To fully uninstall a heavy PC game, remove it from the game's own launcher (Steam, Epic, Battle.net) and then delete the leftover shader caches and save folders that survive a normal uninstall. Dragging a game out of Windows Settings only removes the main install folder, so a "removed" 120 GB game can leave 15 GB of shader caches, save data, and DLC packs behind.

TL;DR

  • Always uninstall launcher-managed games from inside Steam, Epic, or Battle.net, never from Windows Settings.
  • Shader caches in %localappdata%\NVIDIA\DXCache and GLCache are safe to empty and regenerate automatically.
  • Save and settings folders live in %appdata%, %localappdata%, and Documents\My Games and survive uninstalls.
  • Verify cloud saves in the launcher before deleting any local save folder.
  • Heavy-DLC games store add-ons separately; remove unused content first.

Why does uninstalling from Windows leave files behind?

Uninstalling from Windows Settings leaves files behind because it only triggers the game's basic uninstaller and never touches the side files written elsewhere on the disk. Shader caches, configuration, save data, and DLC are stored outside the main game directory, in user-profile folders that the Windows uninstaller does not scan. Worse, removing a launcher-managed game through Windows Settings can leave the launcher convinced the game is still installed, stranding the side files and confusing future installs. The reliable fix is to let the launcher do the uninstall, then clean the known leftover locations yourself.

How do I uninstall a game from its launcher?

Use the launcher's library view, never Windows Settings.

Steam

  1. Open Steam › Library.
  2. Right-click the game › Manage › Uninstall.
  3. Confirm.

Epic Games Launcher

  1. Open Epic Games Launcher › Library.
  2. Click the ⋯ on the game › Uninstall.
  3. Confirm.

Battle.net, EA App, Ubisoft Connect

Same pattern: open the launcher's library, select the game, and uninstall from there. Never remove these through Windows Settings › Apps › Installed apps, which strands the side files and desyncs the launcher.

Where are the leftover game files on Windows?

After the official uninstall, two locations commonly hold multi-GB leftovers. Here is where to look and whether each is safe to delete.

Leftover type Typical location Safe to delete?
NVIDIA shader cache %localappdata%\NVIDIA\DXCache, %localappdata%\NVIDIA\GLCache Yes — regenerates automatically
Unreal Engine cache %localappdata%\UnrealEngine\Common\DerivedDataCache Yes — regenerates
Save data %appdata%\<GameName>, Documents\My Games\<GameName>, %localappdata%\<GameName> Only if you do not need the saves
Settings/config %appdata%\<GameName> Usually yes after uninstall

To open these fast, press Win + R, type the path (for example %localappdata%\NVIDIA), and press Enter.

How do I remove DLC and extra content?

Heavy-DLC games such as Flight Simulator, The Sims, and Forza store additional content outside the main install folder, so it can survive a base-game uninstall. Before uninstalling, open the game inside its launcher and look for a Content, Add-ons, or Manage Content section, then remove the packs you do not use. Doing this first means the launcher's own uninstaller accounts for those gigabytes, instead of leaving orphaned add-on folders on your drive that you would otherwise have to hunt down manually.

Is it safe to delete shader caches and save folders?

Deleting shader caches is always safe — they regenerate the next time a game needs them, costing only a few seconds of extra load time once. Save folders need one check first: many games sync saves to the cloud through the launcher, so deleting the local copy is non-destructive. Before wiping a save folder, open the launcher's cloud-save settings and confirm the game shows a synced cloud save. If it does, the local folder is just a cache of that save and is safe to remove. If it does not, back up the folder before deleting.

FAQ

Why does uninstalling a Steam game not free up all the space?

Steam's uninstaller removes the main game folder but leaves shader caches, save data, and config files in your user profile. Clearing %localappdata%\NVIDIA\DXCache and the game's %appdata% folder recovers the rest.

Is it safe to delete the NVIDIA shader cache?

Yes. The NVIDIA DXCache and GLCache folders are safe to empty because they rebuild automatically the next time a game compiles shaders. You only lose a few seconds of one-time load time.

Will deleting a game's save folder lose my progress?

Not if the game uses cloud saves. Check the launcher's cloud-save setting first; if the save is synced, the local folder is just a cache and is safe to delete. If it is not synced, back it up.

How much space can game leftovers take up?

Leftovers commonly range from a few hundred megabytes to 15 GB or more per heavy game, mostly shader caches and DLC. Cleaning them after several uninstalls can recover dozens of gigabytes.

For the broader Windows cleanup, see deep cleaning Windows 11 and 10 without third-party utilities and is it safe to compress the C: drive to save space. To visualize where your space actually went, what TreeSize Free is and how to use it is the fastest starting point, and the clean up PC and phone storage hub ties the whole routine together.

For your phone, Cleanor for iPhone finds large videos, duplicate photos, and heavy caches in one on-device pass — nothing uploaded.