Maybe CapCut keeps crashing, an update won't finish, or you just want the program off your machine for good. Whatever the reason, knowing how to uninstall CapCut on Windows properly matters — because the standard "remove it from the list" approach often leaves cache files and settings behind. Those leftovers are harmless most of the time, but they can quietly carry old problems into your next install.

This guide covers both jobs. First, the clean uninstall through Windows Settings. Then, the optional cleanup step that clears the leftover folders so nothing lingers. If you're doing this before a fresh reinstall to fix a bug, the full removal is the part that actually makes the difference.

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Quick answer
  • Uninstall CapCut from Settings > Apps > Installed apps, then restart your PC.
  • For a fully clean removal, delete the leftover cache and AppData folders afterward.
  • A complete uninstall and reinstall fixes most crashing, freezing, and update problems.

Before you start: close CapCut completely

Windows can't remove a program that's still running, and CapCut sometimes keeps a process alive in the background even after you close the window. Take ten seconds to shut it down fully first.

  1. Close the CapCut window if it's open.
  2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  3. Under the Processes tab, look for anything named CapCut.
  4. Click it, then choose End task.

With CapCut fully closed, the uninstaller can do its job without files being locked.

Uninstall CapCut through Settings (the clean way)

This is the method to use on Windows 11 and Windows 10. It runs CapCut's own uninstaller, which is the safe, supported way to remove the program.

  1. Open the Start menu and click Settings (or press Win + I).
  2. Go to Apps, then Installed apps. On Windows 10 this is Apps & features.
  3. Type CapCut into the search box to find it quickly.
  4. Click the three dots next to CapCut and choose Uninstall. Confirm when asked.
  5. Follow any prompts from CapCut's uninstaller until it finishes.
Quicker route

You can also right-click the CapCut tile in the Start menu and pick Uninstall. It sends you to the same place.

For most people, that's enough to remove CapCut from the PC. If you simply wanted it gone, you're done — though a quick cleanup, below, makes the removal truly complete.

Clear the leftover files and cache folders

Even a normal uninstall can leave behind a settings folder and a cache of temporary files. These hold things like your preferences, login state, and draft-related data. To delete CapCut from Windows completely — especially before a troubleshooting reinstall — clear them out.

  1. Press Win + R to open the Run box.
  2. Type %LOCALAPPDATA% and press Enter. This opens your Local AppData folder.
  3. Look for a folder named CapCut. If it's there, delete it.
  4. Open Run again, type %APPDATA%, and press Enter to check the Roaming AppData folder. Delete any CapCut folder there too.
  5. Empty the Recycle Bin to finish.
Back up your drafts first

Deleting these folders can remove local CapCut project data. If you have edits you care about, export or back them up before you clear anything.

This step is what separates a half-removal from a clean one. It's also the reason a reinstall behaves like a true fresh start rather than inheriting old settings.

Remove desktop shortcuts and Start menu entries

The uninstaller usually tidies these up, but stragglers happen. If you still see a CapCut icon hanging around after everything else is gone:

  • Desktop: right-click the leftover CapCut shortcut and choose Delete. A shortcut is just a pointer, so removing it won't harm anything.
  • Start menu: open Start, right-click any remaining CapCut entry, and choose Uninstall or Remove from this list.
  • Taskbar: if CapCut was pinned, right-click it and select Unpin from taskbar.

None of these are essential to the uninstall itself — they're just cosmetic cleanup so the program doesn't appear to still be installed.

Check that CapCut is fully gone

Before you call it done, take a moment to confirm nothing is hiding. This matters most when you're about to reinstall, since a stray folder or process can carry the old problem straight into the new copy.

  • Settings: open Apps > Installed apps again and search CapCut. It should no longer appear in the list.
  • Task Manager: reopen it with Ctrl + Shift + Esc and confirm there's no CapCut process still running.
  • AppData: revisit %LOCALAPPDATA% and %APPDATA% and make sure no CapCut folder came back.

If all three are clear, the program is properly removed. A restart at this point is a good idea — it releases any locked files and clears CapCut out of memory completely, which is exactly the clean slate you want.

When a full reinstall actually helps

People often search for how to remove CapCut from a PC when what they really want is to fix it. A clean uninstall followed by a fresh download solves a surprising number of problems, because it replaces corrupted files and resets bad settings in one move. Consider a full reinstall if:

  • CapCut crashes, freezes, or closes itself on launch.
  • An update keeps failing or gets stuck partway.
  • The app behaves strangely after a Windows update.
  • You're seeing errors that survived a normal restart.
  • Exporting or previewing video glitches in ways a restart doesn't fix.

The key is order: uninstall, clear the leftover folders from the step above, restart your PC, and only then install a fresh copy. Skipping the folder cleanup is the most common reason a reinstall "doesn't fix anything" — the old broken settings just get reused, and you end up right where you started.

Reinstall, the right way

Always grab the new copy from the official site at capcut.com. CapCut desktop is free, so there's never a reason to use a third-party download site or a "cracked" version, both of which are common sources of malware.

Reinstalling CapCut after a clean uninstall

Once CapCut is fully gone and you've restarted, getting it back is quick. Download the installer from the official CapCut website and run it like any other Windows app. If you'd like a step-by-step walkthrough with screenshots of the whole process, our guide on how to download CapCut on Windows 11 covers it from start to finish, and the broader how to download CapCut on a laptop guide works for both Windows and Mac.

One thing worth checking before you reinstall: which Windows your laptop actually runs. If you have a newer Snapdragon-powered machine, it's worth reading whether CapCut works on Windows ARM laptops so you download the right build the first time.