Windows 11 and 10 - Uninstalling the PIA App in Safe Mode

If you're unable to uninstall the PIA app using the standard or alternative methods, you can remove it in Safe Mode by following the steps for your OS below. 

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Windows 11

Start Windows in Safe Mode

  1. Open the Start menu and select Settings.

Windows Start menu showing pinned apps, with the "Settings" icon highlighted by a green box.

  1. Go to System > Recovery.

Windows "System" settings menu with the "Recovery" option highlighted in a green box.

  1. Under Recovery options, find Advanced startup and click Restart now.
Windows "System > Recovery" settings screen with the "Advanced startup" option and its "Restart now" button highlighted in a green box.
  1. Select Restart now to confirm.

Windows "System > Recovery" settings screen displaying a confirmation prompt titled "We'll restart your device so save your work," with the "Restart now" button highlighted in a green box.

  1. When your PC restarts, select Troubleshoot.

Windows recovery screen titled "Choose an option," with the "Troubleshoot" tile highlighted in a green box.

  1. Then choose Advanced options.

Windows "Troubleshoot" options screen, with the "Advanced options" tile highlighted in a green box.

  1. Click Startup Settings.

Blue Windows "Advanced options" menu, with the "Startup Settings" tile highlighted in a green box.

  1. Select Restart.

Windows "Startup Settings" overview screen listing restart options, with the "Restart" button at the bottom right highlighted in a green box.

  1. After your PC restarts again, press 4 or F4 to start Safe Mode.

Windows "Startup Settings" numeric list for boot options, with option "4) Enable Safe Mode" highlighted in a green box.

Delete the PIA Installation Folder

  1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog, type %PROGRAMFILES%, and press Enter.

Windows "Run" dialog box with "%PROGRAMFILES%" entered in the open field and highlighted with a green box.

  1. Open the Private Internet Access folder.

Windows File Explorer view of the "Program Files" directory on "Local Disk (C:)", with the "Private Internet Access" folder highlighted by a green box.

  1. Right-click the folder and select Delete. 

Important: Only delete the Private Internet Access folder. Deleting other folders in Program Files may affect Windows or other installed applications.

Remove the PIA Network Adapter

  1. Press Windows + R, type devmgmt.msc and press Enter.
Windows "Run" dialog box with "devmgmt.msc" typed into the open field and highlighted with a green box.
  1. Select the arrow next to Network adapters to expand the list.

Windows "Device Manager" window displaying the list of hardware categories, with the "Network adapters" entry expanded and highlighted by a green box.

  1. Locate PIA Tunnel.

Windows "Device Manager" window showing the expanded "Network adapters" list, with the "PIA Tunnel" network adapter highlighted by a green box.

  1. Right-click it and select Uninstall device.

Windows "Device Manager" window with the right-click context menu open for "PIA Tunnel," highlighting the "Uninstall device" option inside a green box.

  1. If prompted, check Attempt to remove the driver for this device (if available) and click Uninstall.
Windows "Uninstall Device" confirmation popup for "PIA Tunnel," with both the "Attempt to remove the driver for this device" checkbox and the "Uninstall" button highlighted in green boxes.

If you don't see the adapter under Network adapters, expand Other devices (if present) and check whether a PIA or TAP adapter is listed there.

Note: Older versions of the PIA app may have installed a TAP-Windows Adapter. If you see one and you're no longer using software that depends on it, you can uninstall it using the same steps.

Restart Your Computer

  1. Shut down your PC completely. Don’t use Restart.
  2. Wait at least 30 seconds.
  3. Turn your PC back on normally. 

The PIA app should now be completely removed from your system. If you continue to experience issues, please contact the PIA Support team for further assistance.
 

Windows 10

Step 1: Reboot the Computer into Safe Mode

1: Navigate to Start > Settings.

2: Click on Update & Security.

3: Click on the Recovery tab.

4: Click on Restart now.

5: Click on Troubleshoot.

6: Click on Advanced options.

7: Click on Startup Settings.

8: Click on Restart.

9: Press the number associated with Enable Safe Mode.

Step 2: Open Run Window

Press and hold the Windows key then the R key on your keyboard. This will open the "Run" dialog window.

Step 3: Program File Search

Within the Run dialog window type in %PROGRAMFILES% and click OK or hit the Enter key on your keyboard. The Program File Window should then appear.

Step 4: Locate Client

If you are running our stable client (v1.0 or above) locate the C:\Program Files\Private Internet Access folder (if applicable)

1.  Once you have located the file right-click the file and select Delete.

Important: Do not touch any other folder in this directory. This could seriously damage your system.

Delete TAP Adapter(s)

Step 1: Open Run Window

Press and hold the Windows then R on your keyboard to open the "Run" dialog window.

Step 2: Device Manager search

Within the Run dialog window type in devmgmt.msc and click OK or hit the Enter key on your keyboard. The Device Manager window should appear after a few seconds.

Step 3: Network Adapters

Within the Device Manager Window click on the > arrow next to the Network Adapters section.

Step 4: Application Adapters

Within this section locate and right-click on one or each of the following adapters(s):

Private Internet Access Network Adapter

Step 5: Select Uninstall Adapters

Once you have located the adapters right click on them and select Uninstall. A new window will appea

Step 6: Confirmation Window

Within the Uninstall window you will need to check the box for Delete the driver software for this device.

Step 7: Uninstall

Once ready, you will then need to click OK or Uninstall.

Note: If there are any other "TAP" adapters listed here, uninstall them in the same manner. For example: TAP-Win32 Adapter.

If you do not see any TAP adapters listed here:

  • Look for Other Devices or Unknown Devices and click on it if present within the Device Manager window
  • Right-click each Unknown Device, click Properties, and check if it is a "TAP" device. If it is, uninstall it.

When the changes above are complete, power off your computer completely (do not use restart). Wait at least 30 seconds, then power your computer back up.

The PIA app should now be completely removed from your system. If you continue to experience issues, please contact the PIA Support team for further assistance.

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