Uninstall or remove apps and programs in Windows 10

There are different ways to remove apps and programs, so if you can’t find the one you’re looking for, you can try another location. Note that some apps and programs are built into Windows and can’t be uninstalled. You can try to repair a program first, if it’s just not running correctly.

Uninstall from the Start menu

Select Start and look for the app or program in the list shown.

Press and hold (or right-click) on the app, then select Uninstall.

Uninstall from the Settings page

Select Start , then select Settings > Apps > Apps & features. Or just click the shortcut link at the bottom of this article.

Select the app you want to remove, and then select Uninstall.

Uninstall from the Control Panel (for programs)

In the search box on the taskbar, type Control Panel and select it from the results.

Select Programs > Programs and Features.

Press and hold (or right-click) on the program you want to remove and select Uninstall or Uninstall/ Change. Then follow the directions on the screen.

If you get an error message when you’re uninstalling, try the Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter.

If you’re trying to remove malware, see Stay protected with Windows Security to find out how to run a scan. Or if you use another antivirus software program, check their virus protection options.

How to force uninstall a software that is installed by MSI package?

Now my computer’s Silverlight 5.1.10411.0 (x64) cannot be uninstalled because the MSI package is missing, how can I force it to uninstall? The reason that I want to do this is that I cannot redownload the installed of Silverlight 5.1.10411.0 (x64), there is a x86 one, but not x64 one — shame on you, Microsoft, or me for that I cannot find it using Google. Or if someone can point me to the right download package is also acceptable.

2 Answers 2

Here is a little article I have been working on, and although it does not address your question directly, it might be useful. Just pay attention to the registry keys I mention and you can generally delete them, as well as the C:\Program Files\Application folder to trick the installers into think

Everything You Wanted to Know about Add / Remove Programs in Windows

Have you ever wondered how Windows presents and uses the Add/Remove programs? Or perhaps you have the need to enumerate these values yourself? Here is some useful information on how it works, how to use it and some neat tricks you might enjoy.

Everything you see in add and remove programs (XP, Vista, 7 confirmed) is written to the registry at HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\ as a subkey.

For example, I have the subkey CutePDF Writer Installation with the keys and values:

Now, of interest here is the UninstallString value. When you click “uninstall” in Add/Remove programs, what it does is call this value and run it. You can do the same manually, for example with CutePDF if you run C:\Program Files (x86)\Acro Software\CutePDF Writer\Setup64.exe /uninstall from either the Run line or the command prompt, you will get the uninstaller. You could also find additional uninstall options by running the command with the /? switch, or run the following from the cmd prompt:

Note, this is a bad example as the switch does not return anything! But generally this will work, or you can just call the uninstaller manually this way. Now, let’s look at a possible problem with the Uninstall list, you will see some files that names in this format:

This is how a MSI installer writes its name to the Registry, instead of writing the friendly name an EXE installer writes, it writes its GUID.

This is not really a problem, as much as a difficulty in reading the keys. There are couple ways to read through these. One, there is a Value Name DisplayName that will have the more friendly value of (in this example) Quest ActiveRoles Management Shell for Active Directory (x64).

Another approach, is Windows writes a “compressed and hashed” version of the GUID to another part of the Registry.

To Hash the value, take the GUID and reverse each set of hex digits. AFF7153F becomes F3517FFA, C4AA becomes AA4C and on down the GUID until you have the following:

Now, drop the <, -, and >to get F3517FFAAA4C84C49EEA68EC672D1168. You now have the compressed and hashed GUID that you can compare to another key.

You should now be able to find this new GUID at the following location in the Registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Products

And sure enough, there she is:

With the following keys:

Again, you can then look in ProductName for the name of the application.

17 Best Free Uninstaller Programs

Full reviews of the best free uninstaller software tools

Uninstaller software, in case you didn’t know, is software you install for the purpose of uninstalling other software programs.

Confused? It does seem a little strange to install a program whose sole purpose is to remove other software, especially since you can uninstall programs easily from Control Panel with the Programs & Features applet.

So why use one? Uninstaller tools are great when a program won’t uninstall normally (more common than you think) or when you suspect that a program didn’t uninstall completely (even more common).

Some uninstaller programs even improve on the program uninstall process in general by doing things like monitoring the install process to ensure a complete uninstall when you’re ready, by adding easy «uninstall» options to programs via the right-click menu, and lots more.

Below are the 17 best free uninstall software programs available right now:

If you’re having trouble finding a free uninstaller software tool that will completely remove your antivirus program, see the last item on this page for some specific suggestions that should be very helpful.

IObit Uninstaller

Includes several ways to start an uninstall

Remove programs in bulk, one after another

Monitors installations to make them easier to remove

Although you can see which programs were installed as bundleware, you can’t remove all of them at once

The installer might try to install other programs during setup

With IObit Uninstaller you can search for installed software, find and remove the programs taking up the most space or the ones you hardly use, uninstall browser toolbars and plugins, remove downloads made from Windows Update, and even see which of your programs could be updated to a newer version.

The best feature in IObit Uninstaller is the right-click context menu integration. You can right-click any program on your desktop and choose to remove it with IObit Uninstaller, without ever having to find the program’s uninstall utility yourself.

In fact, you can even use the Easy Uninstall feature to delete programs that are running. Just drag the green dot on top of the program window and IObit Uninstaller will know exactly what to do to remove it.

After a program is deleted, you have the option to scan the registry and file system for leftover data that the installer may have missed, which is a great way to keep your computer free of clutter.

This is also true if you uninstall a program without using IObit Uninstaller—it will still prompt you to remove any leftover files and registry items that the regular uninstaller might have missed.

IObit Uninstaller can also create a System Restore point before making any changes, includes a file shredder, can force-remove a program, supports batch uninstalls, deletes bundled programs, and includes other useful tools, too.

IObit Uninstaller runs on all recent and older versions of Windows. This includes Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.

Geek Uninstaller

No need for installation (portable)

You can view the registry entry for any program

Lets you sort the list of programs by size

It’s easy to remove stubborn programs

Free version doesn’t support batch uninstalls

Geek Uninstaller is a completely portable program uninstaller that’s packed with features, all in a file less than 10 MB in size!

Sort programs by their size or installation date, delete entries from the list of software, search through the programs, export a list of installed software to an HTML file, and look up information on any program in the Registry Editor, install folder, or internet.

You can also forcibly remove a program by eliminating any reference to it, both in the registry and file system.

Some features in Geek Uninstaller, like batch uninstalls, unfortunately only work in the professional version.

Geek Uninstaller can uninstall programs in Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP, and Windows Server 2008/2003.

Wise Program Uninstaller

Has a clean and modern user interface

Uninstalling is easy from Explorer

Deletes rogue entries in the registry

Includes a way to delete programs that failed to uninstall with other means

Helps you identify which programs you might want to remove

There’s a portable option available

Batch uninstalls is not supported

Ads are sometimes shown

Doesn’t let you restore from a backup should a program occur during uninstallation

Wise Program Uninstaller, like some other uninstallers here, supports an easy way of removing programs by via the right-click context menu in Windows Explorer.

After Wise Program Uninstaller is finished deleting a program, it will automatically scan your computer for any remaining registry entries or files that may have been left over.

Forced Uninstall is a feature in Wise Program Uninstaller that can force a program to be removed if you’ve already tried using the software’s regular uninstaller but was unable to properly get it removed.

Wise Program Uninstaller can also remove program entries from the list of installed software, instantly search through all the programs, sort by install date or size, and includes built-in reviews submitted by other users.

You can uninstall programs with Wise Program Uninstaller on Windows 10 through Windows XP.

Comodo Programs Manager

Monitors installs to know how to uninstall the program

Lets you restore deleted programs

Integrates with Explorer for easy uninstalls

Able to delete Windows updates and drivers

Doesn’t work in Windows 10

It’s been discontinued since 2011

You have to restart your computer after installing it

Comodo is probably best known for their antivirus software, but they also have a wonderful program uninstaller called Comodo Programs Manager.

The main feature in Comodo Programs Manager that certainly stands out is the way it monitors program installs. After installing Comodo Programs Manager, any new software install will be monitored in real-time to keep track of every registry and file system change. Then, when you’re ready to uninstall the program, Comodo Programs Manager knows exactly where to look for a thorough cleaning.

You can also restore a program from a backup if you accidentally removed it, remove programs from the right-click context menu in Windows Explorer, view the install folder of any program, and sort the list of installed software by name, company, size, the frequency of use, install folder, and install date.

Comodo Programs Manager can remove Windows Updates, drivers, and Windows features in addition to regular programs.

Comodo Programs Manager is only compatible with Windows 8, 7, Vista, and XP. You’ll need a different program from this list if you’re looking for one that’s compatible with Windows 10.

Comodo Programs Manager would rank higher on this list except that because it has been discontinued, it hasn’t been updated since 2011.

Advanced Uninstaller PRO

Removes remnants often left after an uninstall

Can delete the entire program because it monitors the install

Works from Explorer for quick uninstalls

Lets you back up and restore whole programs

Includes other tools you might like

Some of the tools included are not free to use

No option to make a restore point before uninstalling software

The other tools might clutter the interface

Another free program remover is Advanced Uninstaller PRO. This program is basically like the others in this list. Common features like scanning for leftover registry items, context menu integration, and a search utility are included.

A feature called Monitored Installations is also available, which takes a snapshot of your computer before and after a program install. This allows Advanced Uninstaller PRO to easily identify the changes an install made, thus allowing it to remove every single file that the program modified during its installation process.

The only thing I don’t like about Advanced Uninstaller PRO is that it can seem very cluttered with all the extra tools it has, such as a registry cleaner and file shredder.

Both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows XP through Windows 10 are supported.

Puran Uninstaller

Can identify possibly malicious programs

Applications can be removed in bulk

Has a clean and uncluttered interface

Lets you sort and search through the list

Hasn’t been updated since 2013

The batch uninstall feature doesn’t work as well as it does in similar programs

An ad is constantly visible at the bottom of the program

Puran Software, the maker of a few other popular system tools, also has a free uninstaller tool called Puran Uninstaller.

Puran Uninstaller is similar to some of the other programs from this list. It supports instant searching of installed software, batch uninstalls, force uninstalls, and allows individual program entries to be removed from the list of software.

Puran Uninstaller can also verify a program’s identity by utilizing code signing. If an application’s signature is found by Puran Uninstaller to be different than the known signature of that particular program, Puran Uninstaller will identify it as untrusted.

You can uninstall software with Puran Uninstaller so long as you’re running any of the following versions of Windows (32-bit and 64-bit): Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP, Server 2008, or Server 2003.

Revo Uninstaller

Provides a unique way to remove programs

Can scan for leftovers to remove everything

A portable version is available

Makes a restore point automatically

Includes other useful free tools

Batch removal isn’t supported

Can’t delete partially uninstalled programs

Doesn’t always work as advertised

Revo Uninstaller is another software uninstaller program that has both a regular installable version as well as a portable one.

Hunter Mode is a unique feature that lets you manipulate a program by simply selecting its open window. You can uninstall the software, view its installation folder, kill the process, and even stop it from running at startup using this mode.

When uninstalling a program with Revo Uninstaller, you can run it in advanced mode, which scans the file system and registry for leftover items that are no longer needed but didn’t get properly uninstalled with the built-in uninstaller. You can then delete some or all of the leftover items.

Automatic restore point creation is a big plus. Also, there’s a junk file cleaner and privacy cleaner included, among other extra tools.

I like Revo Uninstaller, but because there’s also a professional version, it lacks a handful of the same features you’ll find in some of the other uninstaller tools from this list, like removing partially uninstalled applications and support for batch removals.

Windows Server plus Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP users can use Revo Uninstaller.

CCleaner

You can sort programs by size to find the largest ones

Lets you search through the list of installed programs

Program entries can be renamed and deleted

Includes lots of other tools

Doesn’t support batch uninstalls

You have to run the uninstalls manually

Only works from the program window, not Explorer

CCleaner is best known as a free registry cleaner and junk file removal program, but it can also be used as a free software uninstaller.

You can search for installed software, remove and rename entries from the program list, and sort by name, installation date, size, or version number.

It’s a wise choice to use CCleaner for removing programs because you can quickly switch over to its file and registry cleaner to sweep up any residual files that an uninstaller may have left behind.

Open CCleaner’s uninstaller from the Tools menu, where you can find other useful tools like a duplicate file finder, hard drive wiper, and startup manager.

A portable version of CCleaner is also available.

CCleaner works with all Windows versions from Windows 10 down through Windows XP. In may also be compatible with older versions of Windows.

Absolute Uninstaller

Organizes large programs into their own category

Deletes invalid program shortcut

Supports batch uninstalls

Also deletes Windows updates

Setup tries to install another program

Absolute Uninstaller is a free program remover that supports batch uninstalls so that you can check multiple programs to remove them each consecutively, and newly installed programs are clearly marked as such.

It has an AutoFix invalid entries option in the menu that can scan all the installed programs to find any that don’t refer to an actual program you have installed. This may happen if you’ve removed a program in the past but the entry remained in the list of installed software.

You can also modify the name of any of the listed programs as well as change the uninstall command line string.

Absolute Uninstaller can also remove Windows Update installs and has a search function, though it’s not nearly as good as the ones in most other programs I’ve reviewed here.

This program can be used on Windows 10 through Windows NT, as well as Windows Server 2003.

PC Decrapifier

Can remove programs in bulk

Lets you make a restore point before uninstalling software

Shows how many other users removed the program

Most programs can be uninstalled automatically

It’s a portable application

Doesn’t let you search for a program from the list

No filtering options (e.g., a size or name filter)

Can’t uninstall programs directly from Explorer

PC Decrapifier is a portable program that takes up less than 2 MB of space and supports batch uninstalls. An easy to follow wizard walks you through the process of choosing what you’d like to remove and lets you create a restore point before deleting anything.

Some programs can be uninstalled automatically and very quickly. For others, you must uninstall them manually, clicking through their uninstall wizards like you would normally.

While testing PC Decrapifier, I selected four programs I wanted to uninstall. Only one required me to walk through a regular uninstall wizard while the others were removed automatically without any prompts whatsoever.

Next to each program is a percentage of other PC Decrapifier users that have removed that program, which is an awesome way to quickly determine whether you should also uninstall it.

Unfortunately, PC Decrapifier provides no way to filter or search through the list of software.

PC Decrapifier works with Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP, and 2000.

MyUninstaller

No installation necessary

Can uninstall programs in batch

Lots of sorting options

Really easy to use

Works in Windows 10 and older versions of Windows

It was discontinued in 2017

Removing programs in batch doesn’t work very well

No Explorer context menu option

MyUninstaller is another free program uninstaller that’s a bit simpler than the others in this list.

It has an easy to understand interface that lets you export the list of programs to a file, remove application entries from the list, and sort all the software by name, version number, company, install folder, and install date.

MyUninstaller can also be switched to an advanced mode that supports batch uninstalls.

MyUninstaller is completely portable and less than 50 KB in size.

You can use MyUninstaller with nearly all versions of Windows, including Windows 10 down through Windows 98.

ZSoft Uninstaller

Lets you search through the list of installed software

Can’t sort programs by size

Hasn’t been updated in many years

Doesn’t support batch uninstalls

ZSoft Uninstaller can analyze your computer before you install a program and then re-analyze it afterward. This creates a section of missing time ZSoft Uninstaller can then use to find what changes were made to the computer during the install.

This would be a great feature to ensure that the uninstaller can remove 100% of the program, but it’s painfully slow. While testing it, the initial analysis didn’t complete even after an hour had passed.

The interface of ZSoft Uninstaller isn’t organized very well. You can only sort the list of programs by name and install date, but you have to find the option in the menu to do so (and even then, the result just isn’t very satisfying).

In short, ZSoft Uninstaller shouldn’t be your first pick when choosing a good program uninstaller. I recommend trying any of the above programs in this list before settling here.

However, I’ve kept the entry in our list because you might have better results.

I tested ZSoft Uninstaller in both Windows 10 and Windows 7, so it should work with other versions, too, like Windows 8 and XP.

OESIS Endpoint Assessment

Programs are removed automatically (you don’t have to click anything)

Checks for and deletes any leftover remnants after each uninstall

Lets you remove programs in batch

No installation is necessary because it’s portable

Not every program installed to your computer can be removed

Doesn’t let you delete programs straight from Explorer

OESIS Endpoint Assessment includes a tool called the OESIS Removal Module (formerly called AppRemover). It’s another software uninstaller with a limitation in that not all installed programs can be removed.

Programs identified as antivirus software, file sharing applications, toolbars, and backup programs can be uninstalled with the OESIS Removal Module tool, but nothing else.

The OESIS Removal Module tool uninstalls the above software silently, with no intervention on your part. It also supports batch uninstalls and automatically scans for leftover files and registry entries to ensure that the entire program, including all its references, are deleted.

The OESIS Removal Module tool is a portable program, which means you don’t need to install it to your computer to use it.

The OESIS Removal Module tool should work with Windows 10 through Windows XP.

Anvi Uninstaller

Organizes programs into categories to better find what you want

Includes a search tool

Can be used without installation

Deletes patches installed with Windows Update, too

Doesn’t support batch uninstalls

Won’t scan the computer for file remnants

Updates are no longer released

Anvi Uninstaller is a very basic software uninstaller that has no unique features. It’s completely portable, less than 2 MB in size, and can view all the installed programs in one list or see just the largest or most recently installed software.

You can search for programs in the list as well as view any of the installed programs in Windows Explorer to know exactly where it’s installed.

A restore point is created before uninstalling a program, but that’s the only other feature included. Batch uninstalls and scanning for leftover registry items, for example, aren’t allowed.

You can also remove Windows patches with Anvi Uninstaller.

Anvi Uninstaller runs on Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.

Free Uninstall It

Has a unique way of removing troublesome software

Restore points can be made before uninstalls

Supports multiple ways to view the list of programs

A major feature in the program might not work for you

Doesn’t support batch uninstalls

Free Uninstall It is another program that can forcibly remove an application if it can’t be removed by normal means. It does so by scanning for registry and file items that refer to the program in question, and then lets you remove them.

One difference in this program and some of the other programs from this list that forcibly remove programs is that Free Uninstall It can remove software by an executable even if it’s not listed in the list of installed programs.

Fortunately, unlike some similar programs, there’s an option to create a System Restore point before removing software with Free Uninstall It.

An installation monitor is included with Free Uninstall It that’s supposed to track how a program is installed to provide an easy way to remove it, but I was unable to get it to work properly.

This program should work with Windows 10 down through Windows XP.

Ashampoo Uninstaller

Monitors program installs for more effective uninstallations

Cleans up residual files after each uninstall

Multiple programs can be selected at once to be removed (batch uninstall)

Rates your programs to help identify them

Includes several other programs as part of the suite

Requires a [free] activation key

Might be overwhelming if you don’t want all the other tools

It’s been discontinued (no longer updates).

Ashampoo Uninstaller is a beast of a program. It, of course, deletes programs like you’d expect with a software uninstaller, but it does so much more.

There are multiple reasons we’ve added Ashampoo’s program to this list, one of which is for its ability to monitor program installs. Right-click a program you’re going to install and choose to open it with Ashampoo Uninstaller, and it will record any disk writes and registry changes.

The benefit to logging an install like this is so that Ashampoo Uninstaller can know exactly what happened to the computer during the installation, something that’s of utmost importance if you plan to completely remove the application later. This also means you can remove the program with just one click.

Ashampoo Uninstaller also lets you remove entries from the list of programs, clean up related files after an installation, uninstall programs in bulk, remove a specific application that was installed in a bundle, create what are called Snapshots any time you want to compare the state of your computer before and after any period of time (not just in relation to program installs), generate a report of installed programs, and group software together for easier management.

Monitored installs and the Snapshots feature are helpful in other situations, too, like when you suspect that a program is doing something nefarious or malicious. You can browse through the logged data to see exactly what Ashampoo Uninstaller caught the program doing during setup, and the Snapshots function is perfect for seeing which files and registry items were added, removed, and changed between two points in time.

Here are some other things you can do with this program that don’t necessarily have anything to do with program uninstalls: clean up junk files, defrag disks, manage startup items, change file associations, permanently delete files and folders, find invalid shortcuts, and more.

During installation, you’re told that you need to enter a license key to use the software. Don’t worry — it’s absolutely free; just use the Get free activation key button to open the Ashampoo website and learn how to get it.

I tested Ashampoo Uninstaller in Windows 10 and Windows 7 without any issues. It officially supports Windows 8, too.

The installer for Ashampoo Uninstaller might ask you to buy some other programs from Ashampoo, either after installation and/or when you open the program. You can ignore those requests if you don’t want to add anything else to your computer.