The fastest way to delete Minecraft

Minecraft uninstalls like most other programs on your device, but the process differs slightly depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, or a mobile device. The game itself removes cleanly in a few minutes, though your saved worlds and settings stay behind unless you delete them separately — which is useful if you ever want to reinstall without losing progress, but worth knowing about if you want a complete removal.

The steps below cover the most common setup: the standard Minecraft Launcher on Windows or Mac. If you play through the Microsoft Store app or on a phone, jump to the section that matches your device.

Key Takeaways

  • Uninstalling Minecraft through your system settings removes the game files but leaves your saved worlds and settings in a separate folder.
  • To completely erase Minecraft including all saved games, you must manually delete the .minecraft folder after uninstalling the launcher.
  • Windows, Mac, and mobile devices each have different uninstall paths — find your device type and follow those specific steps.
  • The Minecraft Launcher itself is a separate program from the game and must be removed in addition to the game files.

Uninstalling Minecraft on Windows

Open the Start menu and type "Control Panel" into the search box, then click the Control Panel app. Select "Programs and Features" (or "Add/Remove Programs" on older Windows versions). Scroll down the list until you find "Minecraft Launcher" and click it once to highlight it. A button labeled "Uninstall" will appear — click that button and follow the prompts to remove the launcher.

After the launcher uninstalls, your saved worlds still exist in a hidden folder. If you want to keep them, you are done. If you want to delete everything including your worlds and settings, open File Explorer and navigate to your user folder. Press Ctrl+H to show hidden files and folders. Look for a folder named ".minecraft" — the period at the start is why it was hidden. Right-click it and select "Delete" to remove it permanently.

Uninstalling Minecraft on Mac

Open Finder and click "Applications" in the sidebar. Scroll down to find "Minecraft Launcher" in the list. Right-click it and select "Move to Trash." Empty the Trash to complete the removal. The launcher is now gone.

To also remove your saved worlds and settings, open Finder again and press Command+Shift+Period to show hidden files. Navigate to your home folder, then look for a folder named ".minecraft." Drag it to the Trash and empty the Trash. This step is optional — if you skip it, your worlds will remain on your Mac in case you reinstall later.

Removing Minecraft from the Microsoft Store

If you installed Minecraft through the Microsoft Store app rather than the standard launcher, the removal process is different. Open the Microsoft Store app, click the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner, and select "My library." Find "Minecraft" in your library, click the three dots next to it, and select "Uninstall." Confirm the removal when prompted.

Microsoft Store versions of Minecraft save worlds in a different location than the standard launcher. To find and delete them, open File Explorer, navigate to your user folder, and look for "AppData" (you may need to show hidden files first by pressing Ctrl+H). Open AppData, then Local, then look for a folder named "Packages" — inside you will find a folder starting with "Microsoft.MinecraftUWP." Deleting this folder removes all saved games and settings for the Microsoft Store version.

Deleting Minecraft from phones and tablets

On Android: Open the Google Play Store app, search for "Minecraft," and tap the app name. Tap "Uninstall" and confirm. The game and all saved worlds will be removed from your device.

On iPhone or iPad: Find the Minecraft app on your home screen, press and hold it until a menu appears, and select "Remove App." Choose "Delete App" and confirm. Your saved worlds are stored in the app itself, so deleting the app removes them as well.

What happens to your worlds when you uninstall

When you uninstall just the launcher or app, your saved worlds remain on your device in a hidden folder. This means if you reinstall Minecraft later, your worlds will still be there waiting for you. Many players keep this backup intentionally, especially if they have spent time building something they might want to return to.

If you want to preserve specific worlds before uninstalling, you can back them up manually. On Windows or Mac, navigate to the .minecraft folder (following the steps above), find the "saves" folder inside it, and copy any world folders you want to keep to a USB drive or cloud storage. Then you can uninstall everything and restore those worlds later if needed.

Freeing up storage space after removal

Minecraft itself takes up roughly 500 MB to 1 GB of storage depending on your device and version. Uninstalling the launcher or app frees up that space when ready. However, if you also delete the .minecraft folder on Windows or Mac, you will free up additional space used by your saved worlds — the amount varies based on how many worlds you created and how large they are.

After you delete the game and the .minecraft folder, empty your Trash or Recycle Bin to permanently remove the files from your device. Until you do this, the files technically still exist and take up space, even though they are no longer visible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reinstall Minecraft after deleting it?

Yes. read the Minecraft Launcher from minecraft.net or find it in your device's app store and install it again. If you kept the .minecraft folder when you uninstalled, your saved worlds will appear automatically when you launch the game. If you deleted the folder, you will start fresh with no saved worlds.

Will deleting Minecraft remove my Microsoft account connection?

Uninstalling the game does not affect your Microsoft account. When you reinstall and sign in with the same account, your profile and any worlds linked to your account will be accessible again. Worlds saved only on your device will not return unless you kept the .minecraft folder.

What if I only want to delete one world, not the entire game?

You do not need to uninstall Minecraft. Open the launcher, click "Installations," then "Browse" to open the .minecraft folder. Go to the "saves" folder and delete the specific world folder you no longer want. The rest of your worlds and the game will remain untouched.

Does uninstalling Minecraft delete my Realms world?

No. Realms worlds are stored on Minecraft's servers, not on your device. Uninstalling the game does not affect them. You can reinstall Minecraft and access your Realms world again by signing in with the same account. To permanently delete a Realms world, you must do so through the game itself before uninstalling.

Why is the .minecraft folder hidden on Windows and Mac?

System folders that start with a period are hidden by default to prevent accidental deletion. This protects your saved games and settings from being removed by mistake. You can view hidden files anytime by pressing Ctrl+H on Windows or Command+Shift+Period on Mac, but they remain hidden by default for safety.