# How to Uninstall Agent Reach and Preserve Config: Complete CLI Guide > Uninstall Agent Reach safely and preserve your configuration. Learn how to use the CLI command to keep your settings and tokens intact before removal. - Repository: [Pnant/Agent-Reach](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach) - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-06-06 --- **Run `agent-reach uninstall --keep-config` to remove the tool while retaining your saved tokens, cookies, and proxy settings stored in `~/.agent-reach`.** Agent Reach stores all sensitive credentials—from API keys to agent cookies—inside the `~/.agent-reach` directory, which [`agent_reach/config.py`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/agent_reach/config.py) manages as [`config.yaml`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/config.yaml). When you need to remove the package but retain those settings for a future install, the repository's CLI includes a native uninstall flow that supports selective deletion. According to the Panniantong/Agent-Reach source code, the `uninstall` subcommand implemented in [`agent_reach/cli.py`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/agent_reach/cli.py) gives you precise control over what is erased. ## How the Agent Reach Uninstaller Works The uninstall logic lives in the `_cmd_uninstall` function inside [`agent_reach/cli.py`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/agent_reach/cli.py) (lines 1321–1400). When you invoke `agent-reach uninstall`, the parser checks for two optional flags: - `--dry-run` — previews every file and registration that would be deleted without making changes. - `--keep-config` — skips the removal of the `~/.agent-reach` directory so your credentials survive the cleanup. At line 1329, the code resolves the configuration directory: ```python config_dir = os.path.expanduser("~/.agent-reach") ``` Unless `args.keep_config` is true, lines 1339–1350 delete that directory with `shutil.rmtree`, which erases [`config.yaml`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/config.yaml) along with any saved cookies or proxy settings. When the flag is present, that path is left untouched while the rest of the cleanup proceeds. ## Uninstall Agent Reach and Preserve Config: Step-by-Step ### Preview changes with `--dry-run` Before removing anything, verify what the uninstaller plans to delete: ```bash agent-reach uninstall --dry-run ``` This executes the logic in `_cmd_uninstall` without calling `shutil.rmtree` or removing skill files, letting you inspect the planned changes safely. ### Run the preserved uninstall To delete skills, MCP entries, and tooling while keeping your configuration intact: ```bash agent-reach uninstall --keep-config ``` Because `--keep-config` is present, the `~/.agent-reach` folder remains on disk with all tokens and cookies preserved. The command still removes agent skill files (lines 1360–1375) and cleans up optional `mcporter` MCP entries such as the Exa search backend (lines 1378–1395). ### Perform a full uninstall without preserving configuration If you want a clean slate, omit `--keep-config`: ```bash agent-reach uninstall ``` This triggers `shutil.rmtree` on `~/.agent-reach`, permanently deleting your [`config.yaml`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/config.yaml) and all saved cookies and API keys. ### Remove the Python package and global helpers The CLI uninstaller does not remove the `agent-reach` Python package itself. After the preserved uninstall, finish the cleanup manually: ```bash # Remove the core Python package pip uninstall agent-reach # Optional: remove globally-installed helper tools npm uninstall -g mcporter pipx uninstall twitter-cli npm uninstall -g undici ``` ## What Gets Removed vs. What Gets Kept Understanding the exact scope prevents accidental data loss: - **Deleted:** Skill registrations for OpenClaw, Claude Code, and generic `.agents` profiles, plus any `mcporter` MCP configurations. - **Preserved:** The entire `~/.agent-reach` directory, including [`config.yaml`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/config.yaml), when you pass `--keep-config`. - **Deleted:** The `~/.agent-reach` directory if you omit `--keep-config`, because lines 1339–1350 execute `shutil.rmtree(config_dir)`. ## Reinstalling After Preserving Your Configuration Because your settings remain inside `~/.agent-reach`, reinstallation is seamless: ```bash agent-reach uninstall --keep-config agent-reach install --env=auto ``` When the installer detects the existing `~/.agent-reach` folder, it reuses the saved credentials rather than prompting for new ones. ## Verify a Clean Removal with the Doctor Tool If you want to confirm that channels and registrations were fully cleared after uninstalling, inspect the system with the diagnostic commands in [`agent_reach/doctor.py`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/agent_reach/doctor.py). The `check_all` and `format_report` functions report the current state of agent channels and can expose leftover artifacts. ## Summary - The `agent-reach uninstall` command is implemented in [`agent_reach/cli.py`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/agent_reach/cli.py) inside the `_cmd_uninstall` function. - Pass `--keep-config` to prevent the uninstaller from deleting `~/.agent-reach` and its [`config.yaml`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/config.yaml). - Pass `--dry-run` to preview deletions without altering your system. - Skill files and `mcporter` MCP entries are always removed during uninstall, regardless of the config flag. - You must run `pip uninstall agent-reach` separately to remove the Python package after the built-in uninstall finishes. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Does `agent-reach uninstall` also remove the Python package? No. The `_cmd_uninstall` routine only deletes files, directories, and registrations created by the tool itself. To fully remove the package from your environment, run `pip uninstall agent-reach` after the CLI uninstall completes. ### Where does Agent Reach store my API keys and cookies? Agent Reach stores all sensitive data in `~/.agent-reach/config.yaml`, a path managed by [`agent_reach/config.py`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/agent_reach/config.py). This directory also holds cookies, proxy settings, and other local state. ### Will a future install reuse my preserved configuration? Yes. If you run `agent-reach install --env=auto` while `~/.agent-reach` still exists, the installer detects the leftover folder and reuses the saved tokens and cookies automatically. ### What happens if I omit `--keep-config`? The uninstaller resolves `~/.agent-reach` via `os.path.expanduser` and then invokes `shutil.rmtree` on that directory (lines 1339–1350). This permanently erases your configuration, credentials, and cookies unless you have external backups.