How to perfectly uninstall forticlient on windows

Overview

FortiClient is a popular security and VPN client from Fortinet. Sometimes you need to remove it completely: perhaps the VPN driver is broken, a new version refuses to install, or your company switched tools. This step-by-step guide shows how to fully uninstall FortiClient on Windows, clean up left-over services, drivers, and files, and verify that everything is gone. The tutorial uses only built-in Windows tools and safe commands that you can run with administrator rights.

Before you begin

• Make sure you have local administrator rights.
• Disconnect any active VPN sessions and exit FortiTray from the system tray.
• Save work and plan a reboot at the end of the process.
• If this is a company device managed by IT or EMS, removal may be password protected or blocked by policy. In that case, contact your administrator first.

Method 1: Standard uninstall (Apps & Features)

1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps on Windows 11 (or Apps & features on Windows 10).
2. Find FortiClient or FortiClient VPN and choose Uninstall.
3. Follow the wizard. If prompted for a password, this means removal is protected by policy. Ask your IT team for the uninstall password.
4. Restart Windows when finished.

Method 2: Uninstall using Winget (command line)

Windows Package Manager can remove many apps by exact ID or a search. Run PowerShell as Administrator:

# List packages that look like FortiClient
winget list --source winget | findstr /i forti

# Example uninstall by ID (replace the ID with the one shown on your system)
winget uninstall --id Fortinet.FortiClient --silent

If Winget does not find it, use the standard uninstall or the MSI approach below.

Method 3: Uninstall via MSI (for stubborn installs)

Some FortiClient versions are installed via MSI. You can remove them with msiexec if you know the product code. Run PowerShell as Administrator:

# Try to locate an MSI product with Forti in its name
Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product | Where-Object { $_.Name -like "*Forti*" } | Select-Object Name, IdentifyingNumber

# If a matching IdentifyingNumber (GUID) appears, remove it like this
msiexec /x {PUT-GUID-HERE} /qn

Note: The Win32_Product class can be slow and may trigger MSI self-repairs. Use it only if other methods fail.

Stop services and background processes

If the uninstaller fails because files are in use, stop FortiClient services first. Run PowerShell as Administrator:

# Stop common FortiClient services if present
sc stop FortiClient_Service
sc stop FortiClient_Scheduler
sc stop FortiClientSslvpnDaemon
sc stop FortiClientVPNService

# Kill tray and helper processes if running
taskkill /IM FortiTray.exe /F
taskkill /IM FortiClient.exe /F

Remove FortiClient network adapters (if they remain)

After uninstall, the virtual VPN adapter or drivers can linger and block new installs. Remove them cleanly:

# Show Fortinet network adapters and drivers
pnputil /enum-drivers | findstr /i forti

# Remove a published driver package by its oemXX.inf name (replace with your match)
pnputil /delete-driver oem42.inf /uninstall /force

# Or remove a hidden VPN adapter from Device Manager:
# 1) Open Device Manager
# 2) View > Show hidden devices
# 3) Expand Network adapters
# 4) Right-click any Fortinet or SSL VPN Virtual Ethernet adapter > Uninstall device > Delete the driver software for this device

Clean leftover folders

These paths often hold logs, configs, and temporary files. Delete them only after uninstalling the app:

• C:\Program Files\Fortinet\
• C:\Program Files (x86)\Fortinet\
• C:\ProgramData\FortiClient\ (ProgramData is hidden)
• C:\Users\<YourUser>\AppData\Local\Fortinet\
• C:\Users\<YourUser>\AppData\Roaming\Fortinet\

You can remove them via File Explorer or with PowerShell:

# Replace paths as needed; -Force handles hidden items and -Recurse removes subfolders
Remove-Item "C:\Program Files\Fortinet" -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Remove-Item "C:\Program Files (x86)\Fortinet" -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Remove-Item "C:\ProgramData\FortiClient" -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Remove-Item "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Fortinet" -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Remove-Item "$env:APPDATA\Fortinet" -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

Optional: Clean registry remnants (advanced)

If you are comfortable editing the registry, you can remove FortiClient keys that remain after uninstall. Always create a restore point or export keys before deleting anything.

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Fortinet
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Fortinet
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Fortinet

PowerShell example to check for keys:

Get-ChildItem "HKLM:\SOFTWARE" | Where-Object { $_.Name -like "*Fortinet*" }
Get-ChildItem "HKCU:\Software" | Where-Object { $_.Name -like "*Fortinet*" }

Delete only what clearly belongs to Fortinet. Avoid changing unrelated keys.

Remove scheduled tasks and services (if left behind)

Sometimes a scheduler task or service remains after uninstall. You can remove them safely:

# List tasks containing Forti
Get-ScheduledTask | Where-Object { $_.TaskName -like "*Forti*" } | Select-Object TaskName

# Remove a task by name
Unregister-ScheduledTask -TaskName "FortiClient Update" -Confirm:$false -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

# Delete orphaned services if they still exist (replace names with those on your system)
sc delete FortiClient_Service
sc delete FortiClient_Scheduler
sc delete FortiClientVPNService

Reset the network stack (optional)

If you had adapter errors or DNS issues, a network reset can help:

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /flushdns

Restart Windows after running these commands.

Verify that FortiClient is fully removed

• No FortiClient entries in Apps & Features.
• No Fortinet devices in Device Manager > Network adapters (enable Show hidden devices).
• Fortinet folders are gone from Program Files, ProgramData, and user AppData.
• services.msc shows no FortiClient services.

Reinstall cleanly (if you plan to use it again)

1. Download the latest installer that matches your Windows version and architecture.
2. Right-click the installer and choose Run as administrator.
3. Reboot after installation if the setup wizard recommends it.

Troubleshooting

• Uninstall is password protected: This is controlled by policy on managed devices. Ask your IT admin for the uninstall password or a policy change.
• Files are locked: Stop services and kill FortiTray as shown above, then retry uninstall.
• Installer says a newer version is installed: Remove leftover MSI using the product GUID with msiexec /x, then clean folders and drivers.
• VPN adapter remains: Delete the device in Device Manager with the option to remove driver software, or use pnputil to remove the driver package.

Safety and best practices

• Create a restore point before registry edits or driver removal.
• Close other security tools temporarily to avoid interference during uninstall.
• Document the steps you take so you can repeat them on other machines if needed.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can completely remove FortiClient from Windows and avoid common problems like stuck adapters or failed upgrades. Start with the standard uninstall, then clean up services, drivers, folders, and tasks. Finish with a reboot and a quick verification. If you need FortiClient again, a clean reinstall will be smoother and more reliable.