How to Completely Uninstall Chrome

How to Completely Uninstall Chrome

Google Chrome is a widely used web browser, but there are times when users need to uninstall it completely from their systems. Whether you’re troubleshooting issues or switching browsers, removing Chrome entirely requires a few detailed steps. This guide covers how to uninstall Chrome on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and how to delete all leftover data and profile folders.

Quick Fixes to Try First

• Ensure that all instances of Chrome are closed before uninstalling.
• Restart your computer to resolve any temporary issues.
• Back up any important data from Chrome, such as bookmarks or passwords.

Uninstalling Chrome on Windows

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type appwiz.cpl and press Enter to open the Programs and Features window.
3. Find Google Chrome in the list of programs and click on it.
4. Click Uninstall at the top of the list.
5. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation.
6. To remove leftover data, open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Google and delete the Chrome folder.

Uninstalling Chrome on macOS

1. Open Finder.
2. Go to the Applications folder.
3. Find Google Chrome and drag it to the Trash, or right-click and select Move to Trash.
4. To remove leftover data, open Finder and press Shift + Command + G to open the Go to Folder dialog.
5. Type ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome and press Enter.
6. Delete the Chrome folder.

Uninstalling Chrome on Linux

1. Open a terminal window.
2. Type the command sudo apt-get remove google-chrome-stable and press Enter.
3. Enter your password if prompted and confirm the uninstallation when asked.
4. To remove leftover data, navigate to the home directory and delete the .config/google-chrome directory by running rm -rf ~/.config/google-chrome.

Removing Leftover Data and Profile Folders

Even after uninstalling Chrome, some data may remain on your system. Follow these steps to ensure complete removal:

• Windows: Navigate to C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome and delete the Chrome folder.
• macOS: Visit ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome and delete the Chrome folder.
• Linux: Use the terminal command rm -rf ~/.config/google-chrome to delete the configuration folder.

What Happens to Synced Data After Uninstall

If you have synced data such as bookmarks and passwords with your Google account, this data will not be deleted when you uninstall Chrome. It will remain in your Google account and can be accessed when you reinstall Chrome or use another device.

Conclusion

Uninstalling Chrome completely from your system requires careful attention to remove both the application and any leftover data. By following the steps outlined for your specific operating system, you can ensure Chrome is fully removed. Remember, any data synced to your Google account will remain intact, ready to be accessed again if needed.