How To Uninstall Cygwin Completely From Windows 10

Last Updated on August 26, 2021 by

Uninstallation of programs tin be a big challenge on Windows computers, peculiarly when you cannot use the uninstall utility or wizard to get rid of the unwanted program. Some tools do not offer the options and yous must remove them manually, something that can be a huge problem. You might want to uninstall the program considering information technology is infected with some malicious software or it is not running equally yous look. Whenever the programme you need to uninstall does not announced on the Control Panel >> Programs and Features >> Settings >> Apps you lot volition need to follow a different route to complete the uninstallation.

Cygwin is amidst the hard to uninstall programs that you might want to uninstall from your Windows calculator. The open-source program from Red Lid is designed to allow people to run the programs written for Linux and Unix systems to run on Windows. That should tell y'all that it is not a bones program and its functionality is hard to understand. You might desire to get rid of it because it downloaded into your figurer accidentally or you no longer need it. This guide will aid you do that easily.

And then, How You Can Safely Uninstall Cygwin

Even though the uninstallation procedure of Cygwin is not a big bargain, information technology is cumbersome. The reason behind that is that the uninstaller wizard of this program is non easily accessible. In other words, the Control Panel >> Programs and Features >> Settings >> Apps uninstallation process might not work. Each time yous try it, you volition ever become a "Permission Denied" message.

You lot tin remove other programs from your taskbar past unpinning them just in case of Cygwin, the instance is dissimilar. To remove it, you lot take to uninstall it from your automobile completely. Here is how to uninstall Cygwin.

Method 1: Using the Command Prompt

The biggest trouble y'all will encounter when trying to uninstall the Cygwin program is the "permission denied" message. You will get the message when you effort to uninstall it or to delete its folders and files. So, Command Prompt method allows you to avoid the problem. Even though the method feels unsafe for the inexperienced Windows operating system users, information technology is amid the easiest. Follow these steps to consummate the uninstallation.

First, you lot need to end all the running Cygwin services. Follow the installations on the official Cygwin FAQ page to remove all the running services. Usually, the installed services include cygserver, cron, sshd, apache, inetd and postgresql.
Check whether any Cygwin processes are running in the background and utilise the Windows Task Manager to terminate them.
Search for "Command Prompt" or "cmd" and right-click on it. Choose Run as Administrator.
Use takeown/r/d y/f Cygwin command to access the Cygwin binder.
Next use the icacls Cygwin/t /grant Everyone:F command to allow all users to access the Cygwin folder. At this stage, you can delete the Cygwin folder regardless of the business relationship you are using.
The rmdir /s /q cygwin command will delete the binder and all subfolders.
Delete every file that the command fails to remove such as the desktop and Start Carte shortcuts.
To delete everything in the Cygwin software folder, use regedit and open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and HKEY-Electric current-USER.

Method two: Deleting through your Windows Explorer

You lot tin can notwithstanding use Method ane only without using the Command Prompt. Unfortunately, afterwards ignoring the Control Prompt, most users will get the "Permission Denied" message on their screen. Here is how to resolve the issue.

Repeat the Steps 1 and 2 in method 1 and endeavour to delete the folder hosting the Cygwin plan. If you manage to delete it immediately, the procedure is successful.
Only if the "Permission Denied" bulletin hits your screen, you take to add together the folder ownership to your account.
When using Windows ten, right-click on your Cygwin binder and proceed to Properties >> Security. Search for the "Advanced" option and click on it. At this point, you should see the "Owner" option at the superlative linked to an account.
Click on "Change" and choose the account you would want to fix as the owner of your Cygwin folder. Click Ok and check the box immediately after "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects" message to own all the folders and files in the Cygwin binder.
When using the sometime Windows systems or the Windows 10 does not allow you to manage the permissions, y'all will accept to follow the same process just after restarting your computer in Condom Manner. Continue with Steps 7 and viii from the first method.

Method 3: Uninstall through Organisation Restore

The System Restore utility comes with Windows operating systems to assist you restore the organisation to the previous country and remove whatsoever plan that might interfere with your figurer operations. If you had created a system restore signal before installing the Cygwin program, the System Restore method will be helpful. It volition assistance eradicate all the unwanted programs, including Cygwin. Call up to backup all your important files before proceeding. Here are the steps to follow.

Close all open programs and files
On your desktop, right-click on Estimator and click on Properties
Expect for organization window to appear
On the left-hand side of your System Window, click on Organisation Protection and the System Backdrop window will popup.
Click on "Choose a Different Restore Point" and choose Next
Choose the time and date from the offered list and click on Adjacent. Keep in mind that non all the drivers and programs y'all installed subsequently that appointment and fourth dimension might work properly and you will demand to reinstall them.
When the "Confirm Your Restore Point" windows popups up, click finish
To ostend Cygwin uninstall, click on Yes

Method 4: Reinstall it to Uninstall

If the file needed to uninstall the Cygwin is missing or already corrupted, the uninstallation will non be possible. In such cases, reinstalling the Cygwin program will solve the issue. You can run the installer in the original disk or download the file from the cyberspace to reinstall. At times, the installer will help you uninstall or repair the program likewise.

Method 5: Use third-party programs to do the uninstallation

Uninstallation of Cygwin requires figurer knowledge and a lot of patience. Again, it is hard to guarantee that the manual uninstallation will uninstall the program completely and remove all its files. Incomplete uninstallation will exit many invalid and useless items in the registry. It might also affect the performance of your computer in the long term.

Many useless files will occupy the free space in your estimator hard disk and slow down the computer speed. To avoid such issues, use the trusted 3rd political party uninstallation programs to scan your computer organization. Search for all Cygwin files and remove them.

Conclusion

If you lot do not want to run any Unix or Linux programs on your Windows computer, you lot tin use any of the in a higher place methods to uninstall the Cygwin programme. If none of the transmission methods works, you will have to try a reliable uninstaller program. The internet offers many of them at no charge.

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