How to Uninstall Agent-Reach with the `--keep-config` Option

Run agent-reach uninstall --keep-config to remove all executable binaries and skill integrations while preserving your API keys, tokens, and config.yaml in the ~/.agent-reach/ directory.

The Panniantong/Agent-Reach project provides an open-source CLI tool that installs skill files and helper scripts across your system. When you need to trigger the uninstall process for Agent-Reach with the --keep-config option, you can remove all executable components while preserving your API keys and configuration files intact.

What the Uninstall Command Does

The uninstall logic, implemented in agent_reach/cli.py, specifically targets files created during installation while respecting the --keep-config flag to protect user data.

Skill File Removal via _uninstall_skill()

The _uninstall_skill() function deletes the SKILL.md directory and associated metadata from every known agent installation location:

• ~/.agents/skills/agent-reach/
• ~/.openclaw/skills/agent-reach/
• ~/.claude/skills/agent-reach/

This elimination happens recursively, removing the Agent-Reach integration from OpenClaw, Claude Code, and generic agent frameworks without touching other skills.

Tool Binary Cleanup

The command removes all executable files and helper scripts stored under ~/.agent-reach/tools/, including:

• Xiaoyuzhou transcription scripts
• OpenCLI helper utilities
• Platform-specific automation binaries

Configuration Preservation

When you include the --keep-config flag, the _cmd_uninstall routine (located around line 1589 in agent_reach/cli.py) explicitly skips the deletion of the ~/.agent-reach/ directory. This preserves:

• config.yaml – the central configuration file managed by agent_reach/config.py
• Authentication tokens (e.g., Twitter auth_token/ct0, YouTube cookies)
• API keys for Groq, OpenAI, and other services
• Private cookie files like xhs-cookies.json

Step-by-Step Uninstall Instructions

Follow these steps to safely remove Agent-Reach while keeping your configuration intact.

1. Preview Changes with --dry-run

Before deleting anything, verify what the uninstaller will remove:

agent-reach uninstall --keep-config --dry-run

This outputs the list of files and directories targeted for deletion without making actual changes to your system.

2. Execute the Uninstall Command

Run the actual uninstall command:

agent-reach uninstall --keep-config

This invokes _cmd_uninstall, which calls _uninstall_skill() and scrubs the ~/.agent-reach/tools/ directory while leaving your configuration folder untouched.

Key Source Files Involved

The uninstall process relies on specific modules within the repository:

• agent_reach/cli.py – Contains the _cmd_uninstall function that orchestrates the removal process and parses the --keep-config flag.
• agent_reach/utils/paths.py – Provides make_private_dir() and other path utilities used to locate the ~/.agent-reach/ configuration directory.
• agent_reach/config.py – Manages the config.yaml file that remains untouched when the preserve flag is active.

Summary

• Use agent-reach uninstall --keep-config to remove the tool while saving your settings.
• The --dry-run flag lets you preview deletions before they execute.
• The process removes skill files from ~/.agents/, ~/.openclaw/, and ~/.claude/ directories via _uninstall_skill().
• Tool binaries under ~/.agent-reach/tools/ are deleted, but the configuration directory remains intact.
• System dependencies like gh, node, or mcporter are never touched by the uninstaller.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly gets deleted when I use --keep-config?

The uninstaller removes the SKILL.md directories from your agent skill folders (~/.agents/skills/agent-reach, ~/.openclaw/skills/agent-reach, ~/.claude/skills/agent-reach) and deletes all files under ~/.agent-reach/tools/. Your ~/.agent-reach/ directory itself, including config.yaml and any stored tokens or cookies, remains completely untouched according to the logic in agent_reach/cli.py.

How do I completely remove Agent-Reach including all my data?

Omit the --keep-config flag and run agent-reach uninstall. This triggers the full deletion of the ~/.agent-reach/ directory, removing config.yaml, API keys, and all cached authentication tokens alongside the tool binaries and skill files.

Does the uninstall process remove system-wide dependencies?

No. The uninstaller specifically targets files and directories created by Agent-Reach itself. It does not remove system packages such as gh (GitHub CLI), node (Node.js), or mcporter that may have been installed separately on your system.

Where does Agent-Reach store my configuration files?

According to agent_reach/utils/paths.py, the configuration directory is located at ~/.agent-reach/ on Unix-like systems. This location contains config.yaml, token files, and cookie stores that the --keep-config flag protects during the uninstall process.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}