Can't uninstall all-user Python 3.13 after installing single-user Python 3.14 on Windows

Python Help
1

In February 2025, I installed Python 3.13.2 as an administrator “for all users” on my Windows laptop. I recently installed single-user Python 3.14.6 with the Python install manager, which prompted me to uninstall the old 3.13 installer. Now it tells me it finds the 3.13 runtime, but that it cannot be updated or uninstalled.

I do have admin rights on the laptop.

The new, ‘unelevated’ Python install manager prompted me to uninstall the old 3.13 ‘elevated’ installer, which I did with admin privileges from Settings → Apps → Installed apps.

I’ve also removed the old Python 3.13 from the systemwide PATH, and my user’s path now points to the new Python 3.14.6 installation at %username%\AppData\Local\Python\bin.

`py list` shows the new, functional Python 3.14.6:

Tag Name Managed By Version Alias
3.14[-64] * Python 3.14.6 PythonCore 3.14.6 python3[-64].exe, python3.14[-64].exe

but still reports:

* These runtimes were found, but cannot be updated or uninstalled. *
3.13 Python 3.13 (64-bit) PythonCore 3.13.2

How can I uninstall this all-user Python 3.13?

2

IIRC, you can uninstall Python interpreters from the standard Add/Remove Programs settings menu. I might not RC though.

3

I can’t, because I uninstalled the old 3.13 installer at the new Python install manager’s suggestion.

4

Try downloading the 3.13 installer and run it with same options. It should notice existing 3.13 and offer to repair or uninstall.

5

Thank you! That did it!

I had to first uninstall the new Python install manager, install the 3.13 installer, which installed Python 3.13.2, then uninstall those two in reverse order, then re-install the new Python install manager.

Perhaps the new Python install manager should check if it will be able to uninstall older versions before suggesting to uninstall previous installers.

6

@steve.dower

7

Uh, sure. It can’t, and so it doesn’t suggest it or offer to do it for you. In fact, it even lists those ones as unmanaged/unmanageable by the install manager.

You uninstall them the same as you always have - open Add/Remove Programs (or Programs & Features, or Installed Apps, depending on which version of Windows you have, they’re all the same page), find it, and choose to uninstall it.

Installing or uninstalling the install manager has absolutely no impact on old installs. There was no need to do that. If you’d hit one of the bugs in the old installers (a major reason why we’re dropping them), then the usual fix is to run the installer again to fix up Windows’s install metadata and then uninstall it. It sounds like you hit one of these bugs.