How to uninstall the Windows collector

IThere are several ways to uninstall an Auvik Windows Collector depending on how it was originally installed and the level of access you have to the Windows machine.

This guide covers all supported and commonly used uninstall methods, including:

• Uninstall Using Programs and Features
• Uninstall Using Windows Settings
• Uninstall the Windows Collector Using Command Line

These instructions apply to:

• Windows 11
• Windows 10
• Windows Server 2016+
• 64-bit Windows systems

Before You Begin

Before uninstalling the collector:

1. Ensure you have local administrator privileges.
2. Verify the collector is no longer needed for network monitoring.
3. If another collector exists for the site, confirm monitoring redundancy.
4. Record any proxy or configuration settings if you plan to reinstall later.

Method 1 — Uninstall Using Programs and Features

This is the recommended and simplest method when the collector was installed using the Windows installer.

Steps

1. Open the Start Menu.
2. Search for and open:
   • Control Panel
3. Navigate to:

Programs → Programs and Features

4. Locate:

Auvik Collector

5. Double-click the entry.
6. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes.
7. The Auvik uninstall wizard opens.
8. Click:

Uninstall

9. Wait for the process to complete.
10. When prompted with:

Auvik collector removed successfully

11. Click:

Finish

Expected Result

The collector services, application files, and uninstall entries are automatically removed.

Method 2 — Uninstall Using Windows Settings

Modern Windows systems also allow removal through the Settings app.

Steps

1. Open:

Settings

2. Navigate to:

Apps → Installed Apps

or on older systems:

Apps → Apps & Features

3. 
   Search for:

Auvik Collector

4. Click the three-dot menu or select the application.
5. Click:

Uninstall

6. Confirm the uninstall.
7. Follow the uninstall wizard until completion.

Expected Result

The collector is removed through the standard Windows uninstall process.

Method 3 — Uninstall the Windows Collector Using Command Line

This method is commonly used for:

• Remote administration
• Scripting
• RMM deployments
• Silent removal
• Troubleshooting broken installers

Open Command Prompt as Administrator

1. Open the Start Menu.
2. Search for:

cmd

3. 
   Right-click:

Command Prompt

4. 
   Select:

Run as administrator

Navigate to the Installation Directory

By default, the collector installs to:

C:\Program Files\Auvik

Run:

cd "C:\Program Files\Auvik"

Remove the Collector Service

Run:

AuvikAgentService -remove

Expected Output

You should see output similar to:

Stopping AuvikAgent.
AuvikAgent is stopped.
Stopping AuvikWatchdog.
AuvikWatchdog is stopped.

This removes the Windows services associated with the collector.

Manual Cleanup After Command Line Removal

When using the command-line uninstall method, some files or registry entries may remain.

This section ensures the system is fully cleaned.

Step 1 — Delete Remaining Registry Keys

Open Registry Editor

1. Press:

Windows + R

2. 
   Type:

regedit

3. Press Enter.

Remove the Auvik Registry Key

Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Auvik\Agent\1.0

Right-click:

Auvik

Select:

Delete

Click:

Yes

to confirm.

Step 2 — Remove the Uninstall Registry Entry

In some cases, Windows may still think the collector is installed.

Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

Locate:

AuvikCollector

Delete the entry.

This step is especially important if:

• Reinstallation fails
• The installer says the product is already installed
• The collector no longer appears functional

Step 3 — Delete Remaining Files

Open File Explorer and delete:

C:\Program Files\Auvik

If present, also check:

C:\ProgramData\Auvik

and remove any leftover folders.

Method 4 — Silent or Scripted Uninstall

For mass deployments or RMM tools, you may want to automate the uninstall process.

Example Batch Script

@echo off
cd "C:\Program Files\Auvik"
AuvikAgentService -remove
rmdir /s /q "C:\Program Files\Auvik"

Example PowerShell Script

Set-Location "C:\Program Files\Auvik"
.\AuvikAgentService -remove
Remove-Item "C:\Program Files\Auvik" -Recurse -Force

Recommended Use Cases

• RMM automation
• Group Policy scripts
• Remote PowerShell
• MSP offboarding workflows
• Lab cleanup

Remove Leftover Windows Services Manually

Sometimes services remain after a failed uninstall.

Step 1 — Open Services

Press:

Windows + R

Type:

services.msc

Press Enter.

Look for services such as:

• AuvikAgent
• AuvikWatchdog

Step 2 — Remove Services Using SC

Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

Run:

sc delete AuvikAgent

Then:

sc delete AuvikWatchdog

Expected Result

You should receive:

[SC] DeleteService SUCCESS

Method 5 — Remove Collector Using WMIC

Some administrators prefer using WMIC for remote or scripted software removal.

List Installed Products

Run:

wmic product get name

Locate:

Auvik Collector

Uninstall the Product

Run:

wmic product where name="Auvik Collector" call uninstall

Type:

Y

to confirm.

Important Notes

WMIC is deprecated on newer Windows versions, but may still function depending on the operating system build.

Troubleshooting Uninstall Problems

Issue: Installer Says Collector Is Already Installed

Cause

Leftover registry entries exist.

Resolution

Delete:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\AuvikCollector

Issue: Services Cannot Be Removed

Resolution

1. Reboot the machine.
2. Open an elevated command prompt.
3. Run:

sc delete AuvikAgent
sc delete AuvikWatchdog

Issue: Access Denied Errors

Resolution

Ensure:

• You are running as Administrator
• Antivirus or endpoint protection is not blocking the uninstall
• The services are stopped before deletion

Issue: Collector Folder Cannot Be Deleted

Resolution

1. Stop all Auvik services.
2. Reboot if necessary.
3. Delete the folder again.
4. Use Safe Mode if the files remain locked.

Verifying the Collector Has Been Fully Removed

After uninstalling, verify the following:

Programs List

The collector no longer appears in:

Programs and Features

Services

The following services no longer exist:

• AuvikAgent
• AuvikWatchdog

Installation Folder

The following folder is gone:

C:\Program Files\Auvik

Registry Entries

The following keys no longer exist:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Auvik

and:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\AuvikCollector

Best Practices

• Prefer the standard Windows uninstall process whenever possible.
• Use command-line removal for automation or recovery scenarios.
• Always clean leftover registry entries before reinstalling.
• Reboot the server after uninstalling in production environments.
• Verify no monitoring dependencies remain before removal.

Conclusion

The Auvik Windows Collector can be removed in several different ways depending on your environment and administrative requirements.

For most administrators, uninstalling through Programs and Features or Windows Settings is the fastest and safest option. For automation, scripting, or troubleshooting failed installations, command-line removal and manual cleanup provide additional flexibility.

Using the methods outlined in this guide ensures the collector is fully removed and the system is ready for either decommissioning or reinstallation.