Uninstall Apps in Windows 11: Settings, Start and More

Removing software you no longer use frees up storage, trims background activity and cuts down the number of things that need updating. There are three standard ways to uninstall apps in Windows 11: Settings, the Start menu and the old Control Panel. All three end up in the same place for most programs, but each is handier in different situations, and Control Panel still catches a few desktop programs that Settings cannot remove.

The steps below work the same on Windows 11 Home and Pro. You need administrator rights to remove most desktop programs.

Method 1: Settings > Apps > Installed apps

This is the main list of everything installed, both Microsoft Store apps and traditional desktop programs.

1. Press Win+I to open Settings.
2. Select Apps, then Installed apps.
3. Find the app. Type part of its name in the search box, or use Sort by to sort by Size or Install date, which is useful for finding what was added just before a problem started.
4. Select the three-dot menu (More options) to the right of the app.
5. Select Uninstall, then Uninstall again to confirm.
6. If the program opens its own uninstaller, follow its prompts. Restart if it asks you to.

Sorting by size is also a quick way to see what is using the most space. For a wider view of storage use, see Windows 11 storage settings.

Method 2: from the Start menu

Handy when you are already looking at the app:

1. Select Start, then All (All apps) to see the full list.
2. Right-click the app, or press and hold it on a touchscreen.
3. Select Uninstall.

For a Microsoft Store app, Windows asks you to confirm and removes it directly. For a desktop program, Windows usually opens Programs and Features in Control Panel so you can finish there.

Method 3: Control Panel > Programs and Features

The classic list is still in Windows 11, and Microsoft says some apps cannot yet be removed from Settings and should be removed here instead.

1. Search for Control Panel from the taskbar and open it.
2. Select Programs > Programs and Features. (Pressing Win+R and typing appwiz.cpl opens the same page.)
3. Right-click the program and select Uninstall or Uninstall/Change.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts.

Programs and Features lists only desktop programs, not Store apps.

Apps you cannot uninstall

Not everything can be removed. Microsoft notes that some apps are built into Windows and cannot be uninstalled. In Settings, the Uninstall option for these is missing or greyed out. This usually applies to core parts of Windows such as Settings itself.

Many other preinstalled apps can be removed like any other app. If the option is available in Installed apps, it is safe to use. Avoid third-party “debloat” scripts that force-remove built-in components; they can break Windows features and updates in ways that are hard to undo. For hiding apps you cannot remove, unpin them from Start and the taskbar instead.

Some extras are not apps but optional features, such as additional language components or legacy tools. Manage those in Settings > System > Optional features. On a work or school PC, apps installed by your organisation may be locked; ask your IT department.

Try repair or reset before removing

If an app is misbehaving rather than unwanted, Microsoft suggests trying a repair first:

• Store apps: in Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select the three-dot menu > Advanced options, then Repair. If that does not help, Reset clears the app’s data and settings.
• Desktop programs: in Programs and Features, select the program and look for Change or Repair at the top. Not every program offers it.

When an uninstall fails

If you get an error, or the uninstaller does nothing:

1. Restart and try again. A pending update or a running copy of the app often blocks removal. Close the app, including its icon in the system tray.
2. Try the other method. If Settings fails, try Programs and Features, or the reverse.
3. Run Microsoft’s Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter. Microsoft’s uninstall article recommends it when you get an error, and its troubleshooter page still offers the download (listed in its Windows 10 section). It can fix damaged registry entries that stop a program from being removed, and if the program is not listed, it can ask for the program’s product code.
4. Use the developer’s own removal tool. Antivirus suites, in particular, often need a dedicated removal tool from the vendor’s support site.
5. Uninstall in safe mode. Start the PC in Windows 11 safe mode and remove the program from Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Services and drivers that block removal normally are not loaded there.

If an app reinstalls itself after removal, check whether another program, such as a manufacturer’s support utility, brings it back.

Leftover files and settings

Uninstallers often leave a folder or two behind: a folder under C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86), or settings in your user profile’s AppData folder (type %appdata% or %localappdata% in the File Explorer address bar to see them). These rarely cause problems.

If you want to tidy up, delete only folders that clearly belong to the program you removed, and only after confirming it is gone from Installed apps. Never delete folders you do not recognise, and skip “registry cleaner” tools; Windows does not need them, and a bad cleanup can stop other apps from working. Running Storage Sense or Disk Cleanup is the safe way to clear temporary files.

Uninstall versus turning off at startup

Not every unwanted app needs removing. If you use an app occasionally but do not want it running all the time, turn it off in Windows 11 startup apps instead. If a file type keeps opening in the wrong program after you remove one, set a new choice in default apps. And if you suspect an app you did not install is malicious, run a full scan with Microsoft Defender before removing it.