Skip to main content

How to uninstall apps from Windows 11

Windows 11 will be coming on October 5, but you don’t need to keep every app you install or any app that comes pre-installed on the operating system. You can uninstall any program in Windows 11 if you no longer need it. It could be something you downloaded from the internet or one of the default apps in the OS.

Just like Windows 10, removing programs and apps in Windows 11 is quite an easy task. You can do so in more ways than one, so that’s why we’ve put together this handy guide.

From the Start menu

Removing a windows 11 app from the start menu.

The easiest way to uninstall an app from Windows 11 is directly from the Start menu.

Step 1: Open the Start menu, and then choose All Apps.

Step 2: Right-click on the program you want to remove and choose Uninstall.

If the program is an app that you downloaded from the Microsoft Store, then the process of removing it will start automatically in the background. After a few minutes, it will disappear from your list and will no longer be found on your system.

In the event that the app you want to remove is a Win32 program (like Google Chrome,) then you’ll be redirected to the Programs and Features section of the Control Panel. From there, you’ll have to right-click the program name and then choose Uninstall to remove it. Follow any directions on your screen, and then the app will be gone.

From the settings app

Removing a Windows 11 app from the settings.

Having trouble with right-clicking to uninstall apps in the Start menu? Just visit the Windows 10 Settings app.

Step 1: Access the Settings menu by pressing the Windows Key + I.

Step 2: Click the Apps button in the sidebar.

Step 3: You should see an option for Apps & Features. Click it, and then choose the downward-facing dots next to any app on the list, followed by the Uninstall button. Follow any directions or prompts on your screen, and the app will be removed from your system.

From the Control Panel

Removing an app from the windows 11 control panel.

Our final way of uninstalling programs on Windows 11 involves a look at the Control Panel.

Step 1: Search for Control Panel on the Start menu and then click to open the app when you see it.

Step 2: Under the Programs section, choose to Uninstall a Program. 

Step 3: From there, look for your program on the list, right-click it, and then choose Uninstall.

Other tips

Though it’s not required in most instances, once you remove an app or program from Windows 11, it’s best to restart your system. Once you restart, you’ll be able to ensure that your system is permanently freed of the apps or programs you no longer need.

If you’re still seeing the program on the list or anywhere on your system, then it’s likely something went wrong during the uninstall process. Try removing it again using one of the methods we mentioned above. If all else fails, contact support for the app you’re having issues with, and there could be a solution there.

Editors' Recommendations

Arif Bacchus
Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…
Microsoft teases design overhaul of major Windows 11 app
windows 11 taskbar third party app pinning

Microsoft teased a design overhaul that is coming to the Windows 11 File Explorer app in a future update at its Build developer conferenceĀ this week.

The new File Explorer design is based on WinUI 3 and will modernize the app's folders, sidebar, address bar, and search bar to be more in tune with the overall Windows 11 style. This will bring to File Explorer a look and feel with more rounded and blurred designs, as well as mouse and touch optimizations, Windows Central noted.

Read more
The Windows Copilot puts Bing Chat in every Windows 11 computer
Copilot in Windows being used in the side panel.

Announced at Microsoft Build 2023, Windows will now have its own dedicated AI "copilot" that can be docked right into a side panel that can stay persistent while using other applications and aspects of the operating system.

Microsoft has been highly invested in AI over these recent months, and it was only a matter of time before it came to Windows. The time is now -- and it's coming in a big way.

Read more
Windows 11 just gained one of the primary reasons to buy a Mac
The Phone Link app being used on a phone and laptop screen.

The Apple ecosystem is the reason many people flock to the Mac over Windows devices. They already own an iPhone, so buying a Mac that works easily with it seems like an obvious next step.

Now, however, the highly requested Phone Link app for Windows 11 finally supports iPhone, finally making some of those ecosystem features a bit more cross-platform. The update to the app was announced in late AprilĀ but is available to use today.

Read more