How to Uninstall Applications on Windows 10/11

Uninstalling unwanted applications on Windows 10 or Windows 11 can be a simple process if you follow these steps. While some apps are easy to remove, others are integrated into the system and require additional steps.

In this guide, we will explore various methods to uninstall applications, including built-in Windows features and third-party tools.

Method 1: Using the Windows Settings

1. Open Settings 

• Click the Start button on the taskbar.
• Select “Settings” or use the shortcut Windows + I.

2. Access the Apps & Features Section:

• In the Settings window, select “Apps.”
• Then, click on “Apps & features.”

3. Locate the App to Uninstall:

• You can use the search bar to find the app quickly or scroll down the list of installed apps.

4. Uninstall the App:

• Click on the app you want to uninstall.
• A “Uninstall” button will appear; click on it.

5. Confirm Uninstallation:

• Windows will ask you to confirm the uninstallation.
• Click “Uninstall” again in the pop-up window.

6. Wait for Completion:

• The app and its related data will be uninstalled.
• Some apps may have their own uninstallers, which will run during this process.

7. Verify Uninstallation:

• The app should disappear from the app list once the uninstallation is complete.

Note: If the “Uninstall” button is grayed out and not clickable, it means the app is built into Windows and cannot be removed using this method.

In such cases, you’ll need to use PowerShell commands.

Method 2: Uninstalling Built-in Apps with PowerShell

1. Open PowerShell:

• Right-click on the Start button.
• Select “Windows Terminal (Admin)” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin).”
• Ensure you run PowerShell with administrator privileges.

2. List Installed Apps:

• To see a list of all installed apps and their package names, use the following command:
  Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Select Name, PackageFullName


3. Uninstall an App:

• To uninstall a specific app, use the following command (replace PackageFullName with the actual package name of the app)

Remove-AppxPackage PackageFullName

• For example, to uninstall the Microsoft News app, the command would be:

Remove–AppxPackage Microsoft.BingNews_4.39.21501.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe

4. Verify Uninstallation:

• The app should be uninstalled once the PowerShell command is executed successfully.

Method 3: Using O&O App Buster (Third-Party Tool)

1. Download O&O App Buster:

• Open your web browser and search for “O&O App Buster.”
• Visit the official website oo-software.com.
• Download the application (it’s freeware) and save it to your desktop.

2. Run O&O App Buster:

• Right-click on the downloaded .exe file.
• Select “Run as administrator” to initiate the application.

3. Scan for Installed Apps:

• O&O App Buster will automatically scan for all installed applications.

4. Select Apps for Uninstallation:

• Browse through the list of apps and select the ones you want to uninstall.
• You can choose to view system apps or framework apps as well.

5. Choose Uninstallation Scope:

• Select whether you want to uninstall the apps for the current user, all users, or at the machine level.

6. Create a System Restore Point (Optional):

• You can choose to create a system restore point before uninstalling apps for added security.

7. Start Uninstallation:

• Click the “Remove” button to begin the uninstallation process.

8. Wait for Completion:

• The selected apps will be uninstalled one by one.

9. Verify Uninstallation:

• After completion, the uninstalled apps should no longer appear in the list.

By following these methods, you can efficiently uninstall both regular and built-in apps on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer.

Whether you prefer using the built-in Windows Settings, PowerShell commands, or a third-party tool like O&O App Buster, you have the flexibility to remove unwanted applications and optimize your system.