Introduction

Completely uninstalling Android Studio from Windows means removing more than the main application entry in Apps & Features. A full cleanup usually includes the IDE itself, Android SDK files, user settings, caches, Gradle data, and any environment variables that still point at the old installation.

Uninstall the Main Application First

Start with the normal Windows uninstall path:

1. open Settings
2. go to Apps
3. find Android Studio
4. click Uninstall

If you installed Android Studio through JetBrains Toolbox, remove it there first instead of assuming the Windows app entry is the only owner.

This step removes the application, but not necessarily the SDK, caches, or user-specific configuration directories.

Back Up Anything You Need

Before deleting the rest, back up:

• Android projects
• custom IDE settings you want later
• signing keys or local secrets stored in your workflow folders

Do not assume those live inside the uninstall path. Many important files live in your user profile rather than the program directory.

Remove the Android SDK

The SDK is usually stored separately from the IDE. A common location is:

C:\Users\<YourUser>\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk

Delete that folder if you want a full removal and do not need the SDK anymore.

If you are reinstalling Android Studio but want to keep the SDK to save download time, you may choose to leave it. But for a true clean uninstall, remove it too.

Remove User Settings and Caches

Android Studio and related tools also leave data under your user profile. Common cleanup targets include:

1C:\Users\<YourUser>\.android
2C:\Users\<YourUser>\.gradle
3C:\Users\<YourUser>\AppData\Roaming\Google\AndroidStudio*
4C:\Users\<YourUser>\AppData\Local\Google\AndroidStudio*

The exact AndroidStudio* folder names depend on the installed version.

These directories can contain:

• IDE settings
• indexes and caches
• local emulator or AVD metadata references
• Gradle caches

Deleting them removes the "it still remembers my old setup" behavior that people often interpret as an incomplete uninstall.

Check Environment Variables

If you previously configured Android development manually, inspect environment variables such as:

• 'ANDROID_HOME'
• 'ANDROID_SDK_ROOT'
• 'JAVA_HOME'
• 'Path entries pointing at old Android SDK tools'

On Windows, remove stale entries from:

1. System Properties
2. Advanced system settings
3. Environment Variables

Leaving these behind does not stop Android Studio from being uninstalled, but it does leave your system configured for tools that are no longer present.

Remove Emulator Images if Needed

If you created Android Virtual Devices, their large disk images may still remain in your profile. Depending on the setup, the relevant data may live under .android or related emulator directories.

This is one reason disk space does not always come back immediately after uninstalling the main program.

Reboot and Verify

After cleanup, reboot the machine and verify:

• Android Studio no longer appears in Apps & Features
• the SDK directory is gone if you intended to remove it
• environment variables no longer point at removed tools

That final verification is important because partial cleanup is very common.

Common Pitfalls

• Uninstalling the IDE but leaving the Android SDK and thinking everything is gone.
• Deleting configuration folders without backing up anything important first.
• Forgetting JetBrains Toolbox if that was the original installer.
• Leaving stale ANDROID_HOME or Path entries behind after removal.
• Removing .gradle casually without realizing it may also affect other JVM build workflows on the machine.

Summary

• A full Android Studio uninstall on Windows includes the IDE, SDK, caches, and environment-variable cleanup.
• Start with the normal Windows uninstall or JetBrains Toolbox if that was used.
• Remove the Android SDK folder separately if you want a true clean uninstall.
• Delete user settings and cache folders to remove leftover configuration state.
• Check environment variables so the system no longer points at removed Android tooling.