The problem with this is that despite being uninstalled, apps will often leave behind residual data which occupies space and clutters your PC. Of course, there’s also the matter of simply being efficient when uninstalling programs.So, in this article, we’ve discussed how to uninstall apps on Windows 11, the right way.
Ways to Uninstall Apps on Windows 11
We’ve listed various methods to uninstall apps on Windows 11 below. You can choose your preferred approach as the end result will be the same.
Using the Uninstaller
Developers usually include an uninstall.exe file along with everything else that is extracted when you install an application. The purpose of this uninstaller file is to, you guessed it, uninstall the application. Here are the steps to run the uninstaller:
From the Start Menu
You can customize the start menu, easily access your installed applications, as well as remove the ones you don’t want with the click of a button. Here’s how to uninstall apps on Windows 11 via the Start Menu:
Using the Control Panel
The Control Panel is mainly used to check and modify system settings. One of its many features is to remove or modify programs, and here’s how you can do the same:
Via the Settings App
The Settings app has received a lot of improvements in Windows 11, and the UI has changed. But one thing that has remained consistent with Windows 10 is that you can still remove unwanted apps and features. Here are the steps to do so:
From the Command-Line
We recommend using the methods listed above as they will easily get the job done. But if you’d prefer to take the CLI approach anyway, there are a couple of ways to go about it.
Using Remove-AppxPackage Cmdlet
We’ve instructed how to use this cmdlet for its core function below. But if you’d like to preserve the application data after uninstalling it, or you’re trying to uninstall an app on a specific user account only, or some other advanced task, you should refer to Microsoft’s documentation. With that said, here’s how to uninstall apps on Windows 11 using this cmdlet:
Using WMIC Utility
You can also use the WMIC utility, but this method only allows you to remove programs that are registered in WMI, so your options will likely be limited. Regardless, here’s how to uninstall apps on Windows 11 via WMIC:
Third-Party Uninstaller
You might have a hard time when uninstalling certain applications. Even after uninstalling an application, residual data will sometimes be left behind in the registry. And finally, there’s also the matter of convenience.We recommend uninstalling apps using the methods listed in our guide, but in the cases mentioned directly above, a third-party uninstaller tool can be a good option. Some reputable ones currently available include Revo Uninstaller and CCleaner.
Related Questions
Why Can’t I Uninstall an App on Windows 11? How to Delete an App That Won’t Uninstall?
Microsoft doesn’t allow removing certain core apps (Photos app, for instance) using conventional means. In such cases, you can use the command-line methods that we’ve detailed in the guide above to uninstall the app.Users can also face this issue due to a background service interfering with the uninstallation. You can resolve this by performing a clean boot with the following steps:Finally, Microsoft’s Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter is also worth checking if you’re still facing the issue.
How Do I Completely Remove an App from Windows?
Often, even after removing an application, it will still be present in the Control Panel or the Settings app. This is because the registry keys for that application are still present in your system. We recommend backing up your registry and following the steps listed below to resolve this issue:Next, you should clear the temporary files with the following steps:
