How to uninstall RetroArch on Windows
Back up save files, save states, BIOS files and configuration before uninstalling RetroArch. Open Settings › Directory to identify the actual System, Savefile and Savestate locations, then copy wanted files outside the installation folder and verify the copies. Libretro's Windows guide explains these directories. This guide covers the winget installer, not the Steam edition or an extracted portable archive.
Quit and run the uninstaller
Finish the current game and save it before exiting RetroArch. Use Settings › Apps › Installed apps › RetroArch › Uninstall, or run:
winget uninstall --id Libretro.RetroArch --exact
The tested installer placed RetroArch in C:\RetroArch-Win64. Its NSIS uninstall removed the installation record and uninstaller, but left retroarch.exe and other program files. The absence of an Installed apps or winget entry therefore does not establish that this installation's files are gone.
Inspect remaining files after backup
| Location | What to do |
|---|---|
C:\RetroArch-Win64 in the tested installation |
Inspect for wanted configuration, cores and personal files after the vendor removal |
| Your configured savefile, savestate and System/BIOS directories | Preserve wanted saves and BIOS files, even if stored under the program folder |
| Your game/content directories | Keep games and other content independently |
Libretro documents custom directory configuration. A different install can use different paths. Once RetroArch is stopped, the uninstaller has finished, and wanted files have been backed up outside the exact installation folder, you can move that confirmed folder to the Recycle Bin. Do not remove a drive root, Downloads or a general game library to remove one RetroArch installation.
Check the result
Get-Process retroarch -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
winget list --id Libretro.RetroArch --exact
Test-Path 'C:\RetroArch-Win64'
Test-Path 'C:\RetroArch-Win64\retroarch.exe'
Use your actual installation path if it differs. No process output means the executable name is not running; no winget match means the matching record is gone. True for the folder means it remains, while True for retroarch.exe means program files still remain; False means that path is absent. A query error leaves the result unresolved. Keep the backup until you have checked the data you intend to retain.
What Mole lists
The tested public Start Menu folder and desktop shortcut are selected by default. C:\RetroArch-Win64 was not listed in the uninstall review, and that drive-root program folder needs a separate check after removal. The DirectInput entry written by Windows was not listed either; do not delete Windows' Microsoft registry parent to remove it.
What this test covered
The record reviewed on October 3, 2026 covers RetroArch 1.22.2.0 installed machine-wide through winget on an ARM64 VM. The listed shortcuts were selected and were already absent after the vendor uninstaller. The installation record and uninstaller disappeared, but the program directory and executable remained. No game or core was loaded, and save recovery, controller mappings, portable installs and a separate vendor-only uninstall were not verified.