The simplest way to remove an process
To uninstall an process on Windows, open your Settings menu, go to Apps, find the program you want to remove, and click Uninstall. Windows will walk you through the rest. This method works for almost every program you installed from the Microsoft Store or downloaded from the internet.
The reason this works is that Windows keeps a record of every program you install. When you click Uninstall, Windows tells the program to remove itself and clean up the files it created. Most of the time, the program disappears completely and you can move on.
If you cannot find the program in Settings, or if clicking Uninstall does nothing, there are other routes. But start here first — it solves the problem in under a minute for most people.
Key Takeaways
- The Settings app is the fastest way to uninstall most programs: open Settings, select Apps, find your program, and click Uninstall.
- Some programs leave behind files or settings even after uninstalling, but for everyday use this does not matter.
- If a program will not uninstall from Settings, restart your computer and try again, or check if the program itself has an uninstall option in its own menu.
- Programs you installed from the Microsoft Store uninstall more cleanly than programs you downloaded from websites, because Windows manages them more tightly.
Opening Settings and finding your process
Click the Windows Start button (the four squares in the bottom left corner of your screen) and type "Settings". Click the Settings app when it appears. You will see a menu with different categories.
Look for the word "Apps" on the left side of the Settings window. Click it. You will see a list of all the programs installed on your computer, usually sorted by the ones you use most recently. Scroll down until you find the program you want to remove.
The list can be long, so if you cannot find your program by scrolling, use the search box at the top. Type the name of the program — even typing the first few letters usually works.
Clicking Uninstall and completing the removal
Once you find the program, click on it. A menu will appear with an Uninstall button. Click Uninstall. Windows will ask you to confirm that you really want to remove it — click Uninstall again.
At this point, one of two things happens. Either the program removes itself in a few seconds and disappears from your list, or a separate window opens asking you questions about how you want to uninstall it. If a window opens, you can usually just click Next or Uninstall in that window until the program is gone. You do not need to change any of the options unless you have a specific reason to.
Once the uninstall is complete, close the Settings app. The program is now removed from your computer.
What to do if the program will not uninstall
Sometimes clicking Uninstall does nothing, or the button is grayed out and you cannot click it. The most common reason is that the program is still running in the background. Restart your computer and try again. When your computer starts back up, open Settings and attempt the uninstall a second time.
If restarting does not work, the program may have its own uninstall tool. Look in the program's folder on your computer. Click the Start button, type the name of the program, right-click it, and select "Open file location". A folder will open. Look inside for a file called "Uninstall" or "Setup" — if you find one, double-click it and follow the steps.
If you still cannot remove the program, it may be protected by Windows or require administrator permission. Right-click the Uninstall button in Settings and select "Run as administrator". This gives the uninstall process more power to remove the program.
Understanding what happens to your files after uninstalling
When you uninstall a program, Windows removes the main program files and the shortcuts to it. However, some programs leave behind small files that contain your settings or saved data. These leftover files take up very little space and do not affect how your computer runs, so most people can ignore them.
If you want to remove these leftover files completely, you can do so manually, but it requires finding hidden folders and is not necessary for everyday use. For most situations, uninstalling through Settings is thorough enough.
One exception: if you are selling your computer or giving it away, you may want to remove these leftover files so the next person cannot recover your data. In that case, look up the specific program name plus "uninstall leftover files" to find instructions for that particular program.
The difference between Microsoft Store apps and downloaded programs
Programs you installed from the Microsoft Store (Microsoft's official app store built into Windows) uninstall more cleanly than programs you downloaded from websites. This is because Microsoft controls how Store apps are packaged, so Windows can remove them completely without leaving much behind.
Programs you downloaded from the internet and installed yourself sometimes leave more traces behind, but the difference is small enough that most people never notice. Both types uninstall the same way through Settings.
If you are not sure where a program came from, it does not matter — the uninstall process is the same either way.
Uninstalling built-in Windows programs
Windows comes with several programs already installed, like Mail, Calendar, and Photos. You can uninstall most of these the same way you uninstall other programs — through Settings and Apps. However, some built-in programs cannot be uninstalled because Windows depends on them to run.
If you click on a built-in program and the Uninstall button is grayed out or missing, that means Windows will not let you remove it. You can usually hide these programs so they do not clutter your Start menu, but you cannot delete them entirely. This is by design and not a problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will uninstalling a program delete my files that I created with it?
Not usually. If you created documents, photos, or other files using a program, those files stay on your computer even after you uninstall the program. However, you will not be able to open them with that program anymore. Before uninstalling, move any files you want to keep to a folder you can access without the program.
Can I uninstall a program and then reinstall it later?
Yes. Once you uninstall a program, you can read and install it again whenever you want. If you downloaded it from a website, go back to that website. If it was from the Microsoft Store, open the Store app and search for the program name.
What if I uninstall the wrong program by mistake?
You can reinstall it. Go to the website where you originally downloaded it, or search for it in the Microsoft Store, and install it again. Your computer will not be damaged by uninstalling the wrong program — you just need to put it back if you need it.
Do I need to restart my computer after uninstalling a program?
Most of the time, no. You can uninstall a program and when ready use your computer normally. However, some programs ask you to restart as part of the uninstall process. If a window appears asking you to restart, you can usually click "Restart Later" and do it whenever you are ready.
Why does a program still show up in my Start menu after I uninstalled it?
Sometimes the shortcut in your Start menu does not disappear right away. Right-click the program name in your Start menu and select "Uninstall" or "Remove from this list". This removes the shortcut without affecting anything else on your computer.