How to uninstall R and RStudio with all packages, settings and everything else?

I messed up something and there is a problem with tidyverse. Tried to find a solution but spend lots of time without result.

How to uninstall R and RStudio with all packages, settings and everything else on Windows. I tried to uninstall through Windows uninstall menu and after I installed R and RStudio again same packages appeared as they were installed before. How can I erase everything related to R and RStudio so I be able to make a fresh install?


I have further issues with the previous answer. For that reason, I have extended the answer with further steps (which I experienced currently) as below:

  1. Uninstall R, RStudio and RTools from Windows "Programs and Features" menu.

  2. Delete everything in folders that was shown after running .libPaths() instruction in R to know where R packages are installed. In my case, it looks like:

    .libPaths()

    1 "C:/Users/%USERNAME%/Documents/R/win-library/3.6" "C:/Program Files/R/R-3.6.3/library"

Therefore, I have manually deleted following files and folders (they remain there after full uninstallation of R, RStudio and RTools) as well:

- C:\Users\%USERNAME%\Documents\R\
- C:\Users\%USERNAME%\Documents\.Rhistory
- Various files and folders under C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Temp related with R and RStudio sessions.
  1. Delete everything in C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\RStudio-Desktop

  2. Delete everything in C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\rstudio

Then you can move on the re-installation side for R (after suggested reboot of Windows) as below. In order (please): Download R for Windows and RStudio Desktop. (If you need, download also RTools)

  • Install R
  • Install RTools (if you need)
  • Install RStudio.

  1. Run .libPaths() and save the two directories shown on the console

  2. Uninstall R and RStudio from Windows "Programs and Features" menu.

  3. Delete everything in folders that was shown after running .libPaths() in R.

  4. Delete everything in c:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\RStudio-Desktop\

  5. Install R and after Rstudio.

All packages where deleted and I think all Rstudio settings too.