> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://elephas.app/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Uninstall Elephas from Mac or Windows

> Remove Elephas from your Mac or Windows PC. Learn what uninstalling leaves behind: your data folder and the keys in Keychain or Windows Credential Manager.

To uninstall Elephas, quit it and remove the app: drag it to the Trash on Mac, or uninstall it from Settings on Windows. Uninstalling removes the program only. Your Brains, documents and chats stay in the Elephas data folder until you delete it yourself.

## Before you start

* **Decide whether to keep your data.** If you might reinstall, keep the data folder. Elephas picks up where you left off.
* **If you use Personal Sync,** make sure another computer is syncing and **Up to date** before you delete anything. If this is your only synced computer, deleting its data deletes the only key to your synced data. See [Sync recovery](/docs/sync-and-devices/sync-recovery).
* **If you are leaving this computer for good,** remove it from your account first. With Sync, revoke it from another synced computer. See [Remove a device](/docs/sync-and-devices/remove-a-device). Uninstalling does not free its place on your plan.
* **Keep your original files.** Elephas has no export today.

## Steps

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Mac">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Quit Elephas">
        Choose **Elephas › Quit Elephas**, or press **⌘Q**.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Move the app to the Trash">
        Open your **Applications** folder and drag **Elephas** to the Trash. Empty the Trash.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Delete your data (optional)">
        In Finder, choose **Go › Go to Folder**, paste the path below, and press Return. Move the **Elephas Next** folder to the Trash and empty it.

        ```
        ~/Library/Application Support/Elephas Next
        ```

        This folder also holds downloaded models and any update waiting to install.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Remove the stored keys (optional)">
        Open **Keychain Access**, search for "Elephas Next", and delete the entries. Only do this if you deleted the data folder too.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Windows">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Quit Elephas">
        Close the Elephas window, or choose **File › Close Window**, and make sure Elephas is no longer running.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Uninstall the app">
        Open **Settings › Apps › Installed apps** (Windows 11) or **Settings › Apps › Apps & features** (Windows 10). Find **Elephas**, choose **Uninstall**, and confirm. No administrator rights are needed.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Delete your data (optional)">
        Press Windows + R, paste the path below, press Enter, and delete the folder that opens. Then do the same for the second path, which holds downloaded models.

        ```
        %APPDATA%\Elephas Next
        ```

        ```
        %LOCALAPPDATA%\Elephas Next
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step title="Remove the stored keys (optional)">
        Open **Credential Manager** from the Start menu, choose **Windows Credentials**, and remove the entries that mention "Elephas Next". Only do this if you deleted the data folders too.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## What uninstalling leaves behind

| Left behind | Where | What it holds |
| - | - | - |
| Data folder | Mac: `~/Library/Application Support/Elephas Next`. Windows: `%APPDATA%\Elephas Next` | Elephas's copies of your documents, your Brains, chats and index (in an encrypted database), settings and logs |
| Models folder (Windows only) | `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Elephas Next` | Downloaded search, OCR, private-information and Local AI models. On Mac these are inside the data folder. |
| Stored keys | Keychain (Mac) or Credential Manager (Windows), under "Elephas Next" | The keys that unlock your database, your sign-in session, any API keys you added, and sync device keys |
| Your account | Elephas's servers | Your plan, your devices and, if you used Sync, your encrypted synced data |

See [Where your data is stored](/docs/privacy-and-security/where-your-data-is-stored) for a full tour of the folder.

<Warning>
  Deleting the stored keys while keeping the data folder makes your local Elephas data unreadable. Delete both, or neither.
</Warning>

## How it works

* **Reinstalling over a kept data folder** brings everything back. Elephas treats it as the same computer, so it keeps its place on your plan and its Sync membership.
* **Reinstalling after deleting the data folder** gives you a fresh start. Elephas treats it as a new computer: it needs a place on your plan, and if you use Sync, it joins again by approval from another computer. See [Add a computer](/docs/sync-and-devices/add-a-device-to-sync).
* **Your plan continues.** Uninstalling does not cancel your subscription. See [Cancel your subscription](/docs/plans-and-billing/cancel-subscription).
* **Deleting your account is separate.** See [Delete your data and account](/docs/privacy-and-security/delete-your-data-and-account).

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Elephas still shows up after reinstalling">
    Your data folder was kept, so Elephas picks up where you left off. To start fresh, delete the data folder and the stored keys before reinstalling.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The new install says my account is in use on another device">
    Uninstalling did not free the old place on your plan. Use **Use This Device Instead** in **Settings › Plan & Billing**. See [Move to a new computer](/docs/sync-and-devices/move-to-a-new-computer).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I can't find the Library folder on Mac">
    It is hidden by default. Use **Go › Go to Folder** in Finder and paste the full path.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Related articles

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Delete your data and account" href="/docs/privacy-and-security/delete-your-data-and-account" />

  <Card title="Where your data is stored" href="/docs/privacy-and-security/where-your-data-is-stored" />

  <Card title="Remove a device" href="/docs/sync-and-devices/remove-a-device" />

  <Card title="Update Elephas" href="/docs/getting-started/update-elephas" />
</CardGroup>


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