How to Remove Programs and Apps on Windows 10

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Easy ways to delete apps you no longer want on your computer

Co-authored by Travis Boylls Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: January 16, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Using the Start Menu
|
• Using the Settings Menu
|
• Using the Control Panel
|
• Using the Uninstall File
|
• Using the Xbox App
|
• Using Steam
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• Using the Command Prompt
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• Video
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• Tips

|Show more |Show less

If you need to free up storage space on your computer, or you just want to get rid of apps you don’t use, there are many ways to delete apps in Windows 10 (and Windows 11). This wikiHow article teaches you various ways to uninstall apps on Windows 10.

Uninstall Apps in Windows 10

You can right-click a program in the Windows Start menu and click Uninstall to remove an app. You can also uninstall a program from the Settings menu. You can uninstall games using the Xbox or Steam app. You can also use the Command Prompt to uninstall apps.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 7:

Using the Start Menu

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1. 
   1
   Click the Windows Start menu

   

   . It’s the icon with the Windows logo. It’s in the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. On Windows 10, it’s in the lower-left corner.
2. 
   2
   Type the name of the app you want to uninstall. This displays the app in the Windows Start menu.
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3. 
   3
   Right-click the app and click Uninstall. This will open the uninstaller. This displays a confirmation pop-up message.

   • In some cases, this may open an Uninstall Wizard that guides you through the uninstall process.
4. 
   4
   Click Uninstall. This confirms you want to uninstall the program and uninstalls the app.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 7:

Using the Settings Menu

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1. 
   1
   Click the Windows Start menu

   

   . It’s the icon with the Windows logo. It’s in the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. On Windows 10, it’s usually in the lower-left corner.
2. 
   2
   Click the Settings icon

   

   . It’s the icon that resembles a gear. It’s on the far left side of the Windows menu.
3. 
   3
   Click the Apps icon. It features an icon resembling a list with checkboxes. This opens the Apps menu.
4. 
   4
   Click Apps & Features. It’s at the top of the menu bar to the left. This displays a list of apps you have installed on your computer.
5. 
   5
   Click ••• next to an app you want to uninstall. There should be an icon with three horizontal dots next to each app in the list. Click this icon next to the app you want to uninstall. This displays a pop-out menu.
6. 
   6
   Click Uninstall. This displays a confirmation pop-up menu.

   • In some cases, this may open an Uninstall Wizard that guides you through the uninstall process.
7. 
   7
   Click Uninstall. This confirms you want to uninstall the program and uninstalls the app.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 7:

Using the Control Panel

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1. 
   1
   Open the Control Panel. To do so, type "Control Panel" in the search bar at the bottom of the screen and click Control Panel. You can also find the Control Panel in the Windows Start menu.
2. 
   2
   Click Control Panel. It features an icon resembling a blue screen with graphs. This opens the Control Panel.
3. 
   3
   Click Programs. It is one of the green-text options. It’s next to an icon that resembles a screen next to a CD.

   • If you don’t see this option, click Programs and Features instead.
4. 
   4
   Click Programs and Features. It’s the first option at the top of the page. This displays a list of apps you have installed on your computer.
5. 
   5
   Click the program you want to uninstall. Programs are listed alphabetically. Click the app you want to uninstall. You should see the option to uninstall it appear at the top.
6. 
   6
   Click Uninstall. It’s at the top of the page above the list of apps.
7. 
   7
   Click Yes. This confirms that you want to uninstall the apps and deletes it.

   • In some cases, this may open an Uninstall Wizard that guides you through the uninstall process.
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Method 4

Method 4 of 7:

Using the Uninstall File

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1. 
   1
   Press ⊞ Win+E to open File Explorer. Many apps have an uninstall feature that you can use to manually remove a program. You’ll need to navigate to the program's installation folder to find it. Click the File Explorer icon (which resembles a manila folder with a blue clip) or use the keyboard shortcut to open File Explorer.
2. 
   2
   Click This PC. You’ll see this option in the menu bar to the left. This opens the root folder for your PC.
3. 
   3
   Navigate to a program's installation folder. The installation folder for most programs is in the Program Files or Program Files (x86) folder. Games may be in the Xbox Games, or Steam folder. Navigate to one of the following locations:

   • C:\Program Files
   • C:\Program Files (x86)
   • C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam
   • C:\XboxGames
4. 
   4
   Click the Uninstall file. It’s usually a file titled "uninstall.exe" or something similar. This will open an uninstall wizard that guides you through the steps to uninstall the program.
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Method 5

Method 5 of 7:

Using the Xbox App

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1. 
   1
   Open the Xbox app. To do so, click the Windows Start menu and type "Xbox." Click the Xbox icon, which is green and has a circle with an "X" on it. Games that were installed via the Xbox app or Game Pass can be uninstalled in the Xbox app.
2. 
   2
   Click My LIbrary. It’s next to an icon that resembles books in the menu bar to the left. This displays a list of all games you have purchased through Xbox and have installed on your computer.
3. 
   3
   Click the game you want to uninstall. This displays the game information page.
4. 
   4
   Click ••• . It’s the third option below the game title at the top of the page. This displays a menu.
5. 
   5
   Click Uninstall. It’s next to an icon that resembles a trash can. It’s near the bottom of the menu. This displays a confirmation pop-up.
6. 
   6
   Click Uninstall. It’s the red button at the bottom of the confirmation pop-up. This confirms you want to uninstall the game and deletes it.

   • If prompted, click Yes to allow the Xbox app to make changes to your system.
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Method 6

Method 6 of 7:

Using Steam

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1. 
   1
   Open Steam. Steam has a blue icon with a rotary piston. Click the Steam icon in the Windows Start menu to open Steam. Games purchased and installed through Steam can be uninstalled with the Steam app.
2. 
   2
   Click the Library tab. It’s the second tab at the top of the page. This displays all games you have purchased through Steam.
3. 
   3
   Right-click the game you want to uninstall. You should see all your games in the menu bar to the left. Games that are greyed out are not currently installed.
4. 
   4
   Click Manage. It’s in the menu bar that appears when you right-click a game.
5. 
   5
   Click Uninstall. It’s in the sub-menu that appears when you hover over "Manage." This displays a confirmation pop-up window.
6. 
   6
   Click Uninstall. It’s at the bottom of the confirmation pop-up. This uninstalls the game.
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Method 7

Method 7 of 7:

Using the Command Prompt

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1. 
   1
   Open the Command Prompt as an administrator. To do so, open the Windows Start menu. Type "CMD." Right-click the Command Prompt and click Open as Administrator.

   • You have to be signed into Windows with an administrative account to open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. 
   2
   Type wmic product get name and press ↵ Enter. This command lists all apps you have installed on your Windows computer. If you have a lot of programs installed, this may take a while.
3. 
   3
   Copy the name of the program you want to uninstall. Look through the list of programs in the Command Prompt. When you find the program you want to uninstall, highlight it with your mouse cursor. Then press Ctrl + C to copy the program name.
4. 
   4
   Type {{{1}}} and press ↵ Enter. To paste the program name, press Ctrl + V. Replace "[program name]" with the copied name of the program (in quotation marks). This will uninstall the program.
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Tips

• If you are having trouble uninstalling a program, try booting Windows in Safe Mode. Then try uninstalling the program from Safe Mode.
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• If you are having trouble uninstalling a program, it could be a sign that you have a virus or malware. Be sure to run a virus scan.
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