# How to Uninstall Agent Reach with `--dry-run` and `--keep-config`: A Complete Guide > Learn to uninstall Agent Reach using --dry-run to preview deletions and --keep-config to save your settings. This guide offers a complete uninstall solution for the Agent Reach repository. - Repository: [Pnant/Agent-Reach](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach) - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-07-10 --- **The Agent Reach uninstall command supports both `--dry-run` to preview deletions and `--keep-config` to preserve your `~/.agent-reach/config.yaml` while removing skills and tools.** Agent Reach is a Python-based glue layer that gives AI agents read and search access to internet platforms like Twitter/X, Reddit, and YouTube. When you need to remove the toolset without losing your configuration, or want to preview what would be deleted, the `uninstall` subcommand provides granular control through specific flags. This guide explains how to use these options based on the actual implementation in the Panniantong/Agent-Reach repository. ## What Gets Removed During Uninstallation The `agent-reach uninstall` command performs a systematic cleanup of three component categories. According to the implementation in [`agent_reach/cli.py`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/agent_reach/cli.py), specifically within the `_cmd_uninstall` function, the process targets: - **The Agent Reach home directory** (`~/.agent-reach/`), which contains the [`config.yaml`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/config.yaml) file and cached tools - **Skill directories** under `~/.openclaw`, `~/.claude`, and `~/.agents` that contain the optional OpenClaw and Claude skill files ([`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/SKILL.md)) - **Platform-specific entries** in `mcporter` for Exa and Xiaohongshu channels Each removal step reports its actions to the terminal, making the process fully transparent even when running in simulation mode. ## The Role of `--dry-run` and `--keep-config` These two flags modify the default destructive behavior of the uninstaller: **`--dry-run`**: Executes the uninstallation logic without actually deleting files. This mode prints every planned deletion to the console, allowing you to audit what would be removed before committing to the action. **`--keep-config`**: Preserves the `~/.agent-reach/config.yaml` file and the directory structure while removing skills and external tool entries. This is useful when reinstalling Agent Reach later without re-entering API tokens and proxy settings. When combined, `--dry-run --keep-config` shows you exactly which skill directories would be removed while guaranteeing that your configuration remains untouched. ## How to Use the Uninstall Command ### Preview Deletions Without Removing Files Run a dry-run to see what would be deleted: ```bash python -m agent_reach.cli uninstall --dry-run ``` This prints a report of every file and directory that would be removed, including paths like `~/.agent-reach/` and skill directories under `~/.openclaw/`, without actually deleting them. ### Preserve Configuration While Removing Everything Else To uninstall the tool while keeping your settings: ```bash python -m agent_reach.cli uninstall --keep-config ``` This removes all installed skills and `mcporter` entries but leaves `~/.agent-reach/config.yaml` intact for future use. ### Combined Safety Preview The recommended approach for safe uninstallation combines both flags: ```bash python -m agent_reach.cli uninstall --dry-run --keep-config ``` This shows exactly which skill directories would be removed while guaranteeing that your configuration remains untouched. ## Implementation Details from Source Code The uninstall logic resides in [`agent_reach/cli.py`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/agent_reach/cli.py) within the `_cmd_uninstall` function. This handler orchestrates the removal process by: 1. Checking for the `--dry-run` flag and setting a simulation mode 2. Conditionally skipping `~/.agent-reach` deletion when `--keep-config` is present 3. Iterating through skill directories (`~/.openclaw`, `~/.claude`, `~/.agents`) and removing [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/SKILL.md) files via internal helpers `_install_skill` and `_uninstall_skill` 4. Cleaning up `mcporter` entries for specific channels like Exa and Xiaohongshu The configuration management in [`agent_reach/config.py`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/agent_reach/config.py) handles the `~/.agent-reach/config.yaml` path, which the uninstaller references when determining whether to preserve or delete user settings based on the `--keep-config` flag. ## Summary - **Agent Reach uninstall** removes tools, skills, and optionally configuration files from your system. - **`--dry-run`** previews all deletions without executing them, providing a safety audit. - **`--keep-config`** preserves your `~/.agent-reach/config.yaml` while removing skills and external dependencies. - The implementation in [`agent_reach/cli.py`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/agent_reach/cli.py) handles removal of skill directories under `~/.openclaw`, `~/.claude`, and `~/.agents`, plus `mcporter` entries for specific platforms. - Combining both flags allows you to verify the uninstall scope while protecting your API tokens and proxy settings. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the difference between `--dry-run` and `--keep-config`? `--dry-run` simulates the uninstallation and prints what would be deleted without actually removing files. `--keep-config` performs the actual uninstallation but skips deletion of the `~/.agent-reach/config.yaml` file and its directory. You can use `--dry-run` alone to preview, `--keep-config` alone to uninstall while saving settings, or both together to preview an uninstall that preserves configuration. ### Where does Agent Reach store configuration files? Agent Reach stores user-specific settings in `~/.agent-reach/config.yaml`, as defined in [`agent_reach/config.py`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/agent_reach/config.py). This file contains API tokens, proxy settings, and platform cookies. When using `--keep-config`, this specific path is preserved while other directories like `~/.openclaw` and `~/.claude` are removed. ### Will uninstalling remove the installed platform tools like `twitter-cli`? The uninstaller removes `mcporter` entries for channels like Exa and Xiaohongshu, and deletes Agent Reach-specific skills. However, external tools such as `twitter-cli` or `yt-dlp` that were installed separately on your system are not automatically removed by the `_cmd_uninstall` function. You must uninstall those dependencies manually if desired. ### Can I reinstall Agent Reach after using `--keep-config`? Yes. Since `--keep-config` preserves your `~/.agent-reach/config.yaml` file, you can reinstall Agent Reach using `python -m agent_reach.cli install` and your previous settings will remain available. This is useful for troubleshooting or upgrading to a new version without reconfiguring API tokens.