Uninstall Whonix

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System Requirements Documentation Language Previous page: System Requirements Index page: Documentation Next page: Language Uninstall Whonix

• Uninstall Non-Qubes-Whonix
• Uninstall Qubes-Whonix

A step-by-step guide to uninstalling Whonix.

Removing Whonix

From time to time, users inquire about the process of uninstalling Whonix, possibly as a precursor to a Factory Reset (reinstallation).

Here's how to uninstall Whonix:

Note: The following instructions are generic, not unique to Whonix. They pertain to typical operations associated with virtualization software, and no additional steps are specifically required for Whonix.

1. Remove the Whonix VMs.

You can simply delete the VMs you wish to remove using the virtual machine manager graphical user interface (GUI).

• VirtualBox: Using Oracle VM VirtualBox Manager.

Figure: Whonix in Oracle VM VirtualBox Manager

Note: Screenshots might look slightly different.

Right-click on a VM name.

Figure: VirtualBox delete VM

Note: VM names will look different than in the screenshot.

• KVM: Undocumented.
• Qubes: See Uninstall Qubes-Whonix.

2. Uninstall the virtualization software.

Optional.

The method for this varies based on your host operating system. It is unspecific to Whonix and should be done according to the Self Support First Policy.

• VirtualBox: Undocumented.

sudo apt-get remove --purge virtualbox*

Optional.

sudo groupdel vboxusers vboxsf

• KVM: Undocumented.
• Qubes: See Uninstall Qubes-Whonix.

3. Remove virtualizer related files.

Optional.

• VirtualBox: See below.
• KVM: Undocumented.
• Qubes: Not applicable.

VirtualBox:

• File in the user home folder that can be considered for deletion (installer) (VirtualBox VMs folder):
  • VirtualBox VMs
    • But the user should be careful if any non-Whonix VMs were used. These are stored in the same folder.
• Hidden folder in the user home folder that can be considered for deletion (VirtualBox settings folder):
  • .config/VirtualBox
    • Similar to above.
    • Folder .config is a "hidden folder". Many file managers do not show hidden folders by default. This can usually be adjusted in the settings of the file manager.
• VirtualBox documentation: Where Oracle VM VirtualBox Stores its Files

4. Remove installer related files.

Optional.

• VirtualBox: See below.
• KVM: Undocumented.
• Qubes: Not applicable.

VirtualBox:

Only applicable if the user has used Whonix for Linux Installer.

• File in the user home folder that can be deleted (installer program): whonix-xfce-installer-cli
• Folder in the user home folder that can be deleted (installer downloaded files and logs folder): dist-installer-cli-download

5. Completion.

At this point, the uninstallation process is complete.

See Also

• Factory Reset

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