Today I will show you how to uninstall programs on Windows 10.
To uninstall a program, you can either delete the program file or folder, or you can use the Add or Remove Programs tool in your PC’s control panel to get the job done. Keep in mind that the former option can cause issues with Windows, so we don’t recommend you go down this road.
The best way to uninstall a program from Windows is via the “Apps and Features” page (formerly known as Add or Remove Programs) which is located in the System Settings section of your device. Uninstalling a program from the Start menu or from Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel is not only the best way, but the right way.
Just keep in mind that some programs cannot be uninstalled because they’re built directly into the Windows 10 operating system. Note that in such cases the “Uninstall” button on the right will appear greyed out.
Also, in some cases, you may not be able to uninstall a program because it has missing files. These programs must be removed manually. However, take note that deleting the program’s folder doesn’t remove the program entirely from your system. And having bits of old programs in your system can slow down your computer and cause issues (more on this below).
How to Uninstall Programs Windows 10?
As mentioned above, there are several ways to go about this, but in this article, you’ll learn how to do remove/delete any program or app through the Control Panel.
With that said, here’s what you need to do.
- Click the search box next to the Start button and type “add or remove programs.”
- Select “add or remove programs” from the Best Match list.
- Select the program you want to get rid of under “Apps and Features.”
- Click “Uninstall.”
OK, but what if you can’t delete a program because there are missing files?
When you’re having trouble uninstalling a program from the Start menu or from Add or Remove Programs in the control panel, it’s usually because the installation Log File is missing. So the easiest way to fix this is by reinstalling the program to uninstall it. The only caveat is that you’ll need to to get a hold of the program’s installation discs, which in some cases may be nearly impossible.
If you have the program’s installation discs, then simply reinstall the program over the old copy, navigate to the “Apps and Features” section in the control panel, locate the program, and click “Uninstall.”
If you don’t have the installation discs of the program you want to remove, then proceed to the next applicable solution: Manual Uninstall.
Manually Uninstall a Program in Windows 10
You can manually delete all program data by deleting the program’s folder.
Simply navigate to Windows/Program Files and look for the folder of the program you wish to uninstall.
Once you find it, right-click the folder you want to delete and click “Delete Folder.”
Now delete the program’s shortcuts on the desktop and in the Start menu.