How to uninstall a program on Windows 11
Uninstalling a program on Windows 11 may seem like a trivial thing, but sometimes it can be more complicated than you think. If you don't uninstall correctly, traces of the program could remain on the operating system, taking up valuable space and slowing down your computer.
In this article, I'll show you how to uninstall a program on Windows 11 quickly and easily. I'll also provide some useful tips to ensure that you completely remove the program from your PC.
How to find installed programs on Windows 11
Before you can uninstall a program on Windows 11, you need to identify which program you want to remove. Here's how:
- Click the Start button in the lower-left corner of the screen.
- In the Applications window that appears, scroll down to the "Recent" or "All apps" section.
- Find the application you want to uninstall and right-click on it.
- From the drop-down menu, select "Uninstall".
At this point, the program's uninstallation window should open.
Step 1: Access Windows Settings
To uninstall a program on Windows 11, the first thing you need to do is access the operating system settings. There are several ways to do this:
- Option 1: Click on the Start menu icon at the bottom left of your screen and select "Settings" (the gear icon).
- Option 2: Press the Windows key on your keyboard and type "Settings". Select the "Settings" app from the search results.
- Option 3: Right-click on the Start menu icon and select "Settings" from the context menu.
Once you've opened Windows Settings, click on "Apps" in the left-hand menu. Here, you'll see a list of all the apps installed on your PC, including those you want to uninstall.
Alternatively, you can type "Add or remove programs" into the Windows Settings search bar to go directly to the list of programs installed on your computer.
Step 2: Select "Apps & features"
After opening the Settings window, you'll see a series of options on the left-hand side of the screen. Scroll down until you find "Apps" and select it.
You'll now see a list of all the applications installed on your computer. You can use the search bar at the top to look for the program you want to uninstall or scroll through the list manually to find it.
Once you've located the program, click on it to expand the available options. You'll see an "Uninstall" button beneath the program's name. Click on it.
A warning window may appear asking if you're sure you want to uninstall the program. If you're certain of your decision, confirm the uninstallation by clicking "Yes".
The uninstallation process may take a few minutes, depending on the size of the program and the speed of your computer. Once the uninstallation is complete, you will receive a notification confirming that the program has been successfully removed from your computer.
- Example: If you are trying to uninstall Google Chrome from your Windows 11 computer, you should scroll through the list of applications until you find "Google Chrome". Once located, click on it to expand the options and then click on the "Uninstall" button. Confirm the uninstallation and wait for the process to complete. You will receive a notification when Chrome has been completely removed from your computer.
Step 3: Find the program to uninstall
After opening the Apps & features window, you can use the search bar to find the program you want to uninstall. Simply type the name of the program in the search box at the top right.
Alternatively, you can scroll through the list of installed programs. Programs are listed in alphabetical order, so searching for a specific program may take some time. However, you can sort the list by installation date or size to help identify more recent programs or those that take up more space on your hard drive.
It is also important to pay attention to the exact name of the program, as it may be different from the name displayed in the application icon or Start menu. For example, "Microsoft Office" may be listed as "Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise".
- Type the name of the program in the search box at the top right or scroll through the list of installed programs.
- Sort the list by installation date or size to help identify more recent programs or those that take up more space on your hard drive.
- Pay attention to the exact name of the program, as it may be different from the name displayed in the application icon or Start menu.
Once you have found the program to uninstall, you can proceed with the uninstallation by following the steps described in the next section.
Step 4: Uninstall the program
After choosing the program you want to uninstall, you can now proceed with its removal.
- Click on the "Uninstall" button next to the selected program's name.
- A confirmation window will appear asking if you really want to uninstall the program. Click "Yes" to confirm your decision.
- The uninstallation process will begin and may take a few minutes depending on the size of the program and computer speed.
- Once the uninstallation is complete, a confirmation window will appear indicating that the program has been successfully removed from your system. Click "OK" to close the window.
It is important to note that some applications may require a system restart after their uninstallation to completely remove all associated files. In such cases, follow the instructions provided by the confirmation window or manually restart the computer after completing the uninstallation.
Also, remember that not all programs are listed in the list of installed programs in the Control Panel. Some software can be installed via an executable file (.exe) or through an app store like Microsoft Store. In these cases, consult the instructions provided by the software manufacturer to properly uninstall it.
Conclusions
Uninstalling a program on Windows 11 is a very simple and fast operation, although it may vary slightly depending on the version of the operating system you are using. Generally, you can uninstall an application through the Control Panel or through Windows Settings.
It is important to remember to regularly uninstall programs that are no longer used to free up space on your hard drive and improve computer performance. Additionally, some programs may be harmful to system security and must be removed immediately.
If you encounter problems while uninstalling a program, you can search for solutions online or contact the software manufacturer's technical support.
- Always remember to create a restore point before uninstalling any program;
- If you need to reinstall the program in the future, make sure you have the original installation file available;
- Regularly check the list of installed programs on your computer and uninstall those you no longer use.
In general, uninstalling programs on Windows 11 is a simple but important operation to keep your computer clean and efficient. By following these simple steps, it will be easy to remove unwanted programs and free up space on your hard drive.
In summary, uninstalling a program on Windows 11 is an operation that can be easily performed through the Control Panel or Windows Settings. It is important to regularly uninstall unused programs to improve computer performance and free up space on the hard drive. In case of problems, you can search for solutions online or contact the software manufacturer's technical support.
Michael Anderson - Software Engineer
My name is Michael Anderson, and I work as a computer engineer in Midland, Texas.
My passion is sharing my knowledge in various areas, and my purpose is to make education accessible to everyone. I believe it is essential to explain complex concepts in a simple and interesting way.
With GlobalHowTo, I aim to motivate and enrich the minds of those who want to learn.
