Uninstalling a program removes it and frees the space it used. Settings handles almost everything on a modern computer, and Control Panel is still there for older desktop programs that do not appear in Settings.
Steps
Open Installed apps. Open Settings, select Apps, then Installed apps. On Windows 10, this list is called Apps and features, under Settings, then Apps.
Find the program. Use the search box at the top of the list, or sort by size or install date to find large or old programs.
Uninstall it. Select the three dots next to the program name, then Uninstall, and confirm. On Windows 10, select the program in the list, then select Uninstall.
Follow the program own uninstaller. Some programs open their own uninstall window. Choose Uninstall or Remove, not Repair, and follow the prompts. Restart the computer if the uninstaller asks you to.
If a program is not listed in Settings, try Control Panel. Open Control Panel, select Programs, then Programs and Features. Select the program, then select Uninstall at the top of the list and follow the prompts.
Check that it is gone. Go back to Installed apps and search for the program name again. If it is still there, restart the computer and try once more. A program that refuses to uninstall may need its own removal tool from the maker support site.
Delete leftover files only if you are sure. After uninstalling, you can delete the program own folder in Program Files if one remains, but only if you are certain it belongs to that program and nothing else uses it.
Do not uninstall anything you do not recognize, especially entries from your computer maker, your graphics card maker, or Microsoft. If you are unsure what a program does, look it up before removing it.
What about apps from the Microsoft Store?
Store apps uninstall the same way, from Settings, then Apps, then Installed apps. Right-clicking a Store app on the Start menu and selecting Uninstall works too.
About this guide
This guide covers Windows 11 and Windows 10. Menu names differ slightly between the two versions, and both are noted where they differ.
Common questions
Why is there no Uninstall option for some apps? Some built-in Windows apps cannot be uninstalled from Settings. You can remove many of them with a command in PowerShell, but removing system apps can break features, so leave them alone unless you know exactly what you are removing.
Does uninstalling a program delete my files? It removes the program and its own data. Your documents, photos, and files in Documents and Pictures are not deleted. Save files created by the program may remain in Documents, so check there if you want them gone too.
What if the uninstaller fails halfway? Restart the computer and try again. If it still fails, the program maker support site often has a removal tool for exactly this situation.
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