114 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
114 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
remove auth keys
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**by llm**
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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.
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On Windows, Windscribe can remember your username via **one (or more) of these places**:
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---
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## 1. AppData folders (most common)
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These folders are **not deleted** when you uninstall most apps.
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Check both:
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```
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C:\Users\<your-username>\AppData\Roaming\Windscribe
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C:\Users\<your-username>\AppData\Local\Windscribe
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```
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(You can paste these into File Explorer’s address bar.)
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These may contain:
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* Config files
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* Cached account info
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* Login tokens (not your password in plain text)
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---
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## 2. Windows Registry
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Windscribe also stores settings under your user registry hive.
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Common locations:
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```
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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Windscribe
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HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Windscribe
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```
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The **username is often stored here**, which is why it reappears after reinstall.
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---
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## 3. Windows Credential Manager (very likely)
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Windscribe may store a login token here so you don’t have to re-authenticate.
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Open:
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```
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Control Panel → Credential Manager → Windows Credentials
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```
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Look for entries named:
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* Windscribe
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* Windscribe VPN
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* WindscribeService
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If present, this is enough for the app to recognize your account.
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---
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## 4. ProgramData (less common, but possible)
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```
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C:\ProgramData\Windscribe
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```
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This folder is hidden by default.
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---
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## Why uninstall doesn’t remove it
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Windows uninstallers usually **preserve user data on purpose** so:
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* Settings are kept if you reinstall
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* You don’t accidentally lose preferences
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This is standard behavior, not Windscribe being sneaky.
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---
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## How to completely remove Windscribe data
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If you want a **truly clean reinstall**:
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1. Uninstall Windscribe normally
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2. Reboot
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3. Delete these folders (if they exist):
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```
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%AppData%\Windscribe
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%LocalAppData%\Windscribe
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C:\ProgramData\Windscribe
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```
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4. Open **Credential Manager** and remove Windscribe entries
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5. (Optional) Remove registry keys:
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```
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HKCU\Software\Windscribe
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```
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6. Reboot again
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7. Reinstall
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After that, Windscribe should **not remember your username**.
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---
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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.
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