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How to Uninstall PIA VPN

PIA VPN Software Uninstallation

Although a VPN (a virtual private network) seems infallible and has become a part of our digital well-being, there are many concerns. As the number of vendors keeps growing, the standard for quality fluctuates. Plus, numerous users are unsure what a “proper” network of this type should offer. Consequently, many outstanding VPNs fail to retain a user because the service is unsatisfactory. True or not, the direct outcome states that users are more outspoken with this technology recently. Also, they often need to uninstall it before signing up for a new provider, and Private Internet Access VPN is a good example. Thus, let’s show how to uninstall PIA VPN.

What does the uninstallation process for PIA include?

Uninstalling a VPN client can be easy or tedious, depending on the service. Although the procedure doesn’t require in-depth technical knowledge, there are times when, even after a successful uninstallation, the residual files remain hidden on a device, creating conflict with the next VPN client. Thus, a user must take necessary care when removing the software. We provided the procedures to uninstall PIA VPN sorted by the platform below.

Note — If you change your mind and want to come back to PIA, we have a guide on using Private Internet Access and how to renew PIA. To learn more about the service kindly read our detailed PIA review. Additionally, to dig deeper into uninstalling PIA VPN, kindly refer to the official PIA website.

Uninstalling PIA on Windows

First up is the renowned desktop platform, Windows. There are two different methods one can adopt:

Using the built-in app functionality to uninstall

You can use the in-app uninstaller on the client to safely remove the software from your Windows device. All you have to do is:

  1. Ensure that you have successfully disconnected the VPN.
    • To disconnect a VPN, all you need to do is to click on the Connect button and the connection will terminate.
    • You can also use the system tray or other system functions as the task manager to ensure that the VPN is not running in the background. Right-click on the app icon in the system tray and select Disconnect.
  2. You need to access the Advanced Setting on your client.
    • Open the client and look for three dots in the top right corner of the screen and click them.
    • You can also access the Advanced Setting window by right-clicking on the app icon in the system tray.
  3. Now locate and click on the Help tab.
  4. You will find different subsections in this menu. Look under the “Maintenance” title and click on the Uninstall Private Internet Access hyperlink.
  5. The link will directly boot up the in-app uninstaller within the PIA client. Now, all you need to do is follow the on-screen instructions and select Yes if prompted anywhere in between till you reach the final screen.
  6. Click on Finish and reboot the device as recommended. The good thing is that you don’t have to worry bout the leftover files anymore.

Manually removing PIA Windows software

Although our recommended method involves the in-app client, there are instances when this fails to work. In such cases, we prefer uninstalling the client manually by following the instructions below:

  1. Disconnect the VPN connection. You can follow the steps detailed in the previous approach.
  2. Now you need to exit the app successfully.
    • You can do so, by relying on the system tray, or by using Windows Task Manager. Right-click on the app icon and select Exit.
    • You can also click on the three dots in the top right of the app menu before selecting Exit.
  3. Open the Run Window by pressing the Windows key + R on your keyboard. Alternatively, you can also access it via the Start menu > Search.
  4. Now type the following in the Run Window: %PROGRAMFILES%. Click on OK, and it will open the Program File window.
  5. Now locate the folder you installed PIA. By default, the address should be C:\Program Files\Private Internet Access folder.
  6. After that, directly delete the folder by right-clicking on it and selecting Delete.
  7. It’s now time to get rid of the leftover files. Once again, open the Run window.
  8. Then type devmgmt.msc to open Device Manager.
  9. Locate and click on Network Adapters.
  10. From the drop-down menu, select the Private Internet Access folder.
  11. Right-click on the folder and select Uninstall device.
  12. If prompted, select Uninstall then OK.
  13. Once it is finished, shut down your PC and wait at least a minute before rebooting.

Uninstall Private Internet Access VPN for macOS

We will now explain two techniques to uninstall PIA on macOS.

Deleting the VPN client

The steps for the in-app uninstallation are the same as on Windows. Although the functions are a bit different, here is a quick overview:

  1. Disconnect the VPN service.
  2. Go to the Advanced Settings.
  3. Locate Help and click the “Uninstall Public Internet Access hyperlink”.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions until a successful uninstallation.

Using Terminal for removal

Those who have problems with the in-app uninstaller can use the macOS Terminal to delete the PIA client. Follow these instructions:

  1. Exit the software.
  2. Move the app from the Application folder to the Trash.
  3. Now empty the Trash.
  4. You have to run the Terminal like this:
    1. Go back to the “Application” folder and click on Utilities.
    2. Locate the Terminal within “Utilities”.
  5. Enter the following commands in that order:
    • sudo launchctl unload /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.privateinternetaccess.vpn.daemon.plist
    • sudo rm -rf /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.privateinternetaccess.vpn.daemon.plist
    • sudo rm -rf /Applications/Private Internet Access.app/
  6. After you have removed the PIA app from your Mac, close the Terminal and shut down the system. Wait at least 60 seconds before a reboot.

PIA VPN uninstallation on Linux

It is time to get rid of PIA on the Linux platform. Let us look at how it’s done.

Removing PIA VPN within the app

Since the process to uninstall PIA from the VPN client remains the same for Linux as well, we won’t repeat it. Simply follow the steps in the previous two examples to delete PIA from your Linux machine.

Using the Linux Terminal to uninstall PIA

Now we will demonstrate the use of a Linux Terminal to remove PIA from a computer:

  1. Ensure the disconnection of the VPN and exit the app.
    • The process is the same as previously described.
  2. Now, run the Terminal by pressing the Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard.
  3. After that, enter the following commands:
    • rm -rf ~/.config/privateinternetaccess
    • rm -rf ~/.config/PrivateInternetAccess
  4. Enter this one to finish it off: sudo rm -rf /opt/piavpn
  5. Now the device will ask you for the Linux admin password. Enter yours and input this final code: sudo rm -rf /usr/share/applications/piavpn.desktop

Removing the Private Internet Access VPN Android app

With the updates Android has gotten over the years, it became far easier to uninstall an app. Here’s how to proceed:

  1. Tap and hold the PIA app icon till it floats.
  2. Now either a menu will appear or you will find the “Uninstall” section on the top/bottom of your screen.
  3. Simply drag the app to this section, or tap the “Uninstall” option on the menu.
  4. The device will prompt you for confirmation. Select Yes and PIA will be uninstalled.

PIA VPN iOS uninstallation

It is equally easy for iOS users to uninstall an app as it is for Android ones. This is the process:

  1. Tap and hold the PIA app icon.
  2. A floating X will appear on the icon. Touch the X.
  3. Now the device will prompt for confirmation.
  4. Select Delete and PIA will be uninstalled.