How to REALLY remove REDLauncher

This guide will help you to remove REDLauncher from your PC for once and (hopefully) for good.

Beginning

Because I couldn't find anywhere a solution for this problem; other than commonly used --launcher-skip command (which is far from perfect)... I've dediced to come out with my own solution.

This article is divided into a Two Sections:

1. RED Launcher removal process.
2. Preventing users data collection by CDPR (and/or other parties) while in-game; without their knowledge & agreement.


Additional Notes:
- Solutions presented here will likely work only on machines using Windows systems.
- Knowledge from this guide, should help you solve problems with "some" of other games, such as Cyberpunk 2077.

PART 1 - RED Launcher

• Adware, Spyware/Data Collector. Causes Unauthorized logging in to GOG account of current PC user, by harvesting its data.
• Additionally works as an optional "switcher" between DirectX 11 and 12 for the game.


With a Next-Gen Update, CDPR enforced potentially unwanted; software, which claims to be only a game Launcher.
This obligatory added "Launcher" - which is over 0.5GB, can't be skipped, nor removed in normal means; preventing customers from accessing the game without DOWNLOADING and USING it.

First Preparations:

1. Turn off auto-updates for Witcher 3 game. To do this: Right Click on game Title > Properties > Local Files > Browse.
2. In a search-bar, type: exe and press Enter.
You will see two "witcher3.exe" files. Bigger one is for DirectX 12, smaller for 11.

Right click on the one, which corresponds to the version you want to use and choose "Open File Location".
3. Left Click at the end of the folder path - and copy it.
4. Create on Desktop or anywhere a new notepad (.txt) file and open it.
5, Type inside: start /d, press once a spacebar and then ctrl+v. Press spacebar again and write: witcher3.exe

Content should look like this: start /d "C:\Games\Steam\steamapps\common\The Witcher 3\bin\x64_dx12\" witcher3.exe
Save the file and change its extension from TXT to BAT.

Creating a "fake" EXE files

Because Game launched directly from Steam, will always seek for a certain launcher files... we have to trick it, by creating an alternative executable files.
These files will not only help rid of the RED Launcher, but also prevent game process from being terminated.

1. Press Windows Key and type: iexpress - right click it, to open as Administrator.
2. Follow the image instructions below.
If some step is missing, then just press NEXT without changing anything.














3. Create a new .txt file called: setup_redlauncher and change its extension from TXT to EXE.
4. Both newely created files copy to the game's main folder called The Witcher 3 - replace both files which are there.
5. If you have used --launcher-skip command so far, make sure to REMOVE it now, otherwise game won't launch.

You can now turn auto-updates back on again (if you want ofc).


NOTE 1:
There is a chance that with a new game update, RED Launcher will be re-downloaded.
If that happens - then simply copy again your exe files inside The Witcher 3 folder.
NOTE 2:
There might be still some left-over files on your PC from the REDLauncher, but they shouldn't cause any problems. If anyone found their location, please provide it in the comments and I will update this guide.

PART 2 - Users Data Collection within the game

Before you proceed further; you should be aware that to fully utilize this solution, you will likely have to give up on cross-platforms saves (Steam - GOG - Consoles) - it won't affect Steam Cloud.
If you don't want to "lose" this feature, please focus only on the first part.

Reasoning and Concerns for the topic:

Some people have concerns that CDRP (and/or other third parties) collects users data via game itself - earlier and/or for other purposes than declared by the company.
I've seen numerous reports, that data could be collected even BEFORE players are asked; if they wish to share it.

Whatever it being truth, or not; that's not for me to determinate it.
I'm only providing here an advice, as to how people may get more control over data being send out from their computers.

Solution 1 (less likely to work)

0. If it's not your first time launching game; and you already have some progress in the game; go to Documents and rename The Witcher 3 folder to something else, like The Witcher 3xyz.
1. Disconnect your internet connection and launch the game.
2. Once game loads it's Main Menu, you should see multiple pop-up windows, including this one:



2-2. Refuse to it and exit the game.
2-3. If earlier you copied/renamed your saves folder - rename it back (and newely created folder just delete).
3. Launch game again, until Main Menu appears, then exit once more.
4. Connect your internet back.

This theoretically, should prevent at least some of data leak.

Solution 2 - Firewall:

1. Press Windows Key > type "Firewall" and open the Windows Defender Firewall.
2. On the left Control Panel, choose Advanced settings.
3. Click on Outbound Rules and create a New Rule. In new window choose Program.



4. Choose 2nd option and Browse for a witcher3.exe file (inside your game folder) - the one which corresponds to DirectX version you are going to use.



5. Choose Block the connection. In next window make sure that all connections are Tick On.
6. Name it The Witcher 3 and Finish.

You can repeat this process with second exe file, if you going to switch between DirectX versions and Inbound connections as well (altho this one shouldn't be necessary).

End statement...

I hope someone will find this guide useful.

And once again - If you have any suggestions or noticed some mistakes; please report them in the comments section below.
If I will have some free time (and will), I will make a guide about performance improvements.

Cheers.

[Zhayl]

Great guide. Saved me an evening of annoyance having to figure out how to remove another useless forced launcher.

[iTz_damafafakka]

I may be wrong, but I don't think I can even choose which drive the launcher is installed on. Unlike all my games, it's installed on my system drive, which sux since capacity is a concern for me...

[Karsui]

Remove modified files from a game folder, then Verify Integrity of the game files through Steam.

Launcher should not be required to run any mods however.

[Vaizoros]

Do you have a guide for reinstalling it? I finally got the game working again after 2.0 and PL dropped. But I can't access the launcher at all. Every time I try, it just launches the game. I want to be able to turn on mods again. Not being able to is really cracking my chrome

[Karsui]

If the game launches for you, then yes it should be enough.
Ensure that a game launches through Steam; otherwise certain features like play-time, achievements and cloud-saves might not work properly.

[Pushup]

JFC I unistalled REDLauncher from windows add and remove programs and put the console command for Cyberpunk 2077 to skip the launcher. Is that not enough?

[Rageous]

Original setup_redlauncher.exe installs its trash into "C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Programs\CD Projekt Red". You might want to delete that too.

Ran into a few problems when making REDprelauncher.exe. Every path put into IExpress Wizard must have no spaces (and maybe no non-ASCII characters). May also need to start IExpress Wizard as admin, from Windows Start Menu, by searching for it with "iexpress", right-clicking it and choosing "Run as administrator".

[Karsui]

In response to user: about 47 t-rexes

1. "what's the point of all this work?"

Explained in the Beginning section of this guide.



2. "If you were really concerned about "spyware" you would not be using Windows"

First of all: Data gathering by Microsoft is mostly optional - and can be permanently blocked in multiple ways.
If you are more interested in the topic, I suggest on making research on some Computer / Sofware forums.

Secondly: Just because someone agrees on sharing their data with Subject X, it doesn't mean they agrees on doing it with everyone else.

Most people purchased the game long before CDPR suddenly enforced REDLauncher & Data Gathering. Such policy is unacceptable; as no one accepted this kind of terms upon handing over their money.

[about 47 t-rexes]

what's the point of all this work? If you were really concerned about "spyware" you would not be using Windows. Well made guide though

[Middy]

I feel like about 90% of people still believe in-game data collection consists of personal information and private files, rather than the completely anonymised and objectively harmless statistics it usually is. Paranoia must be trending on Tiktok or something.