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This guide covers how to completely remove Gemini CLI from your Windows system, including optional removal of Node.js if you no longer need it.

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Uninstallation Overview

Uninstalling Gemini CLI involves three main steps:
  1. Remove the Gemini CLI package
  2. Delete the desktop shortcut (if created)
  3. Optionally uninstall Node.js

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Uninstallation Steps

1

Uninstall Gemini CLI Package

Open PowerShell or Command Prompt and run:
npm uninstall -g @google/gemini-cli
This removes the Gemini CLI package from your system’s global npm packages.

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Verify Removal

Confirm Gemini CLI has been removed:
where gemini
You should see a message indicating the command was not found.
This command only removes the Gemini CLI package. Node.js and npm remain installed.
2

Remove Desktop Shortcut

If you created a desktop shortcut during installation, delete it:

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Manual Deletion

  1. Navigate to your Desktop
  2. Find the “Gemini CLI.lnk” shortcut
  3. Right-click and select Delete
  4. Confirm deletion

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Using Command Line

Run this command in PowerShell:
Remove-Item "$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\Gemini CLI.lnk" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Or in Command Prompt:
del "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\Gemini CLI.lnk"
3

Clear npm Cache (Optional)

To free up disk space and remove any cached Gemini CLI data:
npm cache clean --force
This clears the entire npm cache, not just Gemini CLI. This is safe but may cause slightly slower installation times for other npm packages in the future.
4

Uninstall Node.js (Optional)

If you no longer need Node.js for other applications, you can uninstall it:
Before uninstalling Node.js:Check if you have other Node.js applications or development tools that depend on it. Removing Node.js will affect all npm-based tools on your system.To see installed global packages:
npm list -g --depth=0

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Option A: Using winget

winget uninstall OpenJS.NodeJS.LTS

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Option B: Using Windows Settings

  1. Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps
  2. Search for “Node.js”
  3. Click the three dots menu
  4. Select Uninstall
  5. Confirm the uninstallation

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Option C: Using Control Panel

  1. Open Control Panel
  2. Navigate to Programs → Programs and Features
  3. Find Node.js in the list
  4. Right-click and select Uninstall
  5. Follow the uninstallation wizard

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Clean Up Remaining Files

After uninstalling Node.js, some files may remain. You can manually delete these directories:
# Remove npm global directory
Remove-Item "$env:APPDATA\npm" -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

# Remove npm cache
Remove-Item "$env:APPDATA\npm-cache" -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

# Remove Node.js user data
Remove-Item "$env:USERPROFILE\.node" -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Remove-Item "$env:USERPROFILE\.npm" -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
These cleanup commands are optional. Windows typically removes most Node.js files during uninstallation.

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Verify Complete Removal

After completing the uninstallation steps, verify everything has been removed: 
where gemini
# Should return: INFO: Could not find files for the given pattern(s).

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Cleaning Environment Variables

If you uninstalled Node.js but still see references in your PATH:
  1. Open System Properties → Environment Variables
  2. Under User variables and System variables, select Path
  3. Click Edit
  4. Remove any entries containing:
    • nodejs
    • npm
    • AppData\Roaming\npm
  5. Click OK to save
  6. Restart any open terminal windows

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Reinstalling Gemini CLI

If you want to reinstall Gemini CLI later:

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If Node.js is Still Installed

Simply run: 
npm install -g @google/gemini-cli

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If Node.js Was Removed

Follow the complete Manual Installation Guide or download from the GitHub releases page.

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Troubleshooting Uninstallation

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npm uninstall command not found

If npm is not available, Node.js may already be uninstalled. Skip to removing the desktop shortcut and cleaning up remaining files.

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Permission denied errors

Run your terminal as Administrator:
  1. Right-click PowerShell or Command Prompt
  2. Select Run as administrator
  3. Run the uninstall commands again

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Files remain after uninstallation

Some configuration files may remain in your user directory: 
# Remove Gemini CLI configuration (if exists)
Remove-Item "$env:USERPROFILE\.gemini" -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Remove-Item "$env:APPDATA\gemini-cli" -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Removing configuration directories will delete all saved settings and authentication data. You’ll need to reconfigure if you reinstall.

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Partial Uninstallation

If you want to keep Node.js but remove only Gemini CLI:
  1. Complete Step 1 (Uninstall Gemini CLI Package)
  2. Complete Step 2 (Remove Desktop Shortcut)
  3. Skip Steps 3-4 (Keep npm cache and Node.js)
This is useful if you use Node.js for other projects or tools.

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Data Backup Before Uninstallation

If you have custom configurations or data you want to preserve:
1

Backup Configuration

Check for Gemini CLI configuration files:
# List potential config directories
Get-ChildItem "$env:USERPROFILE\.gemini" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Get-ChildItem "$env:APPDATA\gemini-cli" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Copy any important files to a backup location before uninstalling.
2

Export Settings

If Gemini CLI has an export feature, use it before uninstalling:
gemini config export > gemini-config-backup.json
The exact export command may vary depending on your Gemini CLI configuration.

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Need Help?

If you encounter issues during uninstallation:
After complete uninstallation, you can safely reinstall Gemini CLI at any time using the automated installer or manual installation method.

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