Autodesk’s decision to discontinue the dedicated uninstall tool for 2023 products has left users to rely on the standard methods for their operating system. While these methods are generally effective, they may not always provide a complete uninstallation, leaving behind residual files and registry entries that can clutter your system and potentially cause conflicts with other software.
To ensure a thorough uninstallation of Autodesk software, it is recommended to follow a systematic approach that involves both the standard uninstall method and manual cleanup. Here’s a detailed guide for both Windows and macOS users:
Windows Uninstallation:
- Standard Uninstall: a. Access the “Apps & features” menu via Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features. b. Locate the Autodesk product you want to remove. c. Select the product and click “Uninstall.” d. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the standard uninstallation.
- Manual Cleanup: a. Open File Explorer and navigate to the following directory: C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\Common b. Locate and delete any folders related to the uninstalled Autodesk product. c. Repeat steps a and b for the following directory: C:\ProgramData\Autodesk d. Open the Registry Editor by typing “regedit” in the Start menu search bar. e. Navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Autodesk f. Locate and delete any subkeys related to the uninstalled Autodesk product.
macOS Uninstallation:
- Standard Uninstall: a. Open Finder and go to Applications > Autodesk. b. Locate the “Remove” utility for the Autodesk product you want to uninstall. c. Double-click the “Remove” utility to launch it. d. Select the Autodesk product and click “Remove.” e. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the standard uninstallation.
- Manual Cleanup: a. Open Finder and go to the following directory: ~/Library/Preferences b. Locate and delete any files related to the uninstalled Autodesk product. c. Repeat steps a and b for the following directory: ~/Library/Application Support d. Open the Terminal application. e. Enter the following command:
launchctl remove com.autodesk.<product_name>f. Replace<product_name>with the actual name of the uninstalled Autodesk product.
By following these steps, you can ensure a complete and thorough uninstallation of Autodesk software, minimizing the risk of residual files and registry entries that could interfere with other software or affect your system’s performance.