I removed McAfee through Windows' installed-apps settings and then ran the official McAfee Consumer Product Removal tool before restarting my laptop. Most McAfee folders are gone, but I still found a few leftovers under AppDataLocal, including a folder named "McAfee File Lock" containing a file called "Vaultinfo." I also found a "ChromiumContainer" folder under AppDataRoaming and an "MCAFEECERTS" folder somewhere in AppDataLocalTemp. Are these leftover folders and files safe to delete, or should I leave them alone or use another cleanup tool?
3 Answers
If the official removal tool completed successfully and McAfee is no longer installed, leftover folders in AppData are usually just orphaned data and can generally be deleted. Close McAfee-related processes first, and create a restore point or backup if you want extra protection. Avoid deleting unrelated system folders just because their names look similar.
A dedicated uninstaller such as Revo Uninstaller or Bulk Crap Uninstaller can scan for remaining files and registry entries after the normal uninstall. Review the scan results carefully rather than deleting everything automatically. The official MCPR tool is still the appropriate first step for removing McAfee itself.
The folders mentioned are not normally required by Windows once McAfee has been removed, but their names alone do not prove what created them. Check that McAfee is absent from Installed apps and that no McAfee services or processes are running. If those checks are clear, deleting the remaining McAfee-specific leftovers is generally harmless; otherwise, leave them in place and investigate first.
So it’s better to use one of those tools instead of manually deleting every remaining folder?