Look, we've all been there. Your Windows 10 PC starts running slower than cold molasses, and you realize half the apps you installed last year are just collecting digital dust. Maybe it's that free photo editor you used once, or some pre-installed game that came with your laptop. Whatever it is, you need to know how to delete an app in Windows 10 properly. I remember spending an entire afternoon trying to remove some antivirus trial that came bundled with my machine - what a nightmare!
Why does this matter? Because removing unused apps clears storage space (critical if you're using a smaller SSD), speeds up startup times, and fixes annoying conflicts between programs. But Microsoft gives us like five different ways to uninstall stuff, and none work perfectly in every situation. That's why I've tested every method over three years of tech troubleshooting - including the messy PowerShell stuff nobody tells you about.
What You Must Check Before Uninstalling
Seriously, don't skip this part. Last month I deleted what I thought was a useless utility and broke my printer drivers.
- License keys: Dig up registration emails for paid software first. Adobe software is particularly nasty about this.
- Data backups: That photo organizer app? It might store your edits separately from original files.
- Dependencies: Some apps install support libraries that break other software if removed.
- Alternatives: Will deleting Microsoft Paint leave you without a quick image viewer? Probably.
Pro tip: Right-click your taskbar and open Task Manager before uninstalling. Check if the app's background processes are running under the Processes tab - force close them first to avoid errors.
The Easy Way: Uninstall via Settings App
This is my everyday go-to method. Microsoft finally got something right with this clean interface.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough
- Hit Windows key + I to launch Settings
- Click Apps > Apps & features
- Find your target app using the search bar (filters alphabetically by default)
- Click the app name > Uninstall > confirm again
Why this works for 90% of cases: It handles registry entries and knows about modern Windows Store apps. But here's what they don't tell you - sometimes clicking Uninstall does nothing. When that happens to me, I restart my PC and try immediately after login before any background processes load.
What Gets Left Behind
Even when this method works perfectly, it leaves:
- User-specific config files in AppData folders
- Registry entries under HKEY_CURRENT_USER
- Sometimes leftover folders in Program Files
Annoying example: Zoom leaves about 120MB of residual files even after uninstall. You'll need to manually delete C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Roaming\Zoom to fully purge it.
Old School Method: Control Panel Uninstaller
When the Settings app fails - especially with legacy desktop programs - this 20-year-old dinosaur still saves the day. It's how I finally killed that Norton antivirus trial that came with my Dell.
- Type control panel in Windows search
- Select Programs > Programs and Features
- Right-click the problematic app > Uninstall/Change
- Follow the software's own uninstall wizard (often poorly designed)
Warning: Some shady programs intentionally make their uninstallers confusing. I've seen "cancel" buttons bigger than "next" buttons, and fake survey screens that try to redirect you to paid upgrades.
Control Panel vs Settings App
| Feature | Settings App | Control Panel |
|---|---|---|
| Modern apps support | Yes | No |
| Legacy software handling | Limited | Best |
| Search functionality | Instant filtering | Scroll manually |
| Removal completeness | Medium | Varies by software |
| Time required | ~15 seconds | ~60 seconds+ |
Ninja Uninstall Tricks
When the standard methods fail - and they will, especially with pre-installed bloatware - try these:
Start Menu Right-Click Method
Shockingly useful when you're cleaning multiple apps:
- Click Start button
- Find the app in your list
- Right-click > Uninstall
Limitation: Only works for apps that registered themselves properly in Windows. About 70% success rate in my testing.
PowerShell Nuclear Option
I use this monthly to remove Xbox Game Bar and other stubborn Microsoft apps. This is administrator-level stuff.
- Right-click Start > Windows PowerShell (Admin)
- Type:
Get-AppxPackage *appname* | Remove-AppxPackage - Replace *appname* with the package identifier
Finding package names is tricky - use Get-AppxPackage | Select Name, PackageFullName and look for partial matches. Warning: Removing core system apps can break functionality!
| Common Bloatware Package Names | Safe to Remove? |
|---|---|
| Microsoft.BingWeather | Yes (weather app) |
| Microsoft.XboxGameOverlay | Mostly (game recording) |
| Microsoft.MicrosoftSolitaireCollection | Yes |
| Microsoft.WindowsCalculator | No (breaks system functions) |
| Microsoft.Windows.Photos | Not recommended |
Third-Party Uninstallers: When to Use Them
For those times when even PowerShell fails - looking at you, McAfee antivirus trials - specialized tools become necessary. I've tested all major options since 2018.
Top Contenders Compared
| Software | Free Version | Force Remove | Registry Cleanup | Install Tracking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revo Uninstaller Free | Yes | Yes | Good | No |
| IObit Uninstaller | Basic | Limited | Aggressive | Yes |
| Geek Uninstaller | Full features | Yes | Medium | No |
| BCUninstaller | Open source | Advanced | Manual | Partial |
Personal experience: Revo's forced uninstall saved me with a corrupted Adobe Creative Cloud installation that wouldn't remove normally. But be careful with registry cleaners - I once broke my Office activation being overzealous.
Troubleshooting Nightmare Scenarios
These make me want to throw my PC out the window. Here's how I fix them:
"Uninstall Option Grayed Out"
Common causes:
- Admin privileges: Right-click installer > Run as administrator
- Corrupted installer: Try Revo Uninstaller's forced removal
- System file lock: Reboot in Safe Mode then uninstall
"Program Still Showing After Uninstall"
Usually means leftover registry entries. Do this:
- Press Windows + R, type
regedit - Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
- Find folders matching the software name and delete carefully
Warning: Registry editing can brick your system! Export keys before deleting.
Built-In Apps Reappearing After Updates
Microsoft's dirty trick. Prevent it with:
- Open PowerShell as admin
- Run:
Set-Content -Path 'C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\AppxBlockList.xml' -Value "..." - Use specialized tools like Win10BloatRemover
Your Essential Uninstall Questions Answered
Can I recover accidentally deleted apps?
Sometimes. Windows Store apps can be redownloaded from Microsoft Store. Desktop programs require original installers. System apps? Good luck - you might need a system restore point.
Why does Windows 10 have so much bloatware?
Manufacturers get paid to preinstall trials (known as "crapware"). Microsoft pushes its own services too. On a fresh Dell install, I counted 18 removable trial apps!
Do uninstallers completely remove everything?
Never. Residual files always remain in user folders and registry. Third-party tools remove about 95% if configured properly.
How to delete an app in Windows 10 when it says "in use"?
Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), end all related processes. Still stuck? Reboot and uninstall immediately after startup.
What's the safest way to delete built-in apps?
Use Microsoft's own removal tool: Windows 10 App Remover. Manual PowerShell deletion risks system instability.
Does deleting apps speed up Windows 10?
Noticeably if they run background processes. On my test laptop, removing Candy Crush and three utilities reduced boot time by 12 seconds and freed 1.2GB RAM.
How to batch uninstall multiple apps?
Use PowerShell command: Get-AppxPackage *appname1*, *appname2* | Remove-AppxPackage. Third-party tools like BCUninstaller handle desktop programs better.
Cleaning Up After Uninstalls
Even successful removals leave digital crumbs. Do this monthly:
- Run Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr.exe) for temporary files
- Check these leftover locations:
C:\Program Files (x86)\[AppName]C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Local\[AppName]C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Roaming\[AppName]
- Use CCleaner or BleachBit for deeper cleaning
Real talk: I've seen 3GB of Adobe leftovers after uninstallation. That's half a movie download wasted!
Final Reality Check
Learning how to delete an app in Windows 10 properly saves hours of frustration. The Settings method covers most needs, but keep Control Panel and PowerShell in your back pocket. For truly nasty software, third-party tools are worth their weight in gold.
Just remember: no uninstall method is perfect. I've spent entire weekends cleaning up after poorly coded apps. But with these techniques, you'll reclaim storage space, speed up your system, and finally ditch that annoying software that's been bothering you since 2020.
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