Gaming · Platform not recorded
Fix Epic Games Launcher Saying It Is Still Running During Uninstall
Source-checked About 10 minutes
Answer
When Windows says the Epic Games Launcher is still running, Epic's current fix is to end the hanging Epic Games Launcher process in Task Manager and then retry the uninstall. This is for that specific running-process message, not every Windows uninstall failure.
Read the uninstall message
Confirm that Windows says the Epic Games Launcher is currently running. If Windows shows another error, do not assume this process-only fix applies.
Close the Launcher normally
Exit Epic Games Launcher from its window and wait briefly. Do not uninstall while a game update or download is visibly active.
Open Task Manager
Right-click an empty part of the Windows taskbar and choose Task Manager. This is the Epic-documented way to find a Launcher process that remains in the background.
Find Epic Games Launcher
Select the Processes tab and locate Epic Games Launcher. Check the name carefully so you do not end an unrelated application.
End the hanging process
Right-click Epic Games Launcher and choose End Task. This stops the background process that can prevent Windows from uninstalling the Launcher.
Retry the uninstall
Return to Windows' uninstall flow and retry removing Epic Games Launcher. Read the next Windows message before taking any other action.
Protect installed-game access
If the Launcher uninstall succeeds, remember that removing the Launcher can affect access to installed games. Do not delete game folders manually unless you intentionally want to remove them too.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- If Epic Games Launcher is not listed in Task Manager or Windows gives a different uninstall error, stop. This article does not verify a repair for other Windows installer failures.
- Do not use registry cleaners or third-party uninstall tools to force removal. They are not part of Epic's documented fix for the currently-running message.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Platform not recorded.
Follow the linked first-party guidance if labels differ after a platform or app update.