. Since Ren’Py is often distributed as a standalone folder rather than a traditional installer, the process may vary slightly based on how you first set it up. 1. Remove the Ren’Py Launcher For Portable/Zip versions:
Last updated: October 2025. This guide applies to Ren’Py versions 7.x, 8.x, and the Ren’Py Launcher. uninstall renpy
Right-click the folder and select Delete or move it to your Trash/Recycle Bin . Remove the Ren’Py Launcher For Portable/Zip versions: Last
If you want to completely erase all traces, navigate to %APPDATA% and look for folders named after your visual novel projects (e.g., MyVisualNovel ). These contain editor settings but not game assets. If you want to completely erase all traces,
If you cannot uninstall Ren’Py because Windows says a file is in use, try these fixes:
| 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. |
: Look for the hidden .renpy directory in your home folder. 4. Remove Text Editor Integration