To uninstall SCCM client from the system, we have to run the command with specific parameter. Configuration manager client cannot be uninstalled through Programs and features. On a system where configuration manager client installed, we cannot see its entry under Programs and features.

Command line to uninstall sccm client

If we can’t uninstall SCCM client through Add / remove programs, then how we can uninstall the SCCM client?

There is a manual process of uninstallation.
Following command line should be used to uninstall & remove SCCM client:

Ccmsetup.exe /uninstall

This will take some time to uninstall the sccm client.

For removal, open the cmd prompt with elevated rights. Navigate to the folder where ccmsetup.exe exists (ie. C:\windows\ccmsetup) and run the above-mentioned command.

• C:\windows\ccmsetup is the location where configuration manager client source resides.
• C:\windows\ccm is the location where actual installation happens related to configuration manager.
• c:\windows\ccmcache is the location where sccm packages / applications are downloaded for execution.

Verification of uninstallation can be done through C:\windows\ccmsetup\Logs\ccmsetup.log. You will be able to see “CcmSetup is exiting with return code 0” as a successful uninstallation of client.

Proper cleanup of sccm client

Even though ccmsetup.exe /uninstall uninstalls the configuration manager client, however it doesn’t cleanup the residuals remained on the system. There could be certain scenarios where we want to uninstall the client but also perform the cleanup activity related to sccm client so that no traces are remaining related to it.

For this you need to do following:

1. Delete the folders c:\windows\ccmsetup, c:\windows\ccm & c:\windows\ccmcache
2. Delete file smscfg.ini from windows folder (c:\windows\smscfg.ini)
3. Launch certlm.msc, Delete SMS Encryption Certificate & SMS Signing Certificate from Local Computer Certificate store (Location: Local Computer\SMS\Certificates)
4. Make sure “SMS Agent Host” service (ccmexec.exe) is deleted from services.
5. Delete following registry:
   HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SMS
   HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\CCM
   HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\CCMSetup
   

Note: There was a tool provided by microsoft in previous version ie. ccmclean.exe, using ccmclean we could have uninstalled and cleaned up sccm client agent, but that is no longer supported with current version, though not supported – doesn’t mean it won’t work :).