How to completely remove Python from a Windows machine?

Question

I installed both Python 2.7 and Python 2.6.5. I don't know what went wrong, but nothing related to Python seems to work any more. e.g. "setup.py install" for certain packages don't recognize the "install" parameter and other odd phenomena...

I would like to completely remove Python from my system.
I tried running the 2.7 and 2.6 msi files and choosing remove Python and then running only 2.6 and reinstalling it. Still stuff don't work.

How do I completely remove Python - from everything? (!)

I would not like to reinstall my entire machine just because of the Python install...

I've discovered that the "odd phenomena" occurred due to a 3rd python installation that was installed without my notice by a buildout script... — Jonathan Livni, Aug 24 '10 at 12:45
The trick appears to be figuring out where a particular installation came from. In my case, I have two that are not from chocolatey, pip, or the control panel. Trying to figure out what else might have done it. — William Jockusch, Jun 15 '23 at 19:31

score 66 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 25 '13 at 15:08

66

Here's the steps (my non-computer-savvy girlfriend had to figure this one out for me, but unlike all the far more complicated processes one can find online, this one works)

Open Control Panel
Click "Uninstall a Program"
Scroll down to Python and click uninstall for each version you don't want anymore.

This works on Windows 7 out of the box, no additional programs or scripts required.

answered Aug 25 '13 at 15:08

ArtOfWarfare

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If you installed files with `pip`, you may want to remove its cache in `%LOCALAPPDATA%\pip` – Ross Smith II Jul 21 '17 at 14:27
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Did this, and after uninstalling I only had 19784 files and 495 MB left in the Python installation folder. Impressive... – user136036 Jan 14 '20 at 13:31
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This is not enough in most cases as user136036 mentioned – Spyros Mourelatos Jul 26 '21 at 07:34
uninstalling all python interpreters (I had many versions ranging from 3.7 to 3.10) and leaving only one solved the issue for me. Pip worked normally afterwards and detected imports. Im on windows 10 – Smooth Neon Jan 24 '23 at 19:17

score 41 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 18 '10 at 19:32

41

You will also have to look in your system path. Python puts itself there and does not remove itself: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000549.htm

Your problems probably started because your python path is pointing to the wrong one.

answered Aug 18 '10 at 19:32

Alex Bliskovsky

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And you may have to cleanup the Windows Registry to remove the Registry Key that's there. See this http://effbot.org/zone/python-register.htm and this: http://docs.python.org/using/windows.html#finding-modules – S.Lott Aug 18 '10 at 19:50
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I'm flagging this as the answer as this is closest to what my problem was... I found out that my .py association was changed by a buildout installation of python. This is why it seemed I couldn't get Python out of my system - I actually had a hidden installation inside one of the projects... – Jonathan Livni Aug 18 '10 at 22:20
Actually, all my python files were kept where they were installed. Also, all package data created in the users folder were also kept. – Daniel Möller May 28 '17 at 15:16

score 39 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 20 '20 at 11:13

39

you can delete it manually.

open Command Prompt
cd C:\Users\<you name>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps
del python.exe
del python3.exe

Now the command prompt won't be showing it anymore

where python --> yields nothing, and you are free to install another version from source / anaconda and (after adding its address to Environment Variables -> Path) you will find that very python you just installed

answered Feb 20 '20 at 11:13

angelo.mastro

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You can also use `cd %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WindowsApps`, which should be the right path even if the system partition has a drive letter other than `C:`. – CodeManX Sep 21 '20 at 09:56
I can see the files there, but I can't delete them... – rocksNwaves Sep 09 '21 at 18:34
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I was only able to delete it from the powershell prompt as admin. Windows explorer gave me an error. – rveach Jul 23 '22 at 16:12
The "only able to delete it from the powershell prompt as admin" is critical piece of information. I had the same problem as rocksNwaves trying to do it from the Explorer, but not from a shell. – mhucka May 31 '23 at 16:15

dash-tom-bang · Answer 4 · 2013-09-03T03:36:20.547

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Run ASSOC and FTYPE to see what your py files are associated to. (These commands are internal to cmd.exe so if you use a different command processor ymmv.)

C:> assoc .py
.py=Python.File

C:> ftype Python.File
Python.File="C:\Python26.w64\python.exe" "%1" %*

C:> assoc .pyw
.pyw=Python.NoConFile

C:> ftype Python.NoConFile
Python.NoConFile="C:\Python26.w64\pythonw.exe" "%1" %*

(I have both 32- and 64-bit installs of Python, hence my local directory name.)

edited Sep 03 '13 at 03:36

answered Aug 18 '10 at 20:40

dash-tom-bang

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-1: none of my consoles recognize this command. Please provide references for how you obtained it. – ArtOfWarfare Aug 24 '13 at 20:48
@ArtOfWarfare: a quick search on Google should show you that they are part of Windows. I don't know when they were introduced but I seem to remember them being there as a part of WinXP and they are a part of Win7, although perhaps they're left out of some editions; I'm not terribly knowledgeable about Windows edition differences). – dash-tom-bang Aug 28 '13 at 21:05
Nor am I, nor is anyone else, I don't think. I have two computers running Windows 7... I forget what edition, but neither of them have any of those commands. – ArtOfWarfare Aug 29 '13 at 01:18
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Curious, I looked it up. `ftype` and `assoc` are internal to cmd.exe. Perhaps you're using a third party command processor that doesn't support the full command set? http://ss64.com/nt/assoc.html – dash-tom-bang Sep 03 '13 at 03:35
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I attempted to use cmd just now and it found the commands. I had been using power shell as I was under the impression it did everything cmd did and more. My apologies. I have undone my downvote. – ArtOfWarfare Sep 03 '13 at 19:46
Just a note - this also works with the TCmd shell. – J. Gwinner Jul 28 '21 at 14:51

score 9 · Answer 5 · answered Aug 12 '16 at 14:15

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I had window 7 (64 bit) and Python 2.7.12, I uninstalled it by clicking the python installer from the "download" directory then I selected remove python then I clicked “ finish”.
I also removed the remaining python associated directory & files from the c: drive and also from “my documents” folder, since I created some files there.

answered Aug 12 '16 at 14:15

Thelma

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If you don't still have the Python installer, download it again and that'll give you access to the Uninstall option. I found in Windows 10 that the Add/Remove Programs uninstall facility didn't uninstall, but the Python installer did allow me to. – w5m Jul 10 '19 at 15:35

score 9 · Answer 6 · edited Jun 26 '21 at 08:38

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Open CMD
To show all packages installed - pip list
To copy the packages name to a file - pip freeze > requirements.txt
To delete all packages - pip uninstall -r requirements.txt -y
Check all packages are removed - pip list
Uninstall pip and other remaining packages
Control panel > Uninstall > Python uninstall (from UI)

edited Jun 26 '21 at 08:38

Vlad Havriuk

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answered Jun 26 '21 at 06:35

Nikhil Jain

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"7. uninstall other remaining packages" how? when everything is uninstalled and list shows empty already? – user8395964 Mar 08 '23 at 03:41
@user8395964 if the list shows more packages, you can uninstall them as well, otherwise its fine. – Nikhil Jain Apr 30 '23 at 06:19

score 6 · Answer 7 · answered Apr 11 '22 at 17:46

First, uninstall Python, then remove the pip packages you installed.

Uninstall Python: "Add or Remove Programs", search for Python and uninstall it.
Remove Pip packages: type in File Explorer %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Python, and remove the folders you want.

This will clean up any pip package you installed. Otherwise, if you were to reinstall Python, you will find yourself with the same pip packages that you had.

score 5 · Answer 8 · answered Nov 08 '18 at 10:41

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It's actually quite simple. When you installed it, you must have done it using some .exe file (I am assuming). Just run that .exe again, and then there will be options to modify Python. Just select the "Complete Uninstall" option, and the EXE will completely wipe out python for you.

Also, you might have to checkbox the "Remove Python from PATH". By default it is selected, but you may as well check it to be sure :)

answered Nov 08 '18 at 10:41

Anirudh Prabhakaran

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I had to give the command line prompt /uninstall for 3.9.0 to uninstall, but that did work. The windows add/remove did NOT - Python wasn't even listed. – J. Gwinner Jul 28 '21 at 14:57

score 3 · Answer 9 · answered Aug 03 '18 at 00:10

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Uninstall the python program using the windows GUI. Delete the containing folder e.g if it was stored in C:\python36\ make sure to delete that folder

answered Aug 03 '18 at 00:10

Patrick Mutuku

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score 2 · Answer 10 · answered Mar 24 '16 at 14:14

I know it is an old question, but I ran into this problem with 2.7 and 3.5. Though 2.7 would not show up in my default windows uninstall list, it showed up fine in the ccleaner tools tab under uninstall. Uninstalled and reinstalled afterwards and it has been smooth coding ever since.

score 2 · Answer 11 · answered Oct 27 '21 at 16:15

If you still have the python installer on your PC, you can double-click on it (run it, it will open the installer window), and select the "Uninstall" option. It will uninstall that python version (if the installer is for Python3.9, then Python3.9 will be uninstalled, if it is for Python3.10, then that version...)

score 1 · Answer 12 · answered Aug 18 '10 at 19:24

Almost all of the python files should live in their respective folders (C:\Python26 and C:\Python27). Some installers (ActiveState) will also associate .py* files and add the python path to %PATH% with an install if you tick the "use this as the default installation" box.

Jordan Stefanelli · Answer 13 · 2016-03-09T11:01:53.687

Windows 7 64-bit, with both Python3.4 and Python2.7 installed at some point :)

I'm using Py.exe to route to Py2 or Py3 depending on the script's needs - but I previously improperly uninstalled Python27 before.

Py27 was removed manually from C:\python\Python27 (the folder Python27 was deleted by me previously)

Upon re-installing Python27, it gave the above error you specify.
It would always back out while trying to 'remove shortcuts' during the installation process.

I placed a copy of Python27 back in that original folder, at C:\Python\Python27, and re-ran the same failing Python27 installer. It was happy locating those items and removing them, and proceeded with the install.

This is not the answer that addresses registry key issues (others mention that) but it is somewhat of a workaround if you know of previous installations that were improperly removed.

You could have some insight to this by opening "regedit" and searching for "Python27" - a registry key appeared in my command-shell Cache pointing at c:\python\python27\ (which had been removed and was not present when searching in the registry upon finding it).

That may help point to previously improperly removed installations.

Good luck!

score -1 · Answer 14 · answered Mar 25 '21 at 00:03

-1

Windows Start Menu > Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Select the app and click the Uninstall button

answered Mar 25 '21 at 00:03

JustBeingHelpful

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score -1 · Answer 15 · answered Apr 07 '23 at 19:36

-1

install IObit uninstaller it will completely remove Python.

answered Apr 07 '23 at 19:36

Hrishikesh roy

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How to completely remove Python from a Windows machine?

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