Uninstall Tampermonkey Completely: Simple Guide!

Tampermonkey, a popular userscript manager, empowers browser customization. Userscripts, like those found on Greasy Fork, extend browser functionality. However, sometimes the need arises to uninstall Tampermonkey. This guide will provide clear instructions, ensuring clean removal from browsers like Chrome.

Uninstall Tampermonkey Completely: Simple Guide!

This guide provides comprehensive instructions on how to completely uninstall Tampermonkey from your web browser. We’ll cover removing the extension itself, deleting associated data, and cleaning up any leftover files to ensure a clean uninstall.

Understanding Tampermonkey and Why Uninstall Completely

Tampermonkey is a popular userscript manager used to enhance web browsing. Sometimes, you might need to uninstall it completely, whether it’s due to troubleshooting, switching to a different extension, or simply no longer needing it. A complete uninstall is crucial to avoid potential conflicts with future extensions or browser performance issues.

Uninstalling Tampermonkey from Your Browser

The primary method for uninstalling Tampermonkey involves removing it directly through your browser’s extension manager. The specific steps vary slightly depending on the browser you’re using.

Uninstalling from Google Chrome

1. Access Chrome Extensions:

   • Type chrome://extensions in the address bar and press Enter.
   • Alternatively, click the three dots (Menu) in the top right corner, go to "More tools," and then select "Extensions."

2. Locate Tampermonkey: Find the Tampermonkey extension in the list of installed extensions.

3. Remove the Extension: Click the "Remove" button next to Tampermonkey. Chrome will ask you to confirm. Click "Remove" again.

Uninstalling from Mozilla Firefox

1. Access Firefox Add-ons Manager:

   • Type about:addons in the address bar and press Enter.
   • Alternatively, click the three horizontal lines (Menu) in the top right corner, go to "Add-ons," and then select "Extensions."

2. Locate Tampermonkey: Find the Tampermonkey extension in the list of installed add-ons.

3. Remove the Add-on: Click the three dots next to Tampermonkey and select "Remove." Firefox will ask you to confirm. Click "Remove" again.

Uninstalling from Microsoft Edge

1. Access Edge Extensions:

   • Type edge://extensions in the address bar and press Enter.
   • Alternatively, click the three dots (Menu) in the top right corner, go to "Extensions," and then select "Manage extensions."

2. Locate Tampermonkey: Find the Tampermonkey extension in the list of installed extensions.

3. Remove the Extension: Click the "Remove" button below the Tampermonkey extension tile. Edge will ask you to confirm. Click "Remove" again.

Uninstalling from Safari

1. Open Safari Preferences: Click "Safari" in the menu bar and select "Preferences."

2. Go to Extensions: Click the "Extensions" tab.

3. Locate Tampermonkey: Find the Tampermonkey extension in the list of installed extensions.

4. Uninstall the Extension: Uncheck the box next to Tampermonkey to disable it. To completely remove it, select Tampermonkey and click the "Uninstall" button. You might be prompted to move the extension to the trash.

Removing Tampermonkey’s Data

Simply removing the extension might not delete all of Tampermonkey’s associated data. Cleaning up the remaining data ensures a more complete uninstall. This data includes scripts you’ve installed, settings, and other configurations.

Clearing Tampermonkey Data via Browser Settings

This method depends on the browser but generally involves clearing browser data related to extensions.

1. Access Browser Settings: Find the settings menu in your browser (e.g., Chrome Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear browsing data).

2. Select Time Range: Choose "All time" or a similar option to ensure all data is cleared.

3. Clear Extension Data: Select "Cookies and other site data", "Cached images and files" and usually there is an option for "Site settings" or "Extension data". Clear the data. Be cautious, this may remove data from all extensions!

Locating and Deleting Tampermonkey Data Folders (Advanced)

This is a more technical method and is not recommended for novice users. It involves manually locating and deleting Tampermonkey’s data folders. Incorrectly deleting files can cause issues with your browser or operating system.

1. Locating the Folders: The location of Tampermonkey’s data folders varies depending on your operating system and browser. Here are some common locations:

   • Windows: %AppData%\<browser_name>\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\dhdgffkkebhmkfjojejmpbldmpobfkfo (The last part is the extension ID and might vary)
   • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/<browser_name>/Default/Local Extension Settings/dhdgffkkebhmkfjojejmpbldmpobfkfo (The last part is the extension ID and might vary)
   • Linux: ~/.config/<browser_name>/Default/Local Extension Settings/dhdgffkkebhmkfjojejmpbldmpobfkfo (The last part is the extension ID and might vary)

   Replace <browser_name> with the actual name of your browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox). The last part of the path, the extension ID (dhdgffkkebhmkfjojejmpbldmpobfkfo in the example), might be slightly different. You can find the precise ID in the chrome://extensions, about:addons, or edge://extensions pages of your browser.

2. Deleting the Folder: Once you’ve located the correct folder, delete it. Be extremely careful when deleting files and folders in these locations.

Important Note: Always back up your browser profile before manually deleting files. This allows you to restore your settings if something goes wrong.

Verifying the Uninstall

After uninstalling Tampermonkey and removing its data, it’s a good idea to verify that the process was successful.

1. Restart Your Browser: Restart your browser to ensure that any lingering processes are terminated.

2. Check Extensions/Add-ons List: Go back to your browser’s extensions or add-ons manager (as described in the uninstall steps above). Confirm that Tampermonkey is no longer listed.

3. Browse Websites: Browse websites where you previously used Tampermonkey scripts. Verify that the scripts are no longer running.

So, that’s how you completely uninstall Tampermonkey! Hopefully, this guide was helpful. If you ever need to reinstall Tampermonkey, you now know the process of how to uninstall Tampermonkey and can easily start from scratch. Happy browsing!