How to Remove Nginx from Ubuntu

This brief tutorial shows students and new users how to remove Nginx and purge from Ubuntu 20.04 | 18.04.

There are two ways to uninstall or remove programs from Ubuntu and Linux systems.

You can either run the apt remove or apt purge.

When you use the remove option with apt, the command will delete the software package from the system but leave the configuration files behind. Purge with apt will delete the software package, including all configuration files and settings.

Learning to remove Nginx from Ubuntu can be useful if you’re a webmaster and want to uninstall the Nginx web server from your host. Sometimes, you may need to remove Nginx to reinstall it or replace it with a different web server.

Knowing the proper steps to remove Nginx can help you avoid any issues or conflicts arising during the process. Additionally, removing Nginx can free up system resources and improve the performance of your Ubuntu system.

When you want to delete Nginx from Ubuntu, follow the steps below:

Remove Nginx

Again, running apt with the remove option will delete Nginx from the host computer but keep all configuration files intact.

If you think of removing Nginx to reinstall, you may want to use the purge option.

If you simply want to remove the Nginx package but critical all configuration files, then run the commands below:

sudo apt remove nginx

The commands above delete Nginx, but site configuration files in the /etc/nginx directory are left alone, including the content directory at /var/www.

Purge Nginx

The purge option with apt will delete Nginx and all configuration files from Ubuntu.

If you want to delete Nginx, including configuration files and settings, use the purge option.

The files in /etc/nginx directory will be removed. However, the site content at /var/www will be left alone.

Run the commands below to remove Nginx along with its configuration files.

sudo apt purge nginx

Reinstall Nginx

The command will delete Nginx and install when you use the reinstall option with apt.

The reinstall option won’t change or delete any configuration file or the site content at /var/www.

It will simply delete and reinstall the Nginx packages.

To reinstall Nginx, run the commands below:

sudo apt reinstall nginx

That should do it!

Conclusion:

This post showed you how to delete, purge, or reinstall Nginx. If you find any error above, please use the comment form below to report.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I completely remove Nginx from Ubuntu?

To completely remove Nginx from Ubuntu, you can use the command 'sudo apt purge nginx'. This command will delete Nginx along with all its configuration files, ensuring a clean removal.

What is the difference between 'apt remove' and 'apt purge'?

'apt remove' deletes the software package but keeps the configuration files, while 'apt purge' removes both the software package and its configuration files. Use 'apt purge' if you want to ensure that no leftover settings remain.

Can I reinstall Nginx after removing it?

Yes, you can reinstall Nginx after removing it. Simply run the command 'sudo apt reinstall nginx', which will delete the existing Nginx package and install it again without affecting your configuration files.

Will removing Nginx affect my website content?

No, removing Nginx will not affect your website content stored in the /var/www directory. Only the Nginx software and its configuration files will be removed.

What should I do if I encounter errors while removing Nginx?

If you encounter errors while removing Nginx, check the command syntax and ensure you have the necessary permissions. You can also consult the error messages for guidance or seek help in forums or comment sections.

Categories:

Ubuntu Linux