If you’ve found yourself scrolling past Genshin Impact updates without excitement, or you’re tired of the 70+ GB of storage it eats up on your device, you might be looking for how to delete Genshin Impact permanently or temporarily. Many players make the mistake of just deleting the desktop icon or mobile app, which leaves tons of leftover files, cached data, and even account credentials hanging around that take up space and put your data at risk. I’ve gone through this process myself when I took a 6-month break from the game last year, so I’ve worked out all the kinks to make the process fast and safe no matter what device you use.
How to Delete Genshin Impact Safely From Every Common Device
The exact steps to uninstall the game will vary slightly based on what you play on, but the core rules stay the same across all platforms. You want to remove the core game files, clear cached data, and leave your save data intact unless you specifically want to erase it permanently.
For Windows PC users, first close the game and the Genshin Impact launcher fully, including background processes you can find in Task Manager. Go to your system’s Add or Remove Programs menu, search for Genshin Impact, and select Uninstall. Once the uninstall wizard finishes, navigate to your default install folder (usually C:\Program Files\Genshin Impact) to delete any remaining files, and clear cached launcher data from your AppData folder. All Genshin Impact progress is tied to your HoYoverse account, not your local device, so deleting these files won’t erase your saves as long as you remember your login details.
For mobile users on Android or iOS, long press the Genshin Impact app icon on your home screen. On Android, select Uninstall, then confirm you want to remove the app and all associated data. On iOS, select Remove App, then choose Delete App to erase all local files, or Offload App if you want to keep your local save data (though this is rarely necessary for Genshin, since saves are cloud stored). For console users on PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch, go to your device’s Storage or Manage Software menu, find Genshin Impact, and select Delete Game to remove the main files. Don’t select Delete Save Data unless you have no plans to return to the game later.
What to Do Before You Uninstall Genshin Impact
Before you go through the process of how to delete Genshin Impact, there are a few quick tasks you should check off your list to avoid headaches later. These steps only take 5 to 10 minutes, and they’ll save you from lost data, unexpected charges, or other annoying surprises.
Never uninstall the game before canceling active subscriptions, because most platform stores don’t offer refunds for unused subscription time if you delete the app first. You’ll have to go to your respective app store or console account settings to cancel subscriptions, you can’t do it through the Genshin Impact launcher itself.
Unlinked guest accounts will lose all progress permanently when you delete the game, so take 2 minutes to link your account before you take any further steps if you use a guest login. I’ve heard from dozens of players who lost years of progress because they forgot they were using a guest account before uninstalling, so don’t skip this step.
How to Permanently Delete Your Genshin Impact Account (If You Don’t Plan to Return)
Uninstalling the game from your device doesn’t delete your HoYoverse account, or any of the data stored on HoYoverse’s servers. If you want to erase all your Genshin Impact data permanently, you’ll need to request full account deletion directly from HoYoverse.
To delete your account, first log into your HoYoverse account through the official HoYoverse website, not the game launcher. Navigate to Account Settings, then select the Account Security tab, and find the Delete Account option at the bottom of the page. You’ll need to verify your identity via a code sent to your linked email or phone number, then submit your deletion request.
The 30-day cooling off period means you can recover your account at any point before the window ends if you change your mind. Once the 30 days pass, all your data, including characters, primogems, purchase history, and event progress, will be erased permanently with no option for recovery. I’ve had friends who deleted their accounts on a whim after a bad gacha pull, and regretted it a month later, so make sure you’re 100% sure before you submit the request.
If you just want to take a break, you don’t need to delete your account at all. HoYoverse doesn’t charge for inactive accounts, and you can log back in at any point to pick up right where you left off, even if you’ve been gone for years.
Fixes for Common Issues When Deleting Genshin Impact
Most issues that pop up when you’re figuring out how to delete Genshin Impact come from leftover files that didn’t get removed during the standard uninstall process. These problems are easy to fix with a few quick steps, no technical expertise required.
If you can’t find Genshin Impact in your Add or Remove Programs list on Windows, that usually means you installed the game outside the default folder. Navigate to the folder where you saved the game files, look for the uninstall.exe file, and run it directly to start the uninstall process. If you can’t find the install folder, use your system’s search bar to look for Genshin Impact, and open the file location from the search results.
If you keep getting popups from the Genshin Impact launcher after you delete the game, that means the launcher was set to run on startup. Open Task Manager, go to the Startup tab, find the Genshin Impact launcher, and disable it from running when you turn on your computer. You can then delete the remaining launcher files from your AppData folder to stop the popups entirely.
If your device still shows Genshin Impact taking up storage space after you uninstall it, that’s just leftover cached data. On mobile, go to your device’s storage settings and clear cached app data, then restart your device to refresh the storage calculation. On PC or console, restart your device first, then run a quick storage scan to clear leftover temporary files. If you run into persistent leftover files, you can use a free trusted junk cleaner app to scan your device and remove all remaining Genshin Impact data in one click.
Whether you’re taking a short break to focus on other games or you’re ready to step away from Teyvat for good, the process of how to delete Genshin Impact doesn’t have to be complicated or risky. Taking a few extra minutes to prepare before you uninstall, follow the right steps for your device, and handle your account settings properly will save you from headaches like unexpected charges, lost screenshots, or leftover files eating up your storage. If you ever decide to come back, all your progress will be waiting for you as long as you kept your account linked, so you don’t have to worry about losing all the time you put into building your team.