remove auth keys

**by llm**

What you’re seeing is normal Windows behavior. **Uninstalling an app does not always remove user data**, and Windscribe keeps a small amount of account info so it can restore your session.

On Windows, Windscribe can remember your username via **one (or more) of these places**:

---

## 1. AppData folders (most common)

These folders are **not deleted** when you uninstall most apps.

Check both:

```
C:\Users\<your-username>\AppData\Roaming\Windscribe
C:\Users\<your-username>\AppData\Local\Windscribe
```

(You can paste these into File Explorer’s address bar.)

These may contain:

* Config files
* Cached account info
* Login tokens (not your password in plain text)

---

## 2. Windows Registry

Windscribe also stores settings under your user registry hive.

Common locations:

```
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Windscribe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Windscribe
```

The **username is often stored here**, which is why it reappears after reinstall.

---

## 3. Windows Credential Manager (very likely)

Windscribe may store a login token here so you don’t have to re-authenticate.

Open:

```
Control Panel → Credential Manager → Windows Credentials
```

Look for entries named:

* Windscribe
* Windscribe VPN
* WindscribeService

If present, this is enough for the app to recognize your account.

---

## 4. ProgramData (less common, but possible)

```
C:\ProgramData\Windscribe
```

This folder is hidden by default.

---

## Why uninstall doesn’t remove it

Windows uninstallers usually **preserve user data on purpose** so:

* Settings are kept if you reinstall
* You don’t accidentally lose preferences

This is standard behavior, not Windscribe being sneaky.

---

## How to completely remove Windscribe data

If you want a **truly clean reinstall**:

1. Uninstall Windscribe normally
2. Reboot
3. Delete these folders (if they exist):

   ```
   %AppData%\Windscribe
   %LocalAppData%\Windscribe
   C:\ProgramData\Windscribe
   ```
4. Open **Credential Manager** and remove Windscribe entries
5. (Optional) Remove registry keys:

   ```
   HKCU\Software\Windscribe
   ```
6. Reboot again
7. Reinstall

After that, Windscribe should **not remember your username**.

---

If you want, I can also explain **exactly which file/registry value stores the username** and what format it’s in, or help you verify which one is being used on your system.