How to Uninstall an App in Windows 11

Over time, our computers accumulate a massive collection of software. Whether it is a video game you no longer play, a trial version of a tool that expired, or bloatware that came pre-installed on your PC, keeping unnecessary applications on your hard drive wastes valuable storage space and can sometimes slow down your system. Windows 11 provides a centralized, easy-to-use menu to safely and cleanly remove programs from your computer.

The Best Method: Using the Settings App

While you can uninstall apps from the Start Menu or the legacy Control Panel, the modern Settings app provides the most comprehensive and reliable method for removing software in Windows 11.

1. Click the Start button on your taskbar.
2. Click the Settings gear icon (or press Windows Key + I on your keyboard).
3. In the left-hand navigation pane of the Settings window, click on Apps.
4. In the main pane, click on Installed apps.

You will now see a complete list of every application currently installed on your computer. By default, they are sorted alphabetically. If you have hundreds of apps, you can use the “Search apps” bar at the top of the list to find the specific program you want to remove.

Uninstalling the Application

1. Locate the app you wish to remove in the list.
2. Click the three horizontal dots (…) located on the far right side of the app’s name.
3. From the small dropdown menu that appears, click Uninstall.
4. A small confirmation window will pop up, warning you that the app and its related info will be uninstalled. Click the Uninstall button again to confirm.

The Uninstallation Process

What happens next depends entirely on how the app was originally built:

• Microsoft Store Apps: If the app was downloaded from the Microsoft Store, Windows will quietly and instantly remove it in the background. The app will simply vanish from the list.
• Traditional Desktop Apps (.exe): If it is a traditional desktop program (like a heavy video editor or a third-party web browser), Windows will launch that specific program’s custom uninstaller. A new window will pop up on your screen. You will need to click “Next,” “Uninstall,” or “Yes” through the prompts provided by that specific developer to complete the removal process.

What if the “Uninstall” button is greyed out?

You may occasionally find an app where the “Uninstall” button is grey and unclickable. This usually means the application is a core component of the Windows 11 operating system (such as the Calculator, Alarms & Clock, or the Microsoft Store itself). Microsoft locks these specific applications because removing them could break essential system functions or cause instability.