How to Uninstall Python

This updated guide examines How to Uninstall Python and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Method 1

On Windows 10

1. Open Start. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen. A pop-up menu will appear.
2. Open Settings. Click the Settings gear icon in the lower-left side of the Start menu. This will bring up the Settings window.
3. ClickApps. It's in the middle of the Settings window.
4. Find the version of Python you want to uninstall. Scroll down until you reach the "P" section, then look for apps with "Python" in the name (e.g., "Python 3.6").
   • You may first have to click the Apps & features tab in the upper-left corner of the window.
5. Click the Python version's name. Doing so will expand it to display an Uninstall button.
6. ClickUninstall. It's below the Python version's name.
7. ClickUninstallwhen prompted. You should see this appear at the top of the Python version's name.
8. ClickYeswhen prompted. Doing so confirms that you want to uninstall Python.
9. Allow Python to uninstall. You should see a pop-up window with a progress bar appear; once the progress bar reaches its end and disappears, Python should be uninstalled.
   • You may have to click through some prompts as part of the uninstall process.
10. Uninstall other versions of Python if necessary. Since Python can have multiple versions installed at once, search for more Python installations in the "P" section of the installed apps; if you find another version of Python installed, repeat the above steps to uninstall it if necessary.
    • You might also want to delete the Python Launcher app.
11. Remove the Python 2 folder. While uninstalling Python 3 will remove the Python 3 folder(s) from your computer, the Python 2 folder will remain behind even if you uninstall its program. To remove the folder, do the following:
    • Open This PC.
    • Double-click your hard drive in the "Devices and drives" section.
    • Find the "Python27" (or similar) folder in the list of folders.
    • Select the Python folder, then right-click it to prompt a drop-down menu.
    • Click Delete in the drop-down menu.

Method 2

On Mac

1. OpenFinder. Click the Finder app icon, which resembles a blue face, in your Mac's Dock.
   • You can also just click a blank space on the desktop.
2. ClickGo. It's a menu item at the top of the screen. Clicking it prompts a drop-down menu.
3. ClickGo to Folder…. You'll find this near the bottom of the Go drop-down menu. Doing so opens a pop-up window.
4. Enter the address to your Python installation folder. Depending on your installed version of Python, you'll type one of the following addresses into the "Go to Folder" text box:^{[1]XResearch source}
   • For Python 3.6 and up, you'll enter/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versionshere.
   • For Python 2.7, you'll enter/Library/Python/Versionsor/Library/Pythonhere.
5. ClickGo. It's at the bottom of the pop-up window. This will open the folder in which Python is installed.
6. Select the version number folder. Click once the folder that has Python's version number as its name.
   • For example, if you're deleting Python 3.6, you would click the 3.6 folder once to select it.
7. ClickFile. It's in the upper-left corner of your Mac's screen. Doing so prompts a drop-down menu.
8. ClickMove to Trash. This is in the File drop-down menu.
9. Enter your password when prompted. Type in the password you use to log into your Mac.
   • Skip this step and the next one if you aren't asked to input a password.
10. ClickOK. It's at the bottom of the password prompt. Doing so closes the password window and moves your selected Python folder to the Trash.
11. Delete the Python program if necessary. Not all versions of Python will install a program in your Mac's Applications folder, but you should check to make sure. You can look for and delete a Python application by doing the following:
    • Click Go at the top of the screen.
    • Click Applications in the drop-down menu.
    • Look for an application with "Python" in the name (e.g., "Python 3.6").
    • Select the application if you find it.
    • Click File , then click Move to Trash .
    • Enter your password, then click OK .