# Cannot uninstall Docker for Windows **URL:** \ **Category:** Docker Desktop\ **Tags:** windows\ **Created:** [June 16, 2016, 2:04pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/cannot-uninstall-docker-for-windows/15661 "2016-06-16T14:04:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![xavierguarch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/54ee81/32.png) [@xavierguarch](https://forums.docker.com/u/xavierguarch)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 2:04pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/cannot-uninstall-docker-for-windows/15661/1 "2016-06-16T14:04:00Z")
### Expected behavior When choosing to uninstall Docker for Windows, it should uninstall. ### Actual behavior Uninstallation hangs forever. ### Information - Docker for Windows Version: 1.11.2-beta15 (build: 4450) - OS: Windows 10 Pro - Edition: Professional - Id: 1511 - Build: 10586 - BuildLabName: 10586.306.amd64fre.th2\_release\_sec.160422-1850 - Mixpanel Id: 424C54B9-A3C8-4DB0-8492-99DE4AC1EFC0 - Sha1: a513059b802e37621c4ef5113f29050d2ca39a43 ### Steps to reproduce the behavior 1. Open Start \> Settings \> System \> Apps & features 2. Search Docker and select Uninstall. 3. Uninstallation never ends ---
**Author:** ![mikefcooper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/mikefcooper/32/11486_2.png) [@mikefcooper](https://forums.docker.com/u/mikefcooper)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2016, 7:53pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/cannot-uninstall-docker-for-windows/15661/2 "2016-06-19T19:53:33Z")
I have the same issue on Windows 10 Pro. Both update to latest version and uninstall of Docker for Windows freezes with time remaining unchanged. ---
**Author:** ![ffisegydd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/ffisegydd/32/11533_2.png) [@ffisegydd](https://forums.docker.com/u/ffisegydd)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2016, 7:13pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/cannot-uninstall-docker-for-windows/15661/3 "2016-06-20T19:13:47Z")
Same issue. I’m trying to uninstall because Docker currently is not working (it fails to start) and so am trying to reinstall. Both uninstalling using the Windows Apps & features, and trying to reinstall using the InstallDocker executable, fail. ---
**Author:** ![fasthall](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/fasthall/32/11545_2.png) [@fasthall](https://forums.docker.com/u/fasthall)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2016, 8:03pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/cannot-uninstall-docker-for-windows/15661/4 "2016-06-20T20:03:55Z")
Sam here. Cannot uninstall or upgrade. ---
**Author:** ![mikefcooper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/mikefcooper/32/11486_2.png) [@mikefcooper](https://forums.docker.com/u/mikefcooper)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 6:50pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/cannot-uninstall-docker-for-windows/15661/5 "2016-06-30T18:50:19Z")
Another update has become available and once again the install hangs just after it starts with a small part of the progress bar green. The only way to install that I’ve found is to manually uninstall the software then reinstall. ---
**Author:** ![ebriney](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/ebriney/32/5803_2.png) [@ebriney](https://forums.docker.com/u/ebriney)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 3:25pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/cannot-uninstall-docker-for-windows/15661/6 "2016-07-01T15:25:01Z")
Hi guys, sorry for the convenience. Is one if you can show me the content of his uninstall log (in your User/AppData/Local/Docker dir, install-log-xxxx.txt, the oldest one after uninstalling the app) ? ---
**Author:** ![ffisegydd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/ffisegydd/32/11533_2.png) [@ffisegydd](https://forums.docker.com/u/ffisegydd)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 6:44pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/cannot-uninstall-docker-for-windows/15661/7 "2016-07-01T18:44:56Z")
I think that this is the oldest log since I’ve had the issues, but I’m not 100% sure. Looking at other logs I seem to get this error quite a bit: [08:23:33.866][Installer][Info] Version: 1.11.1.3073 [08:23:33.867][Installer][Info] Starting on: 6/19/2016 8:23:33 AM [08:23:33.867][Installer][Info] Resources: C:\Program Files\Docker\Docker\Resources [08:23:33.868][Installer][Info] OS: Windows 10 Pro [08:23:33.868][Installer][Info] Edition: Professional [08:23:33.868][Installer][Info] Id: 1511 [08:23:33.869][Installer][Info] Build: 10586 [08:23:33.869][Installer][Info] BuildLabName: 10586.420.amd64fre.th2\_release\_sec.160527-1834 [08:23:33.872][Installer][Info] Sha1: 2fb5b031ee60c8a9b514883b54bcea8cf6d2ae8f [08:23:34.172][Installer][Info] Killing processes… [08:23:34.185][Installer][Info] Preparing upgrade… [08:23:34.186][HyperV][Info] Destroy [08:23:34.189][PowerShell][Info] Run script with parameters: -Destroy True -KeepVolume True… [08:23:34.856][Installer][Error] A parameter cannot be found that matches parameter name ‘KeepVolume’. ---
**Author:** ![tannerwatson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/tannerwatson/32/12190_2.png) [@tannerwatson](https://forums.docker.com/u/tannerwatson)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2016, 9:40pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/cannot-uninstall-docker-for-windows/15661/8 "2016-07-09T21:40:31Z")
I’m getting the same issue on Windows 10 Pro. The installer becomes unresponsive and uncancellable at “Preparing Docker VM upgrade” [17:35:19.572][Installer][Info] Version: 1.12.0.4760 [17:35:19.573][Installer][Info] Starting on: 7/9/2016 5:35:19 PM [17:35:19.573][Installer][Info] Resources: C:\Program Files\Docker\Docker\Resources [17:35:19.573][Installer][Info] OS: Windows 10 Pro [17:35:19.573][Installer][Info] Edition: Professional [17:35:19.574][Installer][Info] Id: 1511 [17:35:19.574][Installer][Info] Build: 10586 [17:35:19.574][Installer][Info] BuildLabName: 10586.420.amd64fre.th2\_release\_sec.160527-1834 [17:35:19.575][Installer][Info] Sha1: 999af1eac01deb75d9f166febb99a14b96b88ae3 [17:35:19.790][Installer][Info] Killing processes… [17:35:19.795][Installer][Info] Preparing upgrade… [17:35:19.795][HyperV][Info] Destroy [17:35:19.802][PowerShell][Info] Run script with parameters: -Destroy True -KeepVolume True… [17:35:23.949][HyperV][Info] Kill VM MobyLinuxVM… [17:35:23.964][HyperV][Info] VM MobyLinuxVM is stopped [17:35:23.966][HyperV][Info] Destroying Switch DockerNAT… [17:35:25.447][HyperV][Info] Destroying VM MobyLinuxVM… [17:35:25.599][HyperV][Info] Keep VHD C:\Users\Public\Documents\Hyper-V\Virtual Hard Disks\MobyLinuxVM.vhdx [17:35:25.601][Firewall][Info] Closing ports… [17:35:26.125][Firewall][Info] Ports are closed [17:35:26.126][HyperVGuids][Info] Removing GUIDs… [17:35:26.126][HyperVGuids][Info] GUIDs removed [17:35:26.126][Installer][Info] Prepare upgrade completed successfully ---
**Author:** ![xbaro](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/xbaro/32/10257_2.png) [@xbaro](https://forums.docker.com/u/xbaro)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 4:53pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/cannot-uninstall-docker-for-windows/15661/9 "2016-07-10T16:53:43Z")
The same here. Error 1714. The older version of Docker cannot be removed. Contact your technical support group. System Error 1612. === Logging stopped: 10/07/2016 18:51:26 === ---
**Author:** ![rezonant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/rezonant/32/12704_2.png) [@rezonant](https://forums.docker.com/u/rezonant)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 5:45am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/cannot-uninstall-docker-for-windows/15661/10 "2016-07-29T05:45:49Z")
How is it possible that this is still an issue after a month? Can someone please release a fix for users stuck with a broken version of Docker? EDIT: After deleting the contents of C:\Program Files\Docker and then downloading a fresh Docker MSI, then using the Remove option after it offers Repair or Remove, then finally reinstalling using that MSI, I was able to get around this issue and get the latest version of Docker installed. ---
**Author:** ![ebriney](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/ebriney/32/5803_2.png) [@ebriney](https://forums.docker.com/u/ebriney)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 3:05pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/cannot-uninstall-docker-for-windows/15661/11 "2016-07-29T15:05:42Z")
Sorry for the delay. I tried to reproduce this bug without success, so I wrote a script that will be ship in the next version but as you cannot uninstall, I dump here the procedure so you can install the latest version. Open a powershell as administrator and copy/paste this script: > ‘C:\Program Files\Docker\Docker\resources\MobyLinux.ps1’ -Destroy > $service = Get-WmiObject -Class Win32\_Service -Filter “Name=‘com.docker.service’” > $service.StopService() > $service.Delete() > Start-Sleep -s 5 > Remove-Item -Recurse -Force “~/AppData/Local/Docker” > Remove-Item -Recurse -Force “~/AppData/Roaming/Docker” > takeown.exe /F “C:\ProgramData\Docker” /R /A /D Y > icacls “C:\ProgramData\Docker” /T /C /grant Administrators:F > Remove-Item -Recurse -Force “C:\ProgramData\Docker” > Remove-Item -Recurse -Force “C:\Program Files\Docker” > Remove-Item -Recurse -Force “C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Docker” > Remove-Item -Force “C:\Users\Public\Desktop\Docker for Windows.lnk” > Get-ChildItem hklm:\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\uninstall | ForEach-Object {Get-ItemProperty $_.PSPath} | Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -eq “Docker” } | Remove-Item -Recurse -Force > Get-ChildItem hklm:\software\classes\installer\products | ForEach-Object {Get-ItemProperty $_.pspath} | Where-Object { $_.ProductName -eq “Docker” } | Remove-Item -Recurse -Force > Get-Item ‘HKLM:\software\Docker Inc.’ | Remove-Item -Recurse -Force > Get-ItemProperty -path HKCU:\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\Run -name “Docker for Windows” | Remove-Item -Recurse -Force And go to [docker for windows page](https://docs.docker.com/docker-for-windows/) to install the lastest version, stable is 1.12.0 and beta is the same with experimental features enabled. ---
**Author:** ![konstruktoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/konstruktoid/32/12719_2.png) [@konstruktoid](https://forums.docker.com/u/konstruktoid)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 9:04pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/cannot-uninstall-docker-for-windows/15661/12 "2016-07-29T21:04:41Z")
Github issue: [https://github.com/docker/docker/issues/24142](https://github.com/docker/docker/issues/24142) ---
**Author:** ![manuinnz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@manuinnz](https://forums.docker.com/u/manuinnz)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 8:12pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/cannot-uninstall-docker-for-windows/15661/13 "2016-10-12T20:12:41Z")
Merci Emmanuel Just a couple of issues with the powershell script above. Had issues running with the -Destroy parameter but just evaluetd the functions direct to be able to invoike directly the destroy functions (Stop-MobyLinuxVM, Destroy-Switch, Destroy-MobyLinuxVM). In your for loop you miss the _(underscore) for the current object variable ($_) might be related to the message board app. I see it is with the underscore in the ForceRemoveDocker.ps1 of the new release. Get-ChildItem hklm:\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\uninstall | ForEach-Object {Get-ItemProperty $_.PSPath} | Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -eq “Docker” } | Remove-Item -Recurse -Force Get-ChildItem hklm:\software\classes\installer\products | ForEach-Object {Get-ItemProperty $_.pspath} | Where-Object { $_.ProductName -eq “Docker” } | Remove-Item -Recurse -Force Thank you again very much for this as it was quite annoying being stuck with the installer or uninstaller. Cheers Emmanuel ---
**Author:** ![ericis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/ericis/32/13544_2.png) [@ericis](https://forums.docker.com/u/ericis)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 5:53pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/cannot-uninstall-docker-for-windows/15661/14 "2016-10-17T17:53:56Z")
This worked for me. The first line had to have `C:\...\MobyLinux.ps1 -Destroy`, including the parameter, all in quotes. I ran each line (or group of lines, like `$service`) as Admin ---
**Author:** ![peteboyrocket](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/peteboyrocket/32/14587_2.png) [@peteboyrocket](https://forums.docker.com/u/peteboyrocket)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 2:46pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/cannot-uninstall-docker-for-windows/15661/15 "2016-12-09T14:46:15Z")
I’ve had to do this for every new beta update, do you know what causes it? ---
**Author:** ![ozium13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@ozium13](https://forums.docker.com/u/ozium13)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2016, 11:41am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/cannot-uninstall-docker-for-windows/15661/16 "2016-12-30T11:41:23Z")
Still having this issue with the last update for Windows and we’re just a few days away from 2017. Sure feels like beta to me. I can’t update it, I can’t uninstall it, and the script doesn’t work for me (even with the edits the others offered). Can’t think of another piece of software where the uninstaller failed on me for some years now. Really, really disappointing effort from Docker. As much as I’d love to upload some log files and such I think I’ll just abstain and wait until this thing is fully baked. Can someone let me know when that happens? ---
**Author:** ![baltrap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/baltrap/32/15178_2.png) [@baltrap](https://forums.docker.com/u/baltrap)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 10:52am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/cannot-uninstall-docker-for-windows/15661/17 "2017-02-10T10:52:14Z")
the same here, nothing works 😕 ---
**Author:** ![friism](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/friism/32/3570_2.png) [@friism](https://forums.docker.com/u/friism)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 3:00pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/cannot-uninstall-docker-for-windows/15661/18 "2017-02-10T15:00:51Z")
Can you please post the content of the install log? [Cannot uninstall Docker for Windows](https://forums.docker.com/t/cannot-uninstall-docker-for-windows/15661/6?u=friism) Also consider opening an issue on [https://github.com/docker/for-win/issues/new](https://github.com/docker/for-win/issues/new) ---
**Author:** ![nickiannone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/nickiannone/32/15278_2.png) [@nickiannone](https://forums.docker.com/u/nickiannone)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 10:15pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/cannot-uninstall-docker-for-windows/15661/19 "2017-02-22T22:15:59Z")
Ok, so I have a bit of an update in dealing with this. Through this post, and the discovery of the ForceRemoveDocker.ps1 PowerShell script (by default, “C:\Program Files\Docker\Docker\resources\ForceRemoveDocker.ps1” in Docker for Windows 1.13+ I believe), I was able to work through an issue with configuring Docker for Windows over top of a previous installation of Docker and VirtualBox. The process I went through to get it to work is here: [https://github.com/docker/for-win/issues/515#issuecomment-281819259](https://github.com/docker/for-win/issues/515#issuecomment-281819259) Hope this helps. ---
**Author:** ![larswh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3bc359/32.png) [@larswh](https://forums.docker.com/u/larswh)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 7:15am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/cannot-uninstall-docker-for-windows/15661/20 "2017-10-07T07:15:57Z")
I was also unable to reinstall Docker (Community Edition) for Windows. I tried all the suggested PowerShell scripts suggested, but without success. The error message I got when installing ‘Stable’ and ‘Edge’ was not the same, and that helped me find this solution (a registry fix): [https://success.docker.com/KBase/Docker.For.Win\_-\_Install\_fails\_on\_installationmanifest.json](https://success.docker.com/KBase/Docker.For.Win_-_Install_fails_on_installationmanifest.json) [Next page](https://forums.docker.com/t/cannot-uninstall-docker-for-windows/15661.md?page=2)