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There are two different AnyDesk removal procedures on Windows 11. An installed copy registers itself with Windows and can run the AnyDesk Global Service in the background. A portable copy is only an executable or folder, so it will not normally appear in Settings > Apps.
Start by exiting AnyDesk properly, then use the method that matches your installation. Closing the AnyDesk window alone may not stop the installed service.
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Before uninstalling: check whether AnyDesk is installed or portable
Right-click the AnyDesk icon in the notification area—the icons beside the clock—and choose Exit AnyDesk. If there is no icon, open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc and close any visible AnyDesk process before continuing.
An installed copy is usually listed in Windows’ installed-app list and commonly uses this folder:
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C:Program Files (x86)AnyDeskA portable copy usually came from a downloaded AnyDesk.exe file or a folder you opened directly. It is not registered as a normal Windows application, even if you ran it as administrator. Portable mode with elevation is still portable mode.
Method 1: uninstall AnyDesk from Windows 11 Settings
Use this method when AnyDesk appears in the installed-app list.
- Right-click the AnyDesk icon in the notification area and select Exit AnyDesk.
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select Apps > Installed apps.
- Search for AnyDesk.
- Select the three-dot menu beside AnyDesk and choose Uninstall.
- Select Uninstall again in the confirmation prompt.
- When the AnyDesk uninstaller opens, select Remove settings if you want to delete the saved configuration.
- Select Uninstall to finish.
Should you select “Remove settings”?
Normally, AnyDesk preserves its configuration when you uninstall the application. Select Remove settings if you want a complete removal of the saved AnyDesk identity and settings.
Be careful if you plan to reinstall AnyDesk. Removing the configuration permanently deletes the device’s AnyDesk ID and settings. They cannot be restored unless you backed them up. Leave Remove settings unchecked if you want a later installation to retain the existing identity and configuration.
Method 2: uninstall AnyDesk from Control Panel
If AnyDesk is missing from Windows 11 Settings, or the Settings uninstall button does not work, use the traditional desktop-program uninstaller:
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- Search Windows for Control Panel and open it.
- Select Programs > Programs and Features.
- Find AnyDesk in the list.
- Right-click it and select Uninstall or Uninstall/Change.
- Follow the AnyDesk uninstaller, including the Remove settings choice if appropriate.
Control Panel is particularly useful for older desktop applications whose uninstall entries do not appear correctly in the newer Settings interface.
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Method 3: remove a portable copy of AnyDesk
A portable AnyDesk copy does not have a normal Windows uninstall entry. Remove it manually instead.
- Right-click AnyDesk’s notification-area icon and choose Exit AnyDesk.
- Open File Explorer and go to the folder where you saved the portable AnyDesk copy.
- Delete the AnyDesk folder. If you downloaded only one file, delete
AnyDesk.exe. - Press Windows + R.
- Enter
%APPDATA%and press Enter. - Delete the
AnyDeskfolder insideAppDataRoaming.
If Windows says a file is in use, AnyDesk has not fully exited. Check Task Manager, end the remaining AnyDesk process, and try deleting the folder again.
Method 4: uninstall AnyDesk with Command Prompt
AnyDesk includes command-line uninstall options. Open Command Prompt and run the command from the folder containing AnyDesk.exe, or use the executable’s complete path.
Interactive uninstall
For a standard installation, run:
"C:Program Files (x86)AnyDeskAnyDesk.exe" --uninstallThis opens AnyDesk’s normal graphical uninstall process. If the program was installed in a different folder, replace the path with the correct one.
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The executable is often found at:
C:Program Files (x86)AnyDeskAnyDesk.exeSilent removal
For an unattended or scripted removal, run:
"C:Program Files (x86)AnyDeskAnyDesk.exe" --silent --remove--remove removes the application without the normal interactive process, while --silent suppresses messages and prompts. This is not a complete cleanup of AnyDesk data. After the process and service have been removed, check these locations:
C:Program Files (x86)AnyDesk
%APPDATA%AnyDesk
%PROGRAMDATA%AnyDeskDelete only the folders that remain and only after confirming that AnyDesk is no longer running.
Custom AnyDesk clients may use different folders
AnyDesk custom clients do not always use the standard executable name or directory. A custom client may look like this:
C:Program Files (x86)AnyDesk-<prefix>AnyDesk-<prefix>.exeFor custom clients downloaded from my.anydesk II on or after December 4, 2025, the default installation paths changed:
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| Package | Older default folder | Newer default folder |
|---|---|---|
| EXE | AnyDesk-ad_<prefix> |
AnyDesk-<prefix> |
| MSI | AnyDesk-ad_<prefix>_msi |
AnyDesk-<prefix>_msi |
Existing installations were not automatically moved. If a newer custom client was installed while the older one was still present, Windows can show them as separate applications in separate folders. Remove both entries if both are still installed.
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The application folders are separate, but the custom clients share configuration files, the AnyDesk ID, and settings. Deleting an application folder alone therefore does not necessarily remove the stored identity.
If AnyDesk keeps running after you close the window
Installed AnyDesk can use the AnyDesk Global Service. This lets it run in the background, start with Windows, and remain available after a reboot or sign-out. The X button on the main window only closes that window; it does not necessarily exit AnyDesk.
Use the notification-area menu and select Exit AnyDesk before uninstalling. If the service still prevents removal, restart Windows and try the Settings or Control Panel method again. Avoid deleting program files while the service is active.
If AnyDesk is not in the uninstall list
Check these likely causes:
- It is portable: delete the downloaded folder or executable, then remove
%APPDATA%AnyDeskif you want to remove its configuration. - It is a custom client: search for folders beginning with
AnyDesk-orAnyDesk-ad_, and look for a different client name in Control Panel. - The uninstall registration is damaged: Windows may have lost or corrupted the information needed to remove the program normally.
For an additional inventory check, open Command Prompt or Windows Terminal and run:
winget list AnyDeskWinGet can list applications installed by different methods, not just applications originally installed through WinGet. If it identifies the correct application, try:
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winget uninstall --name AnyDesk --exactThe --exact option requires an exact application-name match. If several results appear, use the appropriate name or additional filtering rather than guessing. WinGet will not remove a portable copy and does not guarantee removal of AnyDesk’s residual configuration files.
What to do when uninstalling fails
- Restart Windows.
- Try Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps > AnyDesk > Uninstall again.
- Try Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
- Run Microsoft’s Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter if the uninstall entry is damaged or missing. It can repair problems such as corrupted registry keys and incomplete uninstall information.
- After the uninstaller completes, check whether the documented residual folders remain:
C:Program Files (x86)AnyDesk
%APPDATA%AnyDesk
%PROGRAMDATA%AnyDeskDo not delete these directories first if AnyDesk or its service is still running. Stop the application, uninstall it, and then remove leftover folders.
Verify that AnyDesk has been removed
- Open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features and confirm that AnyDesk is no longer listed.
- Check
C:Program FilesandC:Program Files (x86)for AnyDesk directories, including custom-client folders. - Confirm that no AnyDesk icon remains in the notification area.
- Restart the computer.
- After restarting, confirm that AnyDesk does not launch automatically and that no AnyDesk process is running in Task Manager.
FAQ
Why can’t I find AnyDesk in Windows 11’s Installed apps list?
It may be a portable copy, a custom AnyDesk client with a different name, or an installation with damaged uninstall information. Delete a portable copy manually, check Control Panel, and search for custom folders such as AnyDesk-ad_
Does uninstalling AnyDesk delete my AnyDesk ID?
Not normally. AnyDesk usually preserves its configuration unless you select Remove settings in the uninstaller or delete its configuration folders. Selecting Remove settings permanently deletes the saved ID and settings unless they were backed up.
Why does AnyDesk still run after I close its window?
The installed version can run the AnyDesk Global Service in the background. Right-click its notification-area icon and select Exit AnyDesk before uninstalling.
Is portable AnyDesk installed if I run it as administrator?
No. Portable AnyDesk run with elevation is still portable and is not registered as a normally installed Windows application. Exit it, delete the executable or folder, and remove its roaming configuration if required.
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No. –remove removes the application, but residual files and user data can remain in C:Program Files (x86)AnyDesk, %APPDATA%AnyDesk, and %PROGRAMDATA%AnyDesk. Delete those folders only after the process and service have stopped.
The Bottom Line
For a normal installation, exit AnyDesk, then use Settings > Apps > Installed apps > AnyDesk > Uninstall. Use Control Panel if Settings fails. If AnyDesk was portable, delete its executable or folder instead. Select Remove settings only when you also want to erase the saved AnyDesk ID and configuration, then restart Windows and check for remaining processes and folders.
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