You can uninstall CS2 from your PC in a couple of minutes through the Steam library: right-click Counter-Strike 2, then choose Manage and Uninstall. Your inventory, skins, ranks and Prime status stay intact, because they are stored on your Steam account, not in the game files. If you also want the game gone from your account, that is done through Steam Support. Both methods are below, along with what to do about leftover files and configs.
During the summer 2023 beta, CS2 shipped as an add-on to CS:GO, and uninstalling it could accidentally damage the old game's files. On September 27, 2023 CS2 fully replaced CS:GO under the same Steam app, so today it is a single game and you remove it like any other.
Uninstalling CS2 from Your PC
The process takes a few minutes, depending on your drive speed. Start by removing the game through the Steam client:
Open Steam and go to your Library.
Find Counter-Strike 2 in the list and right-click it.
Choose Manage, then Uninstall.
Confirm in the dialog that appears.
Steam deletes the main game files, but configs and user files can stay behind in the game folder. The default path is C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive (CS2 inherited the folder name from CS:GO). If you installed the game to a different Steam library, find the folder with Windows search.
If the folder is still there, you can delete it by hand. If you might come back to the game later, copy the game\csgo\cfg folder with your settings first; our guide on where to find the config file in CS2 explains what is inside. There is no need to back up skins: they live in your Steam inventory and stay there.
Clearing the Steam Download Cache
After uninstalling, it is worth clearing the Steam download cache. Open the client, click Steam in the top-left corner and select Settings. In the left column open Downloads, click Clear Download Cache and confirm. Steam will restart and ask you to sign in again. Clearing the cache does not touch your installed games or your account data; it only removes temporary download files that can cause stuck or corrupted updates.
If you wanted to delete the game because of errors or crashes, try verifying the files first: right-click Counter-Strike 2 in the library, open Properties, go to the Installed Files tab and click Verify integrity of game files. That often fixes the problem, and other causes are covered in what to do if CS2 won't launch.
Removing CS2 from Your Steam Account
Uninstall only deletes the files; the game itself stays in your library. To remove Counter-Strike 2 from your account, go through Steam Support:
Launch Steam and choose Help, then Steam Support from the top menu.
Find Counter-Strike 2 among your recent products or search for it.
Select "I want to permanently remove this game from my account".
Read the terms carefully: Steam lists exactly what will be removed along with the game, including related purchases such as Prime status.
Confirm that you want to remove CS2 from your account.
What Happens After You Remove CS2
Removing the game from your account and deleting it from your PC are independent. If you remove it from your account, the files stay on your drive until you delete them yourself. The reverse is also true: deleting the files from your PC does not touch the game on your account.
Uninstalling CS2 from your PC does not affect your profile or stats: your inventory, ranks, playtime and achievements are all kept. Be more careful with removing it from your account, and check the terms on the support page first, especially if you have bought Prime.
You can get the game back at any time: CS2 is free to play, so you only need to install it again from your library or its Steam store page.
Checking CS2 After Reinstalling
If you removed the game to do a clean reinstall, make sure everything works afterwards. Restart Steam, open your Library and check that Counter-Strike 2 is listed.
Then verify the files: right-click the game, open Properties, then Installed Files, and click Verify integrity of game files. If Steam has nothing to re-download, the installation is clean. You can now put back the cfg folder you copied earlier.
Finally, launch the game, load one of the CS2 maps with bots and check the graphics and how weapon skins and agents render. If problems persist, reinstall the game to a different drive or update your graphics drivers.
What Happened to CS:GO
In summer 2023, fake reports claimed Valve would cancel CS2 and go back to CS:GO. That did not happen: CS2 launched on September 27, 2023 and replaced CS:GO under the same Steam app, with inventories carried over in full. We cover where to find CS:GO in Steam today in a separate article.
CS:GO no longer exists as a live online game, so uninstalling CS2 does not "bring back" the old version; it simply removes Counter-Strike from your PC. If you are leaving the game for good, you can sell unused items on LIS-SKINS and turn your skins into real money instead of leaving them in your inventory.
FAQ
Will I lose my skins if I uninstall CS2?
No. Skins, cases, stickers and charms are stored in the Steam inventory on your account, not in the game files. After you uninstall CS2 from your PC they stay exactly where they are: you can still trade or sell them, and they show up in the game again as soon as you reinstall it.
Can I uninstall CS2 and keep CS:GO?
No. That was only possible during the 2023 beta, when CS2 shipped as an add-on to CS:GO. Today CS2 has replaced CS:GO under the same Steam app, and there is no separate live version of CS:GO for online play, so removing CS2 removes Counter-Strike as a whole.
Should I uninstall the game if CS2 crashes or won't start?
Usually not. Verify the game files first through Properties and Installed Files, update your graphics drivers and restart Steam. A full uninstall and reinstall is only worth it if those steps don't help, since downloading the game again takes much longer than a file check.
Will I lose Prime if I remove the game?
Uninstalling CS2 from your PC keeps your Prime status, because it is tied to your account. If you remove the game from your account through Steam Support, read the list of what will be removed with it before you confirm, as that step cannot be undone from the library.
