Splunk UF not uninstalling completely on Domain Controllers

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Updated:September 28, 2026
Document ID:SPLK044423

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Applicability

Splunk Enterprise

Description

In the process of testing and packaging Splunk in SCCM (System Center Configuration Manager) for Domain Controller deployments, while doing the uninstall portion of it as documented via https://docs.splunk.com/Documentation/Splunk/7.3.1/Installation/UninstallSplunk, it was noticed that Splunk isn't being removed completely from the system. SCCM is detecting remnants of it in the registry and backs out of the install on a DC that once had Splunk installed and removed.

Investigation

It was tried to un-install the Splunk UF following the official documentation:
https://docs.splunk.com/Documentation/Forwarder/7.3.1/Forwarder/Uninstalltheuniversalforwarder#Uninstall_the_Windows_universal_forwarder
But it was not enough.
Also, It was recommended to un-install Splunk UF following the next steps:
https://support.symantec.com/us/en/article.howto55432.html
https://thesolving.com/server-room/how-to-deploy-remove-software-packages-via-gpo/
 

Resolution

It was suggested to uninstall client software with an Active Directory Group Policy Object in a next way:
1) On the Windows Taskbar, click Start > All Programs > Administrative Tools > Group Policy Management.
2) The version of Windows that you use may display Programs instead of All Programs in the Start menu.
3) In the Group Policy Management window, in the console tree, expand the domain, expand Computer Configuration, expand Software Settings, right-click Software Installation, and then click Properties.
4) On the Advanced tab, check to Uninstall this application when it falls out of the scope of management, and then click OK.
5) In the right pane, right-click the software package, and then click Remove.
6) In the Remove Software dialog box, check Immediately uninstall the software from users and computers, and then click OK.
7) Close the Group Policy Object Editor window, and then close the Group Policy Management window.
Splunk Documentation

Uninstall the Windows universal forwarder https://docs.splunk.com/Documentation/Forwarder/7.3.1/Forwarder/Uninstalltheuniversalforwarder#Uninstall_the_Windows_universal_forwarder

Revision History

Revision Publish Date Comments
1.0
28-Sep-2026
Initial Release

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