How do I uninstall balena etcher?

Uninstalling Balena Etcher is a straightforward process, ensuring your system remains clean and free of unwanted applications. The method varies slightly depending on your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).

Understanding Balena Etcher Uninstallation

Balena Etcher is a popular open-source utility for flashing OS images to SD cards and USB drives. While it's a valuable tool, you might need to uninstall it to free up disk space, resolve software conflicts, or simply because you no longer use it. Ensuring a complete uninstallation helps prevent residual files from cluttering your system.

How to Uninstall Balena Etcher on Windows

On Windows, you have a couple of primary methods to remove Balena Etcher.

Method 1: Using the Uninstaller Executable

This is often the most direct way to remove software, as it utilizes the application's built-in uninstallation script.

1. Locate the Installation Folder:
   • Open File Explorer.
   • Navigate to the directory where Balena Etcher was installed. Most commonly, you'll find it in:
     • C:\Program Files
     • C:\Program Files (x86)
   • Look for a folder named balenaEtcher or similar.
2. Run the Uninstaller:
   • Inside the Balena Etcher installation folder, locate a file named uninstall.exe, unins000.exe, or something similar.
   • Double-click this file to launch the uninstallation wizard.
   • Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation.

Method 2: Using Windows Settings (Apps & Features)

This is the standard Windows method for managing installed applications.

1. Open Apps & Features:
   • Windows 10/11: Right-click the Start button and select Apps and Features (or go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features).
   • Windows 7/8/Vista: Open the Control Panel and select Programs and Features.
2. Find Balena Etcher:
   • In the list of installed applications, scroll down or use the search bar to find Balena Etcher.
3. Initiate Uninstallation:
   • Click on Balena Etcher once.
   • Click the Uninstall button that appears.
   • Confirm your decision if prompted and follow any on-screen instructions.

How to Uninstall Balena Etcher on macOS

Uninstalling applications on macOS is generally simpler, especially for those installed via drag-and-drop.

1. Close Balena Etcher: Ensure Balena Etcher is not running. If it is, right-click its icon in the Dock and select Quit.
2. Open Applications Folder:
   • Open Finder.
   • Click on Applications in the sidebar.
3. Move to Trash:
   • Locate the Balena Etcher application icon.
   • Drag the Balena Etcher icon directly to the Trash in your Dock.
4. Empty Trash:
   • Right-click on the Trash icon.
   • Select Empty Trash to permanently remove the application.

How to Uninstall Balena Etcher on Linux

The method for uninstalling Balena Etcher on Linux depends on how it was installed.

Method 1: If installed via deb or rpm Package (e.g., Ubuntu, Fedora)

If you installed Balena Etcher using a .deb (Debian/Ubuntu) or .rpm (Fedora/CentOS) package, you can use your system's package manager.

• For Debian/Ubuntu-based systems (.deb):

  sudo apt remove balena-etcher
  sudo apt autoremove

• For Fedora/CentOS-based systems (.rpm):

  sudo dnf remove balena-etcher
  # Or for older systems:
  # sudo yum remove balena-etcher

Method 2: If installed via AppImage

If you downloaded Balena Etcher as an AppImage, there's no traditional uninstallation process.

• Delete the File: Simply locate the balena-etcher.AppImage file (or whatever you named it) wherever you saved it and delete it.

Method 3: If installed from a Tarball or manually extracted

If you manually extracted Balena Etcher from a .tar.gz file, you'll need to manually remove its directory.

• Delete the Directory:

  # Navigate to the directory where you extracted Etcher, e.g.:
  cd /opt/balena-etcher
  # Then remove the directory:
  sudo rm -rf /opt/balena-etcher

  Note: Adjust the path (/opt/balena-etcher) to where you actually extracted it.

Removing Residual Files (Optional but Recommended)

After uninstalling, some configuration files or cached data might remain. For a truly clean removal, you can manually delete these.

• Windows:
  • Press Win + R, type %APPDATA% and press Enter. Check for a balenaEtcher or Etcher folder.
  • Press Win + R, type %LOCALAPPDATA% and press Enter. Check for a balenaEtcher or Etcher folder.
• macOS:
  • In Finder, press Cmd + Shift + G, then type ~/Library and press Enter.
  • Look for folders like Application Support/balenaEtcher, Caches/balenaEtcher, Preferences/com.github.balena-io.etcher.plist.
• Linux:
  • Check your home directory for hidden folders: ~/.config/balena-etcher, ~/.local/share/balena-etcher, or ~/.cache/balena-etcher.

Uninstallation Methods Summary

Here's a quick reference for uninstalling Balena Etcher across different operating systems:

Operating System	Primary Uninstallation Method	Steps
Windows	Uninstaller Executable / Apps & Features	1. Navigate to C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86). 2. Double-click uninstall.exe. OR 3. Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features, find Balena Etcher, and click "Uninstall."
macOS	Drag to Trash	1. Ensure Balena Etcher is closed. 2. Drag the app from /Applications to the Trash. 3. Empty Trash.
Linux	Package Manager / Delete File	1. sudo apt remove balena-etcher (Debian/Ubuntu). 2. sudo dnf remove balena-etcher (Fedora/CentOS). 3. Delete the AppImage file. 4. Manually remove the installation directory.

By following these steps, you can effectively uninstall Balena Etcher from your system, regardless of your operating system. For general help with software management, you can refer to official support pages for Windows, macOS, or your specific Linux distribution's documentation.