How to perform a Clean Uninstall of Autodesk products

Uninstalling Autodesk software is not always as simple as using the default uninstaller. Sometimes, remnants of older installations can cause issues when reinstalling or upgrading. Performing a clean uninstall ensures that all leftover files, registry entries, and configurations are removed, preventing potential conflicts.

Why Perform a Clean Uninstall?

There are several reasons why you might want to completely remove Autodesk products from your system:

• Corrupted or incomplete installations causing the software to malfunction.
• Issues when trying to install a newer version of the software.
• Conflicts between different Autodesk products or previous versions.
• Need to free up disk space occupied by unnecessary system files.

Steps to Perform a Clean Uninstall of Autodesk Products

Follow these steps carefully to ensure all Autodesk components are removed from your system.

1. Uninstall Autodesk Software via Control Panel

The first step is to remove the software using Windows’ built-in uninstallation process:

1. Open the Control Panel and navigate to Programs and Features.
2. Find the Autodesk software you want to remove.
3. Right-click on it and select Uninstall/Change.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

2. Use the Autodesk Uninstall Tool (If Available)

Many Autodesk products come with a dedicated uninstall tool that ensures complete removal:

1. Go to the Autodesk installation folder (usually C:\Program Files\Autodesk).
2. Look for a folder named Uninstall Tool and run the executable.
3. Select the Autodesk software you want to remove and proceed with the uninstallation.

3. Remove Residual Files and Folders

After uninstalling, some leftover files may still exist in various locations. Manually delete these to ensure a clean uninstall:

• Delete the Autodesk folder from C:\Program Files\Autodesk.
• Go to C:\ProgramData and remove any Autodesk-related folders.
• Open %AppData%\Roaming and %AppData%\Local, then delete any Autodesk-associated folders.
• Check C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Autodesk and delete any remaining files.

4. Clean Up Autodesk Registry Entries

Leftover registry entries can cause issues when reinstalling. To remove Autodesk-related registry keys:

1. Press Win + R and type regedit, then press Enter.
2. Navigate to the following locations and delete Autodesk entries:
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Autodesk
   • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Autodesk
3. Be careful when editing the registry—deleting the wrong entry could affect your system.

5. Restart Your Computer

After removing all Autodesk files and registry entries, restart your computer to finalize the process.

6. Use Autodesk’s Cleanup Utility (If Necessary)

If you’re experiencing issues reinstalling after the above steps, try using Autodesk’s cleanup utility:

• Download the Autodesk Uninstall Cleanup Tool from Autodesk’s official website.
• Run the tool and select Remove All options to delete any remaining Autodesk components.

Conclusion

Performing a thorough uninstall of Autodesk software is crucial to avoiding installation errors and system conflicts. By following the steps outlined above, you’ll ensure that no residual files or registry entries interfere with future Autodesk installations. Whether you’re troubleshooting issues, upgrading software, or freeing up system resources, a clean uninstall helps keep your system running smoothly.