As technology advances, our devices become cluttered with applications that we no longer use. Removing these applications can free up space, speed up your device, and enhance its performance. If you are a Windows user, you might have experienced difficulty in removing some applications. In this article, we will guide you on how to remove applications from your Windows laptop or PC completely.
Method 1: Uninstall via Control Panel
This is the traditional method Windows users use to remove an application from their device. It involves uninstalling the application through the control panel as follows:
- Open the start menu and click on the control panel
- Click on “Programs and Features” (if your control panel is set to category view) or “Uninstall a program” (if your control panel is set to icon view)
- A list of all installed programs will appear. Find the application you want to remove and click on it
- Click on “Uninstall” or “Change/Uninstall” (depending on the program). A dialogue box will appear asking you to confirm the uninstallation. Click on yes and follow the prompts to remove the application from your device
Note that some applications might have additional pop-up screens when uninstalling to ask for feedback or offer an alternative solution. Ensure that you read these screens carefully to ensure you remove the application entirely. If you are having difficulty using this method, there are alternative methods discussed below.
Method 2: Use The Start Menu
Windows 10 has a feature that allows you to remove an application from the start menu entirely. Here’s how to do it:
- Open the start menu and find the application you want to remove. Right-click on the application and click on “uninstall”
- A dialogue box will appear asking you to confirm the uninstallation. Click on yes and follow the prompts to remove the application from your device.
Note that this method is only applicable to applications that are in the start menu; it will not remove the application from your device entirely.
Method 3: Use Third-Party Applications
If you are having difficulty removing an application using the methods discussed above, there are third-party applications that can help you delete an application from your device entirely. One of the most popular and reputable third-party applications for removing applications from Windows devices is CCleaner.
Here’s how to use CCleaner to remove an application from your device:
- Download and install CCleaner from the official website.
- Launch CCleaner and click on the “Tools” button on the left-hand side of the screen
- Click “Uninstall” and select the application you want to remove from your device
- Click on “Uninstall” and follow the prompts to remove the application from your device entirely.
Note that some third-party application installers might come with other third-party software that might affect your device’s performance. Read the installer screens carefully and untick any boxes that allow additional software installation.
Method 4: Use Windows PowerShell
If you are still struggling to remove an application from your Windows device, another method is to use Windows PowerShell, an advanced command-line interface that can help you manage your device. Here’s how to do it:
- Open the start menu and search for PowerShell
- Right-click on the PowerShell app and select “Run as Administrator”
- Type in the command “Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers” and press enter. This command will give you a list of all installed applications on your device.
- Scroll through the list and find the application you want to remove
- Type in the command “Remove-AppxPackage” followed by the application’s name. For example, if you want to remove the application “Skype,” you would type in “Remove-AppxPackage Microsoft.SkypeApp_14.56.76.0_x64__kzf8qxf38zg5c”
- Press Enter, and the application will be removed from your device entirely.
Note that removing applications via Windows PowerShell can be risky, and you must be careful with the commands you enter as a single mistake can cause significant damage to your device.
Method 5: Use A System Restore Point
If after trying all the methods above, the application persists on your device, you can use a system restore point to revert your device to a previous state when the application was not installed on your device, and all settings were functioning correctly.
- Click on the start menu and search for “System Restore.”
- Click on “Create a restore point” and then click on the “System Restore” button. This will launch a restore wizard.
- Select the restore point when the application was functioning correctly and click on the “Next” button.
- A confirmation screen will appear. Click on the “Finish” button, and your device will be restored to the selected restore point.
- All applications, including the archived application, will be removed from your device.
As technology advances, there are more and more methods of deleting an application from your device. However, not all methods guarantee the complete removal of an application. If you are struggling to remove an application from your device, it is recommended that you seek professional help to avoid damaging your device.
FAQ
1. Can I recover a removed application?
Yes, you can recover a previously uninstalled application by downloading and installing the application using the installer. However, be cautious of the date you uninstalled the application and the version of the installer you downloaded. Using the wrong installer can install an outdated version of the application, or the application might not function correctly.
2. Do I need an antivirus to remove an application?
No, you do not need an antivirus to remove an application from your device, especially if you are using reputable applications such as CCleaner. Antivirus applications protect your device from malware and viruses and do not provide the functionality to remove applications from your device.
Conclusion
Removing applications from your device can free up space, speed up your device, and enhance its performance. Traditional methods such as via the control panel and start menu offer a basic way of removing an application. However, if you are struggling to remove an application entirely, third-party applications like CCleaner can come in handy. Advanced users can use Windows PowerShell to remove applications, but this method is risky if you do not know what you are doing. Finally, if all else fails, you can use a system restore point to revert your device to the previous state before the application was installed.
It is important to note that removing an application from your device entirely requires caution, especially if the application is critical to the functioning of other applications on your device. Seek professional help if you are not sure how to remove an application entirely from your device.
Here’s a video tutorial on how to remove an application from your Windows 10 device:
