Easy Ways to Uninstall Programs and Apps in Windows

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Quickly and easily clear out the clutter on your Windows desktop, laptop, or tablet

Written by Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: September 11, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Using the Start Menu
|
• Using Settings
|
• Using Control Panel
|
• Video
|
• Q&A
|
• Tips

|Show more |Show less

We've all experienced it--you download a software program, thinking you'll use it all the time. Then a few months pass, and you realize you haven't even opened it once. Worse than that, all it's doing is collecting cyber dust and slowing down your computer. It's time to remove that unwanted program, and this guide shows you how.

Easily Get Rid of Unused Programs on Your Computer

1. Right-click the app from the Start menu, Settings app, or Control Panel.
2. Click Uninstall.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using the Start Menu

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1. 
   1
   Open the Start menu. Press the Win key or click the Windows logo in the taskbar.

   • If you're using Windows 11, you'll see only pinned apps. If the program you're looking for isn't pinned, press All apps.
2. 
   2
   Right-click an app. When you find the program that you want to get rid of, you can press and hold on it (if you have a touchscreen), or right-click it.
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3. 
   3
   Click Uninstall. Doing so will delete the program from your computer.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Settings

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1. 
   1
   Open Settings. Press Win + I or open the Start menu and click the gear icon.
2. 
   2
   Click Apps. If you're using Windows 10, the option is in the middle of your screen. If you're using Windows 11, you'll see Apps in the menu on the left.
3. 
   3
   Click Installed apps (Windows 11) or Apps & features. This will display a list of all the apps and programs you have installed on your computer.
4. 
   4
   Click ••• (Windows 11) or click the app (Windows 10). In either version of Windows, a menu will open with more options.

   • If you're using a touchscreen, you can also press and hold the app's name.
5. 
   5
   Click Uninstall. Doing so will delete the program from your computer.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Control Panel

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1. 
   1
   Open Control Panel. Easily find and open it whether you're using Windows 10 or 11 by pressing the Win key and typing in "Control Panel", then clicking the app result.
2. 
   2
   Select Uninstall a program or Programs and features. You'll see either depending on the "View" category that you have selected.
3. 
   3
   Right-click the software or program you want to remove. A menu will appear at your cursor.

   • Alternatively, left-click the program to select it, then click Uninstall above.
   • If you have a touch screen, press and hold the app's name.
4. 
   4
   Click Uninstall. Doing so will delete the program from your computer.

   • These methods most likely will not remove any files or folders that the app leaves behind. To get rid of everything, use a third-party uninstallation tool, like Revo.
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  How do I know which programs I should uninstall to cleanup my computer?

  

  Community Answer

  Look for programs you installed that you don't use any more or that you haven't used in a long time. A lot of programs that are vital for system operation are difficult to uninstall. If you have any concerns about whether a program is necessary, check the name on the internet.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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  Not Helpful 3 Helpful 10
• Question

  How do delete undeletable programs from my computer?

  

  Community Answer

  Some programs are necessary for the functioning of your system and should not be deleted. If you suspect that a program may be harmful or you know what it is and know for sure you don't need it, you should google how to remove that program specifically, as they can all be different and it can get complex.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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  Not Helpful 3 Helpful 14
• Question

  How do I identify unnecessary software that was inadvertently downloaded or is spam?

  

  Community Answer

  Use anti-virus software such as Avast or AVG to identify spam software.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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Tips

• If the app does not appear in any of these lists, you can look and see if the program has an uninstall file. In case it doesn't, you can uninstall it using the Windows Registry.
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