How to Uninstall Programs in Windows 10 and Windows 11

Sometimes it's necessary to remove unwanted programs from your computer to free up space and improve system performance. In Windows 10 and Windows 11, there are several ways to do this: through the Control Panel, Settings, or by using special utilities. This guide will walk you through each method step by step.

1. Uninstalling Programs via "Settings"

The easiest way to uninstall a program in Windows 10 and Windows 11 is through the "Settings" menu:

  1. Press Win + I on your keyboard to open the "Settings" window.
  2. Go to the "Apps" section (in Windows 11, it’s called "Apps & Features").
  3. Find the program you want to uninstall from the list.
  4. Click on it and select the "Uninstall" button.
  5. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation process.

Note: Some default system apps cannot be removed via the "Settings" menu.

2. Uninstalling Programs via the "Control Panel"

A classic method available in both Windows 10 and Windows 11 is using the "Control Panel":

  1. Press Win + R and type control, then press Enter.
  2. Navigate to the "Programs and Features" section.
  3. Locate the program in the list, right-click on it, and select "Uninstall".
  4. Follow the prompts to remove the program.

3. Uninstalling Programs via PowerShell or Command Prompt

If standard methods don’t work or the program doesn’t appear in the list, you can use PowerShell or Command Prompt:

  1. Press Win + X and choose "Windows PowerShell (Admin)" or "Command Prompt (Admin)".
  2. Type the command Get-AppxPackage to view a list of installed applications.
  3. Find the app you want to remove and execute the command Remove-AppxPackage -Package [package_name].

Note: Be careful when uninstalling apps via PowerShell, as you may accidentally remove essential system components.

4. Using Third-Party Uninstaller Tools

If the built-in methods are ineffective or the program leaves behind residual files, consider using third-party uninstaller tools:

  • Revo Uninstaller — A powerful tool for completely removing programs and cleaning up leftover files.
  • CCleaner — A popular system cleaning tool that includes an uninstaller feature.
  • IObit Uninstaller — A utility for uninstalling software and finding leftover files and registry entries.