{"id":56986,"date":"2022-01-08T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-08T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/helpdeskgeek.com\/?p=56986"},"modified":"2025-01-31T00:53:58","modified_gmt":"2025-01-31T05:53:58","slug":"how-to-uninstall-programs-that-wont-uninstall-on-windows-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/helpdeskgeek.com\/how-to-uninstall-programs-that-wont-uninstall-on-windows-10\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Uninstall Apps That Won’t Uninstall in Windows 10 or 11"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You try to remove a program<\/a>, but that program won’t uninstall on your Windows PC. This happens for various reasons, some of which are not related to the program but to your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This tutorial highlights ways to remove stubborn applications that won’t uninstall<\/a> on Windows 10 and 11 computers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Force Close the Program and Then Uninstall It<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Windows usually prohibits uninstalling open applications running in the foreground on your computer. Likewise, you might be unable to uninstall applications whose core processes are active\/running in the background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To resolve the issue, force-close the app<\/a> (especially if it’s freezing or unresponsive) before uninstalling it from Settings or Control Panel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Right-click the Windows taskbar and select Task Manager<\/strong> on the Quick Link menu.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
    \n
    \""Task<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
      \n
    1. Open the Processes<\/strong> tab in Task Manager, right-click the program you want to force-close and select End task<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
      \n
      \""End<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

      If you installed an app from the Microsoft Store, you can terminate it and its related process through the Windows Settings menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Go to Settings<\/strong> > Apps<\/strong> > Installed apps<\/strong>, select the three-dot menu icon next to the app, and select Advanced options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \""Advanced<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Select the Terminate<\/strong> button in the “Terminate” section to force-close the app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \""Terminate"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Afterward, uninstall the app through Windows Settings or Control Panel to remove the program from your PC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Uninstall Programs the Regular Way<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      The easiest way to remove apps in Windows<\/a> is through the built-in Settings app and Control Panel. See the headings below for step-by-step instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Uninstall Programs Through Windows Settings<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      1. Press the Windows key<\/strong> + I<\/strong> to open the Settings<\/strong> app.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Choose Apps<\/strong> in the sidebar and select Installed apps<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
        \""Installed<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        1. Locate the app you want to uninstall on the list of installed applications. Select the three-dot menu icon<\/strong> next to the app and choose Uninstall<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
          \""Uninstall"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
            \n
          1. Select Uninstall<\/strong> on the confirmation pop-up to remove the program from your computer.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
            \""Uninstall"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

            If your PC runs Windows 10, go to Settings<\/strong> > Apps<\/strong>, select the program you want to remove and choose Uninstall<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

            \n
            \""Apps"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
              \n
            1. Select Uninstall<\/strong> beneath the program name to remove the program.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
              \n
              \""Uninstall"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

              Use Control Panel to Remove Windows Apps<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

              Try removing the affected application(s) through the Control Panel if it won’t uninstall through Windows Settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n
              1. Launch Control Panel<\/a> by opening the Start<\/strong> menu, searching for Control Panel<\/strong>, and selecting Control Panel<\/strong> in the search results.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
                \n
                \"Control<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
                  \n
                1. Select Uninstall a program<\/strong> (underneath Programs<\/strong>) in the Control Panel window.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
                  \n
                  \""Uninstall<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
                    \n
                  1. Select the program you want to remove and choose Uninstall<\/strong> on the top menu\u2014at the top of the programs list.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
                    \n
                    \""Uninstall"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
                      \n
                    1. Choose Yes<\/strong> on the confirmation prompt and follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
                      \n
                      \""Yes"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

                      Alternative Uninstallation Options<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                      Explore the options below to remove stubborn programs that won’t uninstall through Control Panel or Windows Settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      Use the Program’s Uninstall Tool<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

                      Many apps come bundled with a dedicated uninstall tool<\/a>. You can use this tool to remove that program from your PC. It’s worth using this tool if Settings or Control Panel doesn’t uninstall the app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      Many applications have their dedicated uninstaller in the directory where they’re installed on your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      For example, the Avidemux<\/strong> app has its uninstaller (named Uninstall Avidemux VC++ 64bits.exe<\/strong>) in the following directory:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      C:\\Program Files\\Avidemux 2.7 VC++ 64bits<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

                      \n
                      \""Uninstall<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

                      You can find an app’s file directory by searching the app in the Start menu and choosing Open file location<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      \""Open<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

                      Opening that tool launches a wizard that helps uninstall the program and deletes its files from your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      \""Uninstall<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

                      Use the Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

                      Microsoft offers a “Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter” that repairs or fixes issues preventing you from uninstalling programs from your PC. The tool checks for corrupt registry, control update data, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                        \n
                      1. Visit the Program Install and Uninstall<\/a> download page and save the troubleshooter on your PC.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      2. Double-click the downloaded file to open the tool.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      3. Select Next<\/strong> on the tool’s first screen.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
                        \n
                        \"Program<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
                          \n
                        1. Select Uninstalling<\/strong> on the following screen.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
                          \n
                          \""Uninstalling"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
                            \n
                          1. Wait while the tool detects uninstallation issues with applications installed on your PC.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          2. When the tool generates a list of programs, select the problematic program and choose Next<\/strong>. Select Not Listed<\/strong> if you don’t see the program listed.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
                            \n
                            \"Application<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
                              \n
                            1. The tool will then help remove the selected program from your PC.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                              Uninstall an App Using Command Prompt<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

                              You can run a command in Command Prompt<\/a> to remove stubborn apps from your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                \n
                              1. Search “command prompt” in the Start menu and select Run as administrator<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
                                \n
                                \""Run<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
                                  \n
                                1. Choose Yes<\/strong> in the User Account Control<\/strong> prompt.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                2. Enter the following command on the Command Prompt window and press Enter<\/strong>:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                                  wmic<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

                                  \n
                                  \""wmic"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
                                    \n
                                  1. Type the following command and press Enter<\/strong>: product get name<\/em>. Note the program name you want to remove from the list.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
                                    \n
                                    \""product<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
                                      \n
                                    1. Uninstall the problematic program by running the following command: product where name=” PROGRAM” call uninstall<\/em>. Replace PROGRAM<\/strong> with the actual program name that you noted above.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
                                      \n
                                      \""product<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

                                      Uninstall in Safe Mode<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

                                      Third-party processes, malware, and system configuration issues can interfere with an app’s removal. Booting your PC into Safe Mode<\/a> can stop this interference and allow the uninstallation of stubborn programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                        \n
                                      1. Press the Windows key<\/strong> + I<\/strong> to open the Windows Settings app.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                      2. Select System<\/strong> on the sidebar, choose Recovery<\/strong>, and select the Restart now<\/strong> button in the “Advanced startup” row.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                                        \"Advanced<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

                                        Go to Settings<\/strong> > Update & Security<\/strong> > Recovery<\/strong> > Restart now if you have a Windows 10 PC. <\/p>\n\n\n

                                        \n
                                        \"Advanced<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
                                          \n
                                        1. When your PC restarts, you’ll see a Choose an option<\/strong> screen. From here, navigate to Troubleshoot<\/strong> > Advanced options<\/strong> > Startup Settings<\/strong>, and select Restart<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
                                          \n
                                          \"Startup<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
                                            \n
                                          1. Select the number 4<\/strong> on the following screen to boot your PC in safe mode.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                                            When your PC is in safe mode, use either Settings or Control Panel to remove your stubborn program. Restart your PC to bring it back to normal mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                            Remove Programs That Won’t Uninstall<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                                            Problematic apps are everywhere; some just don’t want to leave your PC. If you ever encounter one, you know how to get it off your computer forever. After uninstalling the app, consider running a malware scan using the\u00a0Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                            You try to remove a program, but that program won’t uninstall on your Windows PC. This happens for various reasons, some of which are not related to the program but […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":75689,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[10353,10356],"class_list":{"0":"post-56986","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-how-to","8":"tag-windows-10","9":"tag-windows-11"},"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/helpdeskgeek.com\/wp-content\/pictures\/2022\/01\/windows-11.webp","author_info":{"display_name":"Mahesh Makvana","author_link":"https:\/\/helpdeskgeek.com\/author\/mmakvana\/"},"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t