How to Completely Uninstall Spotify from Windows or Mac

Spotify is the world‘s most popular music streaming service with over 450 million monthly active users across 178 markets. While the app offers an impressive library of 80 million tracks and seamless cross-device syncing, it‘s not immune to technical issues. Spotty playback, freezing, or high CPU usage are just a few reasons you might want to uninstall Spotify and start fresh.

Perhaps you‘re also switching to an alternative like Apple Music or Tidal and want to completely remove Spotify from your laptop or desktop computer. Whatever your reason for uninstalling, thoroughly removing the application and all its files is key to avoiding lingering problems or conflicts down the line.

In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll walk through the uninstallation process for both the Windows and Mac versions of Spotify. We‘ll cover multiple methods for each operating system and provide detailed troubleshooting tips to help you delete the program as cleanly as possible. Let‘s dive in!

Uninstalling the Spotify Desktop App on Windows 10 and 11

Before we get into the specifics, it‘s important to note that there are two types of Spotify applications for Windows:

1. Spotify Desktop App – This is the classic Win32 program you can download from the Spotify website. It‘s what most people think of when they talk about the Spotify app for Windows.

2. Spotify Microsoft Store App – This is a newer version of Spotify that‘s available through the Microsoft Store on Windows 10 and 11. It‘s built on the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) and has a slightly different interface than the desktop app.

The uninstallation steps vary a bit depending on which type of Spotify app you have. We‘ll focus on the desktop version first and then cover the Microsoft Store app separately.

Method 1: Uninstall Spotify via Windows Settings

The most straightforward way to uninstall Spotify is through the Windows Settings app. Here‘s how it works on Windows 10 and 11:

1. Open the Start menu and click the gear icon to launch Settings
2. Select "Apps" from the main menu
3. Scroll down the list of installed programs until you see Spotify
4. Click once on "Spotify" to expand the entry and reveal the "Uninstall" button
5. Click "Uninstall" and confirm the action in the pop-up dialog box
6. Wait for Windows to remove the program, which may take a few seconds to a minute

Once the uninstall process is complete, Spotify will no longer appear in your list of applications. However, there may still be some leftover files on your computer. We‘ll show you how to track those down and delete them in a later section.

Method 2: Uninstall Spotify via Control Panel

Another way to uninstall the classic Spotify desktop app is through the Windows Control Panel. Here‘s the step-by-step process:

1. Type "Control Panel" into the Windows Search bar and open the app
2. Click "Programs" and then "Programs and Features"
3. Find Spotify in the list of installed applications, then right-click it and select "Uninstall"
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation wizard

As with the Settings method, this will remove the core Spotify program from your computer but there may still be some straggler files left behind.

Dealing with Spotify Uninstall Issues on Windows

While uninstalling Spotify is usually a smooth process, there are a few common issues you might encounter:

• Error messages like "Failed to uninstall" or "Cannot find Spotify.exe" – This usually indicates that the uninstaller is corrupted or missing files. You can try running the installer again to repair it before uninstalling.

• Spotify not appearing in the application list – If you can‘t find the Spotify entry in Settings or Control Panel, it may be because the program files are corrupted or you have a conflicting application. Try searching for "Spotify" in File Explorer and manually deleting any relevant folders.

• Spotify reappearing after uninstalling – This means there are still remnants of the program on your system. You‘ll need to track down any leftover folders and remove them (more on this below).

If you‘re running into persistent issues, using a dedicated uninstaller tool is often the best solution. We recommend IObit Uninstaller or Revo Uninstaller, which are designed to fully remove programs and clean up any junk files. Just be sure to create a system restore point before using these tools in case anything goes wrong.

According to a recent Spotify SEC filing, more than 20% of the company‘s monthly users engage with the platform on desktop computers. With so many people using the Windows app, it‘s especially important to have reliable methods for uninstalling and troubleshooting.

Removing Leftover Spotify Files on Windows

Even if the main uninstallation goes smoothly, Spotify may leave behind fragments of data in various folders on your hard drive. These leftover files can accumulate over time and eat up valuable disk space. They may also cause issues down the line if you decide to reinstall Spotify or use a similar music app.

Here are some common locations where you might find stray Spotify files:

• C:\Users[username]\AppData\Local\Spotify
• C:\Users[username]\AppData\LocalLow\Spotify
• C:\Users[username]\AppData\Roaming\Spotify
• C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\SpotifyAB.SpotifyMusic_[version]

To access the AppData folder, you‘ll need to enable Hidden items in File Explorer. Just open any Explorer window, click "View" in the ribbon menu, and then check the box next to "Hidden items" to make it visible.

Once you‘ve found the relevant Spotify folders in the locations above, simply select them, and hit Delete. You may need administrator privileges to remove files in certain directories.

Uninstalling the Spotify App from the Microsoft Store

If you installed Spotify through the Microsoft Store instead of downloading the desktop app, the uninstall process is slightly different. Here‘s how to remove the Microsoft Store version of Spotify:

1. Open the Start menu and click "Microsoft Store" to launch the app store
2. Click on the three-dot menu in the upper right and select "My Library"
3. Find Spotify in your list of installed apps, click the three-dot menu next to it, and select "Uninstall"
4. Confirm that you want to uninstall the program

The Microsoft Store will take care of removing the app package and any related files. However, you may still want to check the AppData and Program Files folders we mentioned earlier for any remnants.

Uninstalling Spotify on macOS

The process for uninstalling Spotify on a Mac is fairly similar to Windows but with a few key differences. Here we‘ll cover two main methods: the manual approach and using dedicated Mac uninstaller apps.

Method 1: Manually Uninstalling Spotify on Mac

Manually removing Spotify requires deleting the app itself and then hunting down any associated files and folders. Here‘s the full step-by-step:

1. Fully quit the Spotify app if it‘s running (Command + Q)
2. Open the Finder and go to the Applications folder
3. Locate the Spotify icon and drag it to the Trash, or right-click and select "Move to Trash"
4. In the Finder menu bar, click "Go" and choose "Go to Folder"
5. Type "/Library" and hit Enter to open the Library directory
6. Find and delete any files or folders related to Spotify in the following locations:
   • ~/Library/Application Support/Spotify
   • ~/Library/Preferences/com.spotify.client.plist
   • ~/Library/Preferences/com.spotify.client.helper.plist
   • ~/Library/Caches/com.spotify.client
   • ~/Library/Saved Application State/com.spotify.client.savedState
7. Empty the Trash to complete the process

Note that some system folders like ~/Library may be hidden by default on your Mac. To unhide them, open Finder and press Command + Shift + . (period key) or use the "Go to Folder" option as described above.

Method 2: Uninstall Spotify on Mac Using a Dedicated Tool

There are a variety of third-party uninstaller utilities for Mac that can simplify the process of fully removing applications like Spotify. Two popular options are AppCleaner and CleanMyMac X.

Using AppCleaner:

1. Download and install AppCleaner from the official website
2. Launch the program and locate Spotify in the list of apps
3. Check the box next to all the Spotify files and components
4. Click the "Remove" button and confirm the action

Using CleanMyMac X:

1. Download CleanMyMac X from MacPaw‘s website and install the program
2. In the sidebar, select "Uninstaller" under the Applications section
3. Find Spotify in the list of apps, check the box next to it, and click "Uninstall"

Both of these utilities will search your Mac‘s hard drive for any files and folders associated with Spotify and remove them along with the main application. They greatly reduce the chances of leftover junk files causing problems in the future.

Dealing with Common Spotify for Mac Uninstall Issues

As with the Windows version, you may run into some snags when trying to uninstall Spotify on your Mac. The most common issues are:

• Spotify not appearing in the Applications folder – This usually means the app is installed in a non-standard location. You can use Spotlight (Command + Space) to search for it or check the Downloads folder.

• Spotify files/folders not deleting – If you‘re having trouble removing certain Spotify components, it‘s likely because they‘re in use by another process or you don‘t have the necessary permissions. Try rebooting your Mac and deleting the files again, or use a third-party uninstaller as described above.

• Spotify still appearing in the Dock after uninstalling – Your Mac may have saved a shortcut to the app even though it‘s been deleted. Just right-click the icon and select "Options > Remove from Dock."

If you‘re seeing error messages or having other difficulties with the uninstallation, your best bet is to use a dedicated removal tool like the ones we covered earlier. They can handle even the most stubborn programs and thoroughly clean your Mac of any remnants.

Reinstalling Spotify After Uninstalling

Whether you‘re starting fresh after encountering issues or just want to reinstall Spotify at a later date, the process is the same on both Windows and Mac. Simply visit the official Spotify download page, select your operating system, and click the "Download" button.

Run the installer file once it finishes downloading and follow the prompts to set up Spotify on your computer. You‘ll need to log back into your account, but all your playlists, liked songs, and other preferences will still be there.

Keep in mind that Spotify frequently updates its desktop apps to fix bugs and add new features. If you‘re reinstalling after a long break, you may want to download the latest version from the link above rather than using an old installer file.

Conclusion

Uninstalling Spotify is a straightforward process on both Windows 10/11 and macOS, but it‘s important to thoroughly remove the application and all its associated files to avoid issues down the line. On Windows, you can uninstall via the Settings app, Control Panel, or with a third-party tool for more stubborn cases. Mac users can drag the app to the Trash and manually delete leftover files or streamline the process with a dedicated uninstaller.

We covered a range of methods and troubleshooting tips in this guide to help you remove Spotify as cleanly as possible from your computer. Whether you‘re looking to resolve technical problems, free up disk space, or switch to a different music app, following these steps will ensure a smooth uninstallation.

If you‘re still having trouble or have any other questions about uninstalling Spotify, feel free to leave a comment below. You can also check out the official Spotify support page for more resources and advice. Thanks for reading!