Autodesk Uninstall Tool
For several years now Autodesk have included an uninstall tool with their software. It is the quickest and best way to remove Autodesk software from your Windows system.
Fusion 360 is a bit different though, so If you are looking to remove Fusion 360 Please follow these instructions
UPDATE: For 2022 and newer software, this tool has been discontinued.
For other Autodesk products, the uninstall tool is extremely useful for removing old versions of software, or removing a failed installation, for more help on successful installs, see this article.
Here’s how to use the uninstall tool;
Fire up the uninstall tool, as shown below:
Once the tool launches, choose the products that you wish to remove and then click “Uninstall”.
The tool will show a progress bar at the bottom, as well as the current program being removed.
That’s it, you’ve successfully removed your old software.
If you are trying to recover a failed installation, try deleting the contents of your TEMP folder (usually “C:\TEMP”) AFTER running the uninstall tool. This needs to be done BEFORE running a new installation. See this article for help with a new installation.
Note that the uninstall tool does not remove any 3rd party add-ins.
What if that didn’t work? Some people have reported success with the Windows Install and Uninstall troubleshooter.
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Autodesk Uninstall Tool
During the installation of Autodesk, many additional components are required by personnel as additional plugins for their work. Post-work completion, it was a hassle to remove these additional products using the standard add/remove programs through the control panel. Thus, to leverage user experience and ease down the user’s steps, Autodesk came up with a unique yet interesting idea of having an uninstallation tool that provides the choice to uninstall all the components for the complete Autodesk suite. This Autodesk uninstalls tool is crucial if the installation fails for any reason and the user wants a clean installation.
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The uninstallation tool removes relevant details from the registry and reduces the chances of after-installation issues that may occur because of the partial installation’s failure. Since the uninstallation tool allows the uninstallation of multiple software simultaneously, it is more efficient than the standard uninstallation steps using the default control panel of the system. The next section will describe the steps to remove programs from the uninstallation tool, followed by some tips and tricks.
Steps to Remove the Program Using Autodesk Uninstall Tool
The uninstallation process would be slightly different depending upon the type of operating used to install Autodesk products but generally controlled by the Control panel. Installing the Uninstall tool will help to remove all products at once –
Step 1: Open Start Menu and Search “Uninstall Tool”
If the tool is unavailable, the uninstallation tool can be downloaded from – Link: https://viewer.autodesk.com/.
Step 2 – Click and Open Uninstall tool
It will display all the components of the suite installed during the installation of Autodesk. The choice of uninstallation lies with the user, and you may deselect any components in case you don’t want to uninstall them.
Step 3 – Click Uninstall to remove software that is no more needed
This will remove all the selected components from the user’s system.
Tips and Tricks for Using Autodesk Uninstall Tool
We can use various tips and tricks to use the Autodesk Uninstall tool efficiently.
Tip 1 – If installation fails by a system crash or any other means, use Autodesk uninstall tool or clean install before a new installation. Clean machines are generally positive as they remove unnecessary residuals from the system.
Tip 2 – Clean installation refers to the execution of three steps without any troubles –
- The installation runs without error
- The product starts and licenses properly
- Product runs
Tip 3 – What stops the installation
- Competing programs/access: Usually antivirus, malware, permissions, BIM 360.
- Prerequisites: Unavailability of Microsoft Visual C++ redistributables, Microsoft .net framework.
- Installation files and folders: Autodesk’s previous versions shared the folder destination, the presence of 3rd party plugins, object enablers, user profiles, and folders.
- Registry keys: Residual registry keys.
Tip 4 – Before reinstallation of software, always reboot the system.
Tip 5 – Always disable the antivirus before installation; the steps are as follows –
- Open the Task Manager and On the Processes tab.
- Select the processes for the antivirus programs.
- Then click “End Process.”
Tip 6 – Always remove an older Autodesk release using Autodesk’s dedicated uninstallation tool before installing a new release.
Tip 7 – Before reinstallation, delete all the files of the Windows temp folder. Make sure you do not delete the temp folder by itself.
Tip 8 – Always maintain a backup for existing files and configurations.
Tip 9 – During uninstallation using the Autodesk uninstall tool, the green tick will show the products removed, and the blinking arrow will indicate the current program being removed.
Tip 10 – Autodesk uninstall tool does not remove the third-party add-ins example CTC BIM Project suite, and these need to be removed through the Windows control panel.
Conclusion
To conclude, Autodesk has created Uninstall tool that can be installed separately to remove components from the user’s machine. It is more efficient and time-saving than the default uninstallation process through the control panel. It can uninstall or allow us to uninstall multiple software simultaneously from the Autodesk suite, which is hassle-free.
The entire process takes approximately 10 minutes to remove unnecessary components and can even remove that software that is not removed after uninstalling them from the Windows operating system’s control panel. The earlier default process through the control panel was time-taking and left certain residues in the registry, increasing the chances of issues in software run post-installation.
Recommended Articles
This has been a guide to Autodesk Uninstall Tool. Here we have discussed how to uninstall software or component through the Autodesk uninstall tool. You may also look at the following articles to learn more –
- What is Autodesk
- Autodesk and Autocad
- AutoCAD For Students
- Autocad vs Archicad
Uninstall Autodesk software
How you uninstall Autodesk software varies according to the operating system you use and the software you want to remove.
Windows
Use the Windows Control Panel
For 2022 products and later, the Windows Control Panel is the best way to remove products.
Note: Restart your computer to apply pending Windows updates. To keep customizations, such as menus and PGP files, back up your files.
- Open the Apps & features menu (Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features).
- Select the product to remove.
- Select Uninstall to remove a component.
Note: Remember that Material Libraries are shared across products. Don’t remove them unless you want to uninstall all Autodesk products. If you do remove libraries, uninstall the medium resolution image library first, then the base resolution image library, and the Autodesk material library last. - Confirm that you want to uninstall. Then click Finish.
- Restart if prompted. Then return to the Apps & features menu to uninstall other software.
Use the Microsoft Installation Troubleshooter (Fix It)
Sometimes, remnants of a previous installation remain on your system after you remove software through the Control Panel. If so, you can’t install new versions. Use the Microsoft Installation Troubleshooter, previously called Fix It, to remove these remnants.
- Go to Fix problems that block programs from being installed.
- Click Download.
- Click Run or Open. Then follow the steps in the troubleshooter.
macOS
Uninstall products using the Remove utility
For some products, you can run the Remove ProductName utility in the Finder > Go > Applications > Autodesk folder. The Remove utility uninstalls both the application file and residual files.
- Locate the Remove utility in Finder > Go > Applications > Autodesk.
- Double-click Remove to uninstall a product, where product name is, for example, AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT.
If the Remove utility isn’t available for your software, follow the steps in the next section.
Uninstall products manually
- Uninstall all Autodesk programs by right-clicking the program icon and choosing Move To Trash.
- Open a Finder window and navigate to the root of the local hard drive and delete the following folders:
- /Library/Autodesk
- /Library/Application Support/Autodesk
- /Users/[username]/Adlm
- /Users/[username]/Library/Application Support/Autodesk
Note: The Library folder is usually hidden. To show it, click the Go menu in the Finder and hold down the Option key. - /Users/username/.flexlmrc
- /Library/Frameworks/Adlm.framework/
- /Applications/Autodesk/Adlm
- Navigate to the folder /Library/Preferences/Flexnet Publisher/FLEXnet and delete the files with the adskflex prefix.
- Find and delete the folder /Library/Application Support/Flexnet Publisher.
Important: Don’t delete this folder if you’re running Adobe products on your Mac. Adobe products also use FlexNet. Deleting this folder can cause problems if the Adobe products are still installed.
Linux
In Linux, you typically remove software through the Terminal. For details, see the in-product installation supplements for Flame, Maya, and Mudbox.
Clean uninstall (Windows)
If you still can’t install a new product after removing an old one, your last resort is to do a clean uninstall. Follow these instructions. If you need help, contact support.
Uninstall tool for AutoCAD and Autodesk Design Suite
Update: If you want to uninstall Autodesk Suites 2013 or later, the uninstall tool is already included. This is only for Autodesk Suites 2012.
To run uninstall tool: Click Windows Start Menu> All Program> Autodesk> Uninstall Tool
Last week, Autodesk released some of their 2013 products. You may already downloaded or got your installation media. It means one thing for us geeks: it’s time to upgrade!
Uninstalling old version is a tedious task. Especially if you have one of the suites. You will need to uninstall many products!
Lucky for us, there is an utility to do this with less clicks: Autodesk quick uninstall tool. You can see Edward Winter post how to use quick uninstall tool here and in this Autodesk documentation. Apparently (almost) all Autodesk Suites has this utility.
But not for Autodesk Design Suite (it’s AutoCAD Design Suite in 2013). I don’t have it installed on my machine.
So it means if we have Autodesk Design Suite 2012, we must uninstall each product manually? Not really.
There is similar tool. But you must download it separately. Download PSEB uninstall tool here.
If you see the products supported in the list, you can also use this tool to uninstall AutoCAD and some AutoCAD based products. Even if you only have AutoCAD installed, you must uninstall several products. So I believe this will be helpful.
About Edwin Prakoso
I work as a Solution Consultant in Datech Solutions, Tech Data Indonesia. I’ve been using AutoCAD since R14 and Revit since Revit Building 9. I occasionally write for AUGIWorld magazine and I am also active in Autodesk discussion forum. I’m a member of Autodesk Expert Elite, an appreciation for individuals who give contributions to the Autodesk community.
Connect with me on twitter or LinkedIn.