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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallTo completely remove RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS), close RTSS and MSI Afterburner, uninstall RTSS through Windows, run its built-in Uninstall.exe if necessary, restart Windows, then check for leftover files and startup entries. RTSS and MSI Afterburner are separate programs, although Afterburner uses RTSS for its in-game on-screen display (OSD). Removing RTSS can therefore disable Afterburner’s overlay without uninstalling Afterburner itself.
Before you uninstall
RTSS is the full name for RivaTuner Statistics Server. It is commonly installed with MSI Afterburner and is used for overlays, frame-rate limits, monitoring displays and related features.
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It is not a graphics-card driver, NVIDIA Control Panel, AMD Software, Intel graphics software or the older RivaTuner GPU-tweaking utility. Do not remove your display drivers or use Display Driver Uninstaller just to uninstall RTSS.
If you use MSI Afterburner, save any profiles, fan curves or tuning settings you may want later. If you are troubleshooting a crash or instability, return GPU tuning to a safe or default state before removing Afterburner. Uninstalling RTSS should not be treated as a guaranteed reset of GPU clocks, fan curves or driver settings.
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Remove RTSS through Windows
Windows 11
- Open Start > Settings.
- Go to Apps > Installed apps.
- Search for RivaTuner Statistics Server or RTSS.
- Select the three-dot menu beside it and choose Uninstall.
- Follow the uninstaller’s prompts.
Windows 10 or Control Panel
- Open Control Panel.
- Select Programs > Programs and Features.
- Select RivaTuner Statistics Server.
- Choose Uninstall or Uninstall/Change.
- Complete the prompts.
These are Microsoft’s normal removal routes for desktop programs. See Microsoft’s uninstall instructions if the Windows labels differ on your installation.
Choose what happens to settings
Some RTSS uninstallers offer a choice to keep or remove saved settings, profiles or configuration data. Keep them if you may reinstall and want to preserve custom game profiles or overlay layouts. Choose the option to remove them if you are preparing a clean reinstall or suspect corrupted configuration data. The wording varies between RTSS builds, so do not expect one exact prompt.
If RTSS is not listed
Find the folder where RTSS is installed and run its own uninstaller. A commonly reported path is:
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C:Program Files (x86)RivaTuner Statistics ServerUninstall.exeThis is only an example; you may have selected another drive or folder. To find the actual location:
- Check a desktop or Start-menu shortcut’s properties.
- If
RTSS.exeis running, open Task Manager, right-click it and select Open file location. - Search File Explorer for
RTSS.exeorUninstall.exe.
The uninstaller may also be named uninst000.exe in some installations. Run it and allow administrator elevation if Windows requests it. Revo’s RTSS removal guide also identifies the installation folder and built-in uninstaller as alternatives when the Windows entry is missing.
Do not delete the installation folder first. Removing files before running the uninstaller can leave a broken uninstall registration and make repair more difficult.
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Close RTSS and Afterburner if removal is blocked
- Look near the Windows clock in the notification area.
- Right-click the RTSS icon and choose its exit option.
- Exit MSI Afterburner if it is installed.
- Press
Ctrl + Shift + Escto open Task Manager. - In Processes, end only confirmed matching processes such as
RTSS.exeandMSIAfterburner.exe.
Do not terminate unrelated processes merely because their names look similar. MSI notes that Afterburner and RTSS can remain active in the background when monitoring or OSD features are enabled.
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Restart Windows after uninstalling. This finalizes pending file removal and startup changes, particularly when files were in use or the uninstaller requested a reboot.
After restarting, check the former RTSS installation folder. If it remains and contains only RTSS files, you can delete that folder through File Explorer. If MSI Afterburner was also removed, check its separate installation folder as well. Do not delete a parent folder such as Program Files (x86) or any folder containing unrelated applications.
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There is no universally safe list of RTSS registry keys or AppData folders to delete. Locations can vary by version, installer and user choice. “Complete” removal means the installed program, active startup launch and identifiable RTSS files are gone; it does not require proving that every historical registry reference has disappeared.
Remove an orphaned startup entry
RTSS is commonly encountered as an application and startup process, not necessarily as a conventional Windows service. Do not blindly delete a service named “RTSS,” and do not remove unrelated services.
- Open Task Manager with
Ctrl + Shift + Esc. - Select Startup apps.
- Disable or remove an RTSS entry only if RTSS has already been uninstalled and the entry clearly points to it.
Also inspect the Startup folders:
shell:startupshell:common startupPress Win + R, enter each command separately and delete only a shortcut that clearly points to the removed RTSS installation. Windows documents Task Manager and these configuration tools in its system configuration guidance.
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Should you uninstall MSI Afterburner too?
- Remove RTSS only: MSI Afterburner can remain installed, but its RTSS-dependent in-game overlay and related functions may stop working.
- Remove the complete setup: Uninstall RTSS and MSI Afterburner separately if both appear in Windows.
- Prepare for a clean reinstall: Remove saved profiles and settings only after backing them up if you may need them.
Uninstalling RTSS does not automatically mean that MSI Afterburner, GPU drivers or driver-control software must also be removed. MSI explains the relationship between Afterburner and RTSS in its OSD documentation.
When the uninstall fails
Windows says RTSS is running
Exit RTSS and Afterburner, end the confirmed processes in Task Manager, restart Windows and try again before launching a game or monitoring tool.
The uninstaller repeatedly requests a restart
Accept the restart, check whether RTSS has actually been removed, then close any remaining matching processes and run the uninstaller again from the installation folder. If the uninstall record is damaged, use Microsoft’s Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter. Microsoft says it can address corrupted uninstall data and desktop programs that cannot be completely removed.
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Confirm that RTSS and Afterburner are closed, restart Windows and try again. Check ownership or permissions only for the RTSS folder. Safe Mode is a last-resort troubleshooting option, not a normal requirement for uninstalling RTSS.
You want a third-party removal tool
Revo Uninstaller is optional, not required. It can guide leftover scanning after the normal uninstaller runs, but review every file and registry result rather than automatically deleting everything. Its RTSS-specific database coverage may not match every current RTSS build.
Verify that RTSS is gone
- RTSS is absent from Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- RTSS is absent from Programs and Features.
- No
RTSS.exeprocess is running. - The RTSS installation folder is gone or contains no RTSS files.
- No RTSS shortcut remains in either Startup folder.
- RTSS does not launch after another restart.
- The RTSS in-game overlay no longer appears.
- MSI Afterburner is either intentionally retained or separately uninstalled.
If an overlay remains
A remaining FPS counter does not prove that RTSS is still installed. Check other overlay and monitoring providers, including NVIDIA App or GeForce overlay, AMD Software, Xbox Game Bar, Steam, Discord, OBS, HWiNFO and Overwolf. Confirm whether RTSS.exe is running before investigating RTSS further.
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