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I have transferred to linux 3 days ago and there are so many things that I love about it but at the same time I am starting to grow tired, because majority of stuff just does not work as it is supposed to.

For example I have read that you need to execute 

sudo apt --purge remove $packagename

command to remove a program and its configuration files, but it just does not work for me! I messed up with Evolution a little bit annd I want a clean install now and when I do that command and then reinstall it again, I am getting Evolution package with all my emails inside it already together with all the changes I have made of course.

So how the hell do I remove the program completely out of ubuntu system, together with it config files, installation files, JUST EVERYTHING THAT'S RELATED TO THAT SPECIFIC PROGRAM.

shiu'sho
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    Does this answer your question? [How to completely remove any program and its installation files?](https://askubuntu.com/questions/711793/how-to-completely-remove-any-program-and-its-installation-files) – karel Apr 14 '20 at 00:00

2 Answers2

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This is a common new-user and didn't-quite-understand-the-manual question.

apt remove <package> removes the application only.

  • Configuration (/etc) is NOT removed.
  • Personal data (/home) is NOT removed.

apt purge <package> removes the application and configuration.

  • Personal data (/home) is NOT removed.

No apt command removes personal data in /home. You must delete that yourself.

user535733
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  • What is meant by configuration here then? and what exactly I should delete in order to remove that app's configuration and settings I have made on that package? – shiu'sho Apr 13 '20 at 15:44
  • You must locate, within your /home dir, the `.evolution`, `.config/evolution`, and `.cache/evolution` directories. There may be others. Delete them. That's where your e-mail (which is *your personal data*) is stored. – user535733 Apr 13 '20 at 15:46
  • Thanks. Command {sudo ls -lRa . |grep .evolution} helped as well! – shiu'sho Apr 13 '20 at 16:10
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As the answer by @user535733 said, it's not removed from /home. If you messed up the installation, you'd be better off reinstalling ubuntu. Don't worry, it happens

Sam Pan
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  • it's not a solution. so do you mean if I change some app settings and dont know how to revert them I should reinstall my system everytime? its nonsense – shiu'sho Apr 13 '20 at 15:45
  • @shiu'sho no no no that's not what I mean. I mean that if ubuntu is unusable because of this you should reinstall. I also said don't reinstall unless removing it's files from /home causes you to break your install or something. – Sam Pan Apr 13 '20 at 16:16