This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Cory Stillman. Cory Stillman is a Technology Writer for wikiHow. Cory has experience writing about Film and TV for several online publications, including Screen Rant and Film Cred. He earned a degree in Film and Media Studies with a minor in Creative Writing and certificates in Global Studies and Children’s Literature from the University of Pittsburgh.
This article has been viewed 4,731 times.
Learn more...
If you ever decide to uninstall FACEIT from your Windows PC or Mac, doing so is quite easy. FACEIT is one of the most popular esports platforms today, but you may not want it on your computer forever. However, some users report problems with lingering FACEIT files after uninstalling the client. Removing those files just requires a few extra steps. If you want to keep FACEIT but uninstall its mandatory Anti-Cheat software, keep in mind this will prohibit you from playing most games and participating in most tournaments on the platform. This wikiHow article covers everything you need to know about uninstalling FACEIT from your computer.
Things You Should Know
- The FACEIT Anti-Cheat Client cannot be uninstalled without compromising your ability to participate in FACEIT games and tournaments.
- Use your PC's Control Panel to uninstall FACEIT.
- Use the Windows Registry Editor to delete any lingering FACEIT files after uninstalling.
- Mac users can uninstall FACEIT from the Finder app, and then search for any lingering files by going to the Library folder and then the Preferences or Application Support folders.
Steps
What is FACEIT?
-
1FACEIT is an esports platform founded in London in 2012. FACEIT merged with ESL Gaming in 2022. The two companies are set to become ESL FACEIT after being acquired by Savvy Gaming Group, which is owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment fund. While there have been no known privacy invasions, the Saudi acquisition of FACEIT has prompted many users to uninstall the service over concerns of data security and freedom of speech. The company administers leagues for several popular games:
- Counter Strike: Global Offensive
- Team Fortress 2
- League of Legends
- DOTA 2
- Rocket League
- Krunker
- Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
-
2The FACEIT Anti-Cheat Client is required to play games on the platform. FACEIT offers a proprietary Anti-Cheat client that protects its tournaments from cheaters and tracks players' behavior over time. While the Anti-Cheat can be uninstalled or disabled, FACEIT will prompt you to install/activate it next time you open the platform to play a game.[1]
- Some users consider the Anti-Cheat's requested permissions to be invasive, as the software must run on your computer at all times. Players must ultimately weigh these concerns against their willingness to participate in FACEIT tournaments.
- The Anti-Cheat currently only applies to TF2, CS:GO, and Krunker.
Uninstall from Windows
-
1Open your PC's Control Panel. You can find it by clicking on the Windows Start button in the bottom-left corner of your screen. Type "control panel" into the given search field and click to open the app.
-
2Click Programs and Features. This should open a list of all installed programs on your PC.
-
3Click FACEIT. Scroll until you find FACEIT listed. Once you find it, click on it to highlight it.
-
4Click Uninstall atop the list of items. Windows will open the FACEIT uninstaller and walk you though its uninstallation process. Proceed through each step until the process is complete.
-
5Restart your computer. To complete the process and remove any lingering files, restart your computer. When your computer reboots, FACEIT and all associated files should be gone.
-
6Delete lingering files from the registry. If the FACEIT AC service is still running after deleting and rebooting, you can remove the remaining FACEIT registry keys. Here's how:
- Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and then press Enter.
- Editing the registry can be a bit tricky. To ensure that you do not accidentally lose any crucial material, back up your registry before continuing.
- Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services.
- If you see any FACEIT entries, right-click them and select Delete.
- Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
Uninstall FACEIT on Mac
-
1
-
2Click Applications in the sidebar of the Finder page. That is where most applications on your Mac should be.
-
3Locate FACEIT. It should be among the applications listed.
- You can also use Spotlight to search for FACEIT directly.
-
4Drag FACEIT to the Trash. The Trash is located in the bottom right corner of your screen.
- You may have to enter your Apple username and password to confirm this action.[2]
-
5Select Empty Trash within Finder. Items in your Trash are not yet deleted. Chose "Empty Trash" within Finder to fully delete FACEIT.
-
6Delete lingering files. If you want to make sure FACEIT is completely deleted, you can delete any FACEIT files remaining on your Mac. Here's how:
- Click Library in the left sidebar of Finder.
- Open the Application Support folder.
- If you see any folders relevant to FACEIT, you can delete them safely.
- Return to your Library and open the Preferences folder.
- Delete any files or folders relating to FACEIT.
Delete Your FACEIT Account
-
1Visit https://support.faceit.com/hc/en-us/requests/new. If you want to delete your FACEIT account in addition to removing the software on your computer, you will need to submit a request with FACEIT support.
- FACEIT must approve your request to delete your account to ensure users do not repeatedly delete accounts to create new ones and avoid bans.
-
2Fill out the contact form. Enter your account info in the relevant fields. Select GDPR as your "Contact Reason" and then Personal Data Removal. In the "Subject" field, type something along the lines of "REQUEST TO DELETE ACCOUNT".
- "GDPR" refers to the EU's General Data Protection Regulation, which guarantees your right to having your data removed from FACEIT's servers.
- In the "Description" box, detail your request to delete your account. Also include the following information:
- First and last name
- Birthdate
- Phone number (if attached to account)
-
3Attach a photo. In the "Attachments" section, include a photo of yourself. This does not need to be a government-issued ID, but rather any picture of yourself to verify your identity.
-
4Await FACEIT's response. FACEIT should respond to requests of data removal rather quickly (within 24 hours).
- Users have a one-month probation period during which you may change your mind if you want your account back. You may not create a new account with the same e-mail address in the interim.
- After the one-month period, your data will be deleted permanently.
- The only data FACEIT retains is your online nickname. This is done to protect the competition's integrity should you ever return to the platform.