Android Studio Uninstall Guide

Introduction

Android Studio, the official Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Android app development, is provided by Google. Based on JetBrains' IntelliJ IDEA software, it offers numerous features to enhance productivity when building Android applications. However, there may be instances where you need to uninstall Android Studio from your Windows system, whether due to space constraints, changes in development preferences, or other reasons. This guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of completely uninstalling Android Studio from Windows 10 or 11.

Step 1: Uninstalling through Control Panel

The first step in uninstalling Android Studio is to use the Control Panel. Here’s how you can do it:

Open Control Panel

1. Press the Windows key + X and select Control Panel from the menu. Alternatively, type "Control Panel" in the search bar and open it.

Uninstall a Program

2. Once the Control Panel is open, click on "Uninstall a Program" under the Programs section.

Find Android Studio

3. In the list of installed programs, find and double-click on "Android Studio." If multiple versions are installed, make sure to uninstall each version separately.

Confirm Uninstallation

4. A confirmation dialog box will appear asking if you want to uninstall Android Studio. Click "Yes" to proceed with the uninstallation process.

Select Additional Options

5. After clicking "Yes," a new dialog box will appear with options to select what you want to uninstall. By default, Android Studio is checked, and you should also check the option for "Android User Settings." This folder contains your saved Android Virtual Devices (AVDs), Android SDK caches, and potentially app signing keystores. Click "Next" to continue.

Uninstall Process

6. The uninstallation process will begin. Wait for it to complete. Once finished, you will see a confirmation window indicating that the uninstallation is complete.

Step 2: Remove Android Studio Files

Uninstalling through the Control Panel only removes the main application but leaves behind various settings and cache files. To completely remove all traces of Android Studio, you need to delete these files manually.

Navigate to User Folder

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to your user folder. The path is typically C:\Users\Your_UserName, where "Your_UserName" is your actual username.

Delete Settings Folders

2. Delete the following folders:
   • .android
   • .AndroidStudio and any analogous directories with versions on the end (e.g., .AndroidStudio1.2)
   • .gradle and .m2 if they exist

Navigate to AppData Folder

3. Open File Explorer and navigate to %APPDATA% (usually located at C:\Users\Your_UserName\AppData\Roaming). Delete the JetBrains directory.

Navigate to Local AppData Folder

4. Open File Explorer and navigate to %LOCALAPPDATA% (usually located at C:\Users\Your_UserName\AppData\Local). Delete the Android directory.

Navigate to Program Files Folder

5. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Program Files. Delete the Android directory.

Delete SDK Cache

6. Open File Explorer and navigate to %LOCALAPPDATA% (usually located at C:\Users\Your_UserName\AppData\Local). Delete the Android directory.

Delete Project Folders

7. Open File Explorer and navigate to %USERPROFILE%\AndroidStudioProjects. Delete this folder if it exists.

Step 3: Remove SDK

To delete any remains of the SDK, follow these steps:

Navigate to Local AppData Folder

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to %LOCALAPPDATA% (usually located at C:\Users\Your_UserName\AppData\Local). Delete the Android directory.

Navigate to Program Files Folder

2. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Program Files. Delete the Android directory.

Step 4: Additional Steps for Complete Removal

For a thorough removal, you might need to perform additional steps:

Delete Remaining Folders

1. In the user folder, delete any remaining folders related to Android Studio, such as .android, .AndroidStudio, and .gradle.

Check for Registry Entries

2. Sometimes, registry entries can remain after uninstalling an application. You can use a third-party tool like Revo Uninstaller to scan for and remove any remaining registry entries.

Using Revo Uninstaller Pro

If you encounter difficulties during the uninstallation process or if you want a more thorough removal, you can use Revo Uninstaller Pro.

Download and Install Revo Uninstaller Pro

1. Download and install Revo Uninstaller Pro from its official website. It offers a 30-day fully functional trial version.

Open Revo Uninstaller Pro

2. Start Revo Uninstaller Pro and open the module "Logs Database."

Search for Android Studio Logs

3. In the Search field, type "Android Studio" and you will see all logs of "Android Studio" in the database compatible with your Windows version.

Select Appropriate Log

4. Select the appropriate log by version from the list and press the "Uninstall" button from the toolbar.

Follow Uninstallation Process

5. You will see a few popping up windows showing the download and import of the log to your Revo Uninstaller Pro and then the main Uninstall dialog that shows the progress of the uninstall of Android Studio.

Uninstall from Apps and Features

6. Open the Start Menu and type "Apps and Features." Look for Android Studio in the list and click on it. Then click on "Uninstall" to initiate the uninstallation.

Execute Uninstall.exe

7. If you cannot find the uninstall.exe file in the latest version of Android Studio, you can download an older version from the Android Studio download archive. Extract the zip file, locate the uninstall.exe file, and paste it in your Android Studio folder. Double-click the file to start the uninstallation process.

Remove Remaining Files Manually

8. After using Revo Uninstaller Pro, manually delete any remaining files and folders as mentioned in Step 2.

Additional Tips

• Backup Your Projects: Before uninstalling, make sure to backup your projects by copying them to a separate location. This way, you can easily restore them if needed.
• Check for Updates: Ensure that you have the latest version of Revo Uninstaller Pro for optimal results.
• Registry Cleanup: After uninstalling, consider running a registry cleanup tool to remove any remaining registry entries that might be causing issues.
• SDK and Project Folders: Be cautious when deleting SDK and project folders as they contain important data related to your development projects.

By following this comprehensive guide, you should be able to completely uninstall Android Studio from your Windows system, ensuring a clean and efficient removal process.