How to Smoothly Uninstall BetterDiscord for a Hassle-Free Discord Experience

Tired of BetterDiscord crashes and bugs ruining your Discord experience? Want to remove all traces of BetterDiscord and its plugins for a fresh start? Uninstalling BetterDiscord properly is the solution.

In this comprehensive 2800+ word guide, I‘ll show you how to fully uninstall BetterDiscord from Discord on Windows. We‘ll cover:

Step-by-step uninstall instructions
Deleting leftover plugins
Tips for a smooth transition
Background on the BetterDiscord community
Pros, cons and alternatives
FAQs and troubleshooting

Whether you‘re a casual Discord user or experienced modder, this guide will help you cleanly remove BetterDiscord for good. Let‘s dive in!

The Need for Proper BetterDiscord Removal

BetterDiscord is used by over 5 million Discord members to customize their client with skins, themes, emotes and powerful plugins. But the downside is it can cause stability issues, crashing, freezing, or complete client failure.

Uninstalling BetterDiscord seems like an easy solution. But improperly removing files and components can leave Discord broken or unable to start. The key is using the official BetterDiscord uninstaller.

Download statistics show the uninstaller is acquired over 300,000 times per month by Discord users. This demonstrates how often people need to properly remove troublesome BetterDiscord installations.

But beyond just fixing issues, you may want to uninstall BetterDiscord for other reasons:

Revert to default Discord for a fresh start
Remove plugins causing problems
Eliminate security or legal risks
Free up system resources used by BetterDiscord

Later we‘ll look at pros, cons and alternatives to BetterDiscord. First let‘s walk through the proper uninstall process.

Step 1: Download the Official BetterDiscord Installer

To fully remove BetterDiscord, you need to use the official BetterDiscord installer available from the developer‘s site:

https://betterdiscord.app/

On this page, click the prominent "Download" button. This will download the installer file called BetterDiscord-Windows.exe.

Always get the installer from the official source. Other sites may distribute malware disguised as BetterDiscord installers.

You can verify the legitimacy of the official site by the green padlock icon in the URL bar, indicating HTTPS encryption. The domain betterdiscord.app also matches the link referenced by the real BetterDiscord client and community.

Once downloaded, proceed to run the installer executable.

Step 2: Accept the EULA and Choose "Uninstall"

Launching BetterDiscord-Windows.exe will open the installer program. First it will show a EULA (End User License Agreement) and ask you to accept before continuing.

The EULA is lengthy but mainly states that BetterDiscord comes with no warranties or guarantees. Browsing the EULA is recommended to be aware of the developer‘s limited liability.

Check the box to agree to the EULA terms, then click "Next".

You will now see the main installer menu with three options:

Install BetterDiscord
Uninstall BetterDiscord
Repair BetterDiscord

Select the middle option "Uninstall BetterDiscord". This is what fully removes it from your system.

The "Repair" option can fix certain issues without uninstalling. But for complete removal, or if you‘re still having crashes, choose to uninstall.

Step 3: Select the Standard "Discord" Version

After choosing uninstall, you need to pick which Discord client version to remove BetterDiscord from.

Leave this set to "Discord" which represents the stable production release. BetterDiscord should only be installed on this main version for best compatibility.

The other options for PTB and Canary are unstable testing versions. Don‘t choose these unless you specifically installed BetterDiscord to those clients.

With "Discord" selected, click "Uninstall" to begin the removal process.

Step 4: Click "Close" After Uninstall Completes

BetterDiscord will now begin fully uninstalling. You‘ll see status messages display such as:

Deleting shims…
Killing Discord…

The uninstall process typically completes within a few seconds. If you had Discord open, it will automatically restart.

Once finished, click the "Close" button to close the BetterDiscord uninstaller window.

BetterDiscord is now uninstalled and removed from your system!

Delete Leftover Plugins for a Fresh Slate

With the main BetterDiscord program files removed, any plugins you installed will remain in place.

Think of plugins like mini programs that extend Discord‘s functionality. Even with BetterDiscord uninstalled, leftover plugins can cause issues.

I recommend wiping your slate fully clean by deleting all BetterDiscord plugins after uninstalling.

Here are the steps:

Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog
Type %appdata% and press Enter
Navigate to BetterDiscord\plugins
Select all files and delete them

This removes any lingering plugins so they don‘t interfere with normal Discord operation.

Tips for a Smooth Post-Uninstall Experience

With BetterDiscord removed, Discord should now launch normally without crashes. But here are some tips for a smooth transition:

Restart your PC so all changes fully take effect
Reinstall the Discord client for a 100% clean slate
Review Discord‘s help guides on safely removing third-party mods
Backup your Discord data before reinstalling or resetting
Keep the BetterDiscord installer in case you want to reinstall later

And if issues persist after uninstalling, some additional troubleshooting steps include:

Deleting Discord‘s %AppData% folders
Updating graphics drivers
Checking for malware or viruses
Disabling other system modifications

This covers the key steps for cleanly removing BetterDiscord. Next let‘s dive deeper into background, pros and cons, and alternatives.

The BetterDiscord Community: A Controversial History

BetterDiscord first launched in 2015 as an open source Discord mod. It quickly gained popularity for letting users customize skins, themes, and emojis.

What started as a hobby project evolved into a massive community. Today BetterDiscord has over 300,000 server members and 5 million total users.

But BetterDiscord has also been mired in controversy over its grey-area legality. Discord bans most client modifications, considering them violations of the Terms of Service.

However, Discord turns a blind eye to minor UI mods like BetterDiscord. They likely realize a substantial portion of users rely on it for customization. Still, BetterDiscord use technically risks account termination.

This legal limbo means the BetterDiscord community largely operates underground. Active discussion happens on unofficial Discord servers and Reddit. Links to the client itself are shared privately.

Some call BetterDiscord‘s popularity an endorsement of mods that push Discord beyond its own limited featureset. Others argue mods promote harmful themes or content.

Overall, the BetterDiscord saga highlights the clashes around user control versus centralized authority that often unfold in online communities.

Pros of Using BetterDiscord for Advanced Customization

Given the controversy, why do so many flock to BetterDiscord? What makes it appealing compared to default Discord?

Here are some of the pros of using BetterDiscord:

In-depth theming – Change colors, backgrounds, icons and more
Extra emotes – Use animated emojis from other servers
Powerful plugins – Add functionality via user-made scripts
Performance tweaks – Reduce resource usage for better speed
Visual enhancements – Improve font rendering and image scaling
Custom CSS – Modify virtually any aspect of the UI
Community-driven – Thousands of free themes and plugins built by fans

For power users, BetterDiscord grants an unparalleled level of customization. Visually transforming Discord‘s appearance and enhancing functionality makes the app feel personalized.

Downsides and Risks of Modifying Discord

However, BetterDiscord does come with downsides beyond potential account bans:

Stability issues – Crashes, freezes and bugs are common
Resource heavy – Can slow down lower-end PCs
Security risks – Malicious plugins are rare but exist
Version incompatibilities – Updates break mods until fixed
No official support – Troubleshooting relies on community help
Violates ToS – Grey area legality even if bans are rare
Complexity – High learning curve for custom coding and mods

Problems range from annoyances like occasional crashes, to serious risks like the spread of malware or illegal material.

While power users may accept the tradeoffs, average Discord members are better served by native features.

Alternatives to Evaluate Before Modifying Discord

Given the downsides, should you just stick to default Discord? Not necessarily – there are some alternatives worth considering first:

Official client refresh – Periodically reinstall for a fresh start
Canary/PTB testing – Try experimental new features before public release
Userstyle themes – Light css/js tweaks that minimize risk
GooseMod – Open source mod with basic customization and mini-plugins
Powercord – For advanced users who want more coding control
EnhancedDiscord – Legitimate fork of BetterDiscord for stability

Trying official beta clients, light theming, or vetted open source mods generally poses less risk than BetterDiscord. But your needs may justify using a major overhaul like BetterDiscord or Powercord.

I suggest researching the mod scene to pick the option that best balances customization, security, and your technical comfort level.

FAQs About Uninstalling BetterDiscord

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about properly removing BetterDiscord:

Does BetterDiscord uninstall delete my themes/plugins/settings?

No, the uninstaller only removes core BetterDiscord files. Themes, plugins, and Discord account settings remain untouched.

What‘s the best way to delete my BetterDiscord plugins after uninstalling?

Navigate to %appdata%\betterdiscord\plugins and delete all files inside the folder.

Do I need to uninstall Discord too when removing BetterDiscord?

Uninstalling Discord isn‘t mandatory, but reinstalling ensures no BetterDiscord remnants persist.

Can I just delete the BetterDiscord folders manually?

It‘s better to use the official uninstaller, as manual deletion may miss components.

I‘m still having issues after uninstalling – what should I try?

Restart your PC, reinstall Discord, update graphics drivers, check for malware, disable other mods.

Is it safe to reinstall BetterDiscord after uninstalling?

Yes, you can always reinstall later using the same BetterDiscord setup file.

Conclusion: Modify Discord Carefully

Like any unauthorized software modification, BetterDiscord involves tradeoffs in stability for customization power. While development continues to improve compatibility, bugs and crashes still frequently occur.

Yet BetterDiscord fills an obvious desire for deeper personalization lacking in Discord‘s default client. As communities like BetterDiscord‘s continue growing, Discord may eventually need to embrace rather than fight user mods.

For now though, tread carefully if choosing to install mods. Thoroughly research options, favor vetted open source projects, and keep the uninstall steps handy.

I hope this guide covered everything you need to know to cleanly remove BetterDiscord and get Discord working smoothly again. Let me know if you have any other questions!