How to Perform a Clean Install of Cyberpunk 2077 on PC

Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the most anticipated role-playing video games in recent years. Developed by CD Projekt Red and released in 2020, it takes place in a dystopian future where you play as V, a cyberpunk mercenary on a quest for an implant that is the key to immortality.

However, like many big game releases, Cyberpunk 2077 had its fair share of bugs and performance issues on launch. Many players have reported crashes, graphics glitches, save file corruptions, and more.

If you have been experiencing issues running Cyberpunk 2077 on your PC, one solution is to do a clean install of the game. This means completely uninstalling the game, deleting all associated files and folders, and redownloading a fresh copy.

A clean install can potentially fix many common problems by eliminating any corrupted files or bad settings. It essentially gives you a blank slate to work with.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to fully uninstall Cyberpunk 2077 and perform a clean install from scratch.

Back Up Your Save Files

Before uninstalling, it is crucial that you back up your save files. This will preserve your progress, character, inventory items, and everything else.

Cyberpunk 2077 stores save data here:

%userprofile%\Saved Games\CD Projekt Red\Cyberpunk 2077\

Copy the save files to a temporary location on your PC like the Desktop or Documents folder. Make sure not to delete them!

Disable Cloud Saves

If you have cloud save syncing enabled with GOG, Steam, or Epic Games, you will want to temporarily disable it. This prevents the cloud from overriding your local save files when you reinstall the game.

You can re-enable cloud saving after the clean install is complete and you’ve moved your backups back into the game directory.

Uninstall Cyberpunk 2077

Open your apps/programs list and locate Cyberpunk 2077. Select Uninstall and confirm to remove the game.

This will delete the main game files but leave behind some leftovers.

Delete Game Folders

Browse to the following locations and delete any Cyberpunk 2077 related folders:

• Client folder (Steam, GOG, Epic Games): Delete the Cyberpunk 2077 folder here.
• Saved Games: Delete the Cyberpunk 2077 folder in %userprofile%\Saved Games\CD Projekt Red\
• AppData\Local: Delete the REDEngine and CD Projekt Red folders here.

Deleting these ensures no leftover files or registry entries remain that could cause conflicts.

Restart Your PC

Restart your computer to clear out memory and complete the uninstall process.

Reinstall the Game on an SSD

Reinstall Cyberpunk 2077 through your chosen platform like Steam, GOG, or Epic Games.

For best performance, install the game on an SSD (solid state drive) if possible. HDDs (hard disk drives) can cause slow loading times and streaming issues.

Don’t install into nested folders on your OS drive. Use the root directly, like:

C:\Steam\steamapps\common\Cyberpunk 2077

This prevents permissions problems.

Move Back Your Save Files

Once installation is complete, move your saved game files back into the new Cyberpunk 2077\Saved Games\ folder.

Overwriting the freshly created folder with your backups preserves your character and progress.

Launch and Test!

You’re now ready to launch Cyberpunk 2077 and see if the clean install resolved the issues you were experiencing before.

With all files reverted to their original state, many bugs, crashes, and glitches caused by file corruption or bad settings should be eliminated.

Re-Enable Cloud Saves (Optional)

If you use cloud save syncing, you can re-enable it now. This will upload your local save files as the primary versions.

FAQ

Should I uninstall mods before a clean install?

Yes, remove any mods you have installed before performing a clean install. Mods can sometimes conflict with the base game files and cause issues.

Will I lose all my progress if I reinstall?

As long as you back up your save files and move them back after reinstalling, you will not lose any progress. Only the installed game files themselves are deleted.

Will this fix most crashes and bugs?

A clean install can potentially fix many common crashes, glitches, and errors caused by file corruption or bad configs. However, some bugs may be due to deeper engine issues that require patching.

Should I delete my screenshots and videos?

Screenshots and videos are stored separately from the game files, so they are safe to keep. Only deleting the game folders is necessary.

Is verifying game files enough?

Verifying will check files but won’t catch all issues. Uninstalling and deleting extra folders more completely resets the game.

Conclusion

Performing a clean install is an effective troubleshooting step if you are experiencing glitches, crashes, or save issues with Cyberpunk 2077. By fully removing the game and redownloading fresh files, many problems can be resolved.

Just remember to backup your saves first! With those intact, you can pick up right where you left off after reinstalling.

Following the steps in this guide should have you up and running with a stable version of Cyberpunk 2077. Now you can get back to exploring Night City and upgrading V without pesky technical problems.

Let us know if the clean install helped improve your experience with the game!