Desinstalar

Desinstalar is a verb used in Portuguese and Spanish to describe the removal of software or components from a computer or device. Etymologically, it combines de- (undo or remove) with instalar (to install), with instalar derived from the Latin instalare. The noun forms vary by language: desinstalação in Portuguese and desinstalación in Spanish.

In computing, desinstalar refers to the process of removing a program, plugin, update, or extension. A complete uninstallation typically deletes the program files and many configuration data. However, some remnants such as user data, preferences, or license information may persist depending on the software and the uninstallation method. Disabling or removing shortcuts is not the same as desinstalar, since disabling merely stops the program from running.

Platform-specific methods are common. In Windows, the path is usually Settings > Apps > Apps & features, select a program, then Uninstall (or use Control Panel > Programs and Features > Uninstall). On macOS, applications are often removed by moving the application to the Trash from the Applications folder, though some apps provide dedicated uninstallers. On Linux distributions, uninstallation is performed through the package manager, for example sudo apt remove or sudo apt purge on Debian-based systems, sudo dnf remove on Fedora, or sudo pacman -Rns on Arch. On mobile devices, Android and iOS offer uninstall options from the system settings or by deleting the app from the home screen.

Notes include the potential need to deactivate licenses, back up data, and verify whether residual files exist. Reinstallation remains possible if needed.