the platform, you can remove it from your PC or Mac at any point. If you’re unsure, here’s how to uninstall the Epic Games launcher quickly.
Is the Epic Games Launcher Safe?
You might be worried about the safety of the Epic Games launcher. Epic, while it isn’t as big of a household name as Xbox, PlayStation, or even Steam, is a major player in the PC gaming market. It’s worth billions of dollars and has had a number of big-budget AAA successes in recent years.
The Epic Games website, showing ads for games like Fortnite and Fall Guys
That’s not to say that the company isn’t immune from criticism. Investment from Tencent (the Chinese gaming company), an anti-trust court battle with Apple and Google, and concerns about safety in popular games like Fortnite haven’t helped matters. That doesn’t mean the platform itself is unsafe, but parents should always use their own judgment about the games their children are playing.
Before you uninstall the Epic Games launcher, make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. The platform is safe, but there are plenty of reasons to want to remove it. It might not have the game you want. You might need to clear out more space on your hard drive. And, yes, questions about company funding and ethics might put you off.
Whatever the reason, you can uninstall the Epic Games launcher using the steps below.
How to Uninstall the Epic Games Launcher on Windows
You can easily remove the Epic Games launcher from a Windows PC. The steps below will show to do this on Windows 11, but the steps should be similar (although not identical) on Windows 10 PCs.
Removing the Epic Games Launcher may stop you from launching and playing any games that rely on it. If that’s the case, you should make sure you remove those games first before you proceed. You should also make sure that the Epic Games launcher (and any other games that might require it to run) are closed before you proceed.
To uninstall the Epic Games launcher on Windows:
- Open the Start menu and select the Settings icon.
- In Settings, press Apps.
- Next, select Apps & features.
- Scroll through the list to find the Epic Games Launcher app. Alternatively, use the search apps search bar to find it manually.
- Press the three-dot menu icon next to the Epic Games Launcher app and select Uninstall from the pop-up.
- Confirm you want to remove the app by pressing Uninstall again.
- Follow any additional instructions on-screen to complete the removal.
After removing the Epic Games launcher, you might need to take further steps to remove games that relied on it for certain services (such as online services).
You should also double-check that the Epic Online Services app is removed. This app allows certain games to use Epic Games’ online services for multiplayer. You’ll need to repeat these steps to remove it.
However, you should be aware that, by removing this, you may lose functionality in any games that rely on it.
How to Uninstall the Epic Games Launcher on Mac
You can also remove the Epic Games launcher from a Mac using these steps. As on Windows, removing the Epic Games launcher from your Mac may stop functionality in certain games that require it.
For example, if a game requires the Epic Games launcher to be installed for updates or to allow access to online services, you have two choices. You can keep the launcher or remove the game, too.
To remove the Epic Games launcher on Mac:
- On your Mac, launch the Finder app.
- In the Finder menu on the left, press Applications.
- Locate the Epic Games Launcher app in the list on the right.
- Right-click the app and select Move to Trash (or Move to Bin in certain locales).
- If the app isn’t removed automatically, make sure to right-click the Trash icon on the Dock and select Empty Trash (or Empty Bin).
Using Alternative Gaming Platforms
Using the steps above, you can quickly uninstall the Epic Games launcher on your PC or Mac. You won’t lose your purchased games, as they remain linked to your Epic Games account. If you decide to play those games again, you can always reinstall the launcher, sign in, and start where you left off.
Changed your mind? If you want to keep Epic Games installed but limit the spam, you can always appear offline to stop receiving messages from your friends.
You might want to give another platform a go, however. Why not try GOG—the platform for classic games? If you don’t like a game on GOG, you can always request a refund. You can also try alternative platforms like EA Play (and cancel your subscription if it isn’t the right one for you).
