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How to Uninstall a Program

If there are old applications on your computer that you no longer want or use, uninstalling them can help free up space. The right way to uninstall a program depends on what operating system you're using. We'll walk you through how to uninstall programs on Windows, Mac, Linux, and iOs.

Method 1
Method 1 of 5:

Windows

  1. . Nearly all programs can be removed through the program manager in the Control Panel. There are a couple of different ways to access the Control Panel:
    • Windows 7, Vista, and XP - Click the Start menu and select "Control Panel".
    • Windows 8.1 - Right-click the Start button and select "Control Panel".
    • Windows 8 - Open the Charms bar and select "Settings". Click "Change PC Settings" and then select "Control Panel" at the bottom.
    • Windows 10 - Open the Start menu or the search box and type Control Panel . Then, click on the result for the Control Panel.
  2. This will launch the program manager.
    • If you're using Windows XP, select "Add or Remove Programs".
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  3. This may take a few moments if you have a lot of programs installed or the system is older.
  4. By default, the list will be sorted alphabetically. You can click the column headers to change the sorting. For example, clicking the "Installed On" header will allow you to see the latest programs that you installed. Clicking the "Size" header will show you which programs are taking up the most space.
  5. Click the Uninstall button that appears in the toolbar.
  6. Many programs have custom removal procedures. Read each screen carefully and follow the prompts to completely uninstall the program.
  7. Some programs that tie into your system files will require a reboot after uninstalling. Save any work you have open and then reboot your computer.
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Troubleshooting

  1. Sometimes uninstalling a program will break a system file. This can cause your computer to crash or hang. The quickest way to fix this is to perform a system restore. This will not affect your personal files.
    • Open the System Restore tool by searching for "restore" in Windows 7 and Vista, or "recovery" in Windows 8. In Windows XP, you can find the System Restore tool in All Programs → Accessories → System Tools.
    • Select a restore point from before the uninstallation. You can see all of the available restore points by checking "Show more restore points".
    • Confirm that you want to restore. The restore process will take a few minutes. Your computer will reboot.
  2. Many browser toolbars sneak onto your system during the installation of other software. They make themselves difficult to remove, and may reappear. You'll likely need the help of some anti-malware programs.
    • Download and run Adwcleaner, Malwarebytes Antimalware, and HitmanPro. All of these tools have free versions which will scan your computer and remove malware infections. It's important to run all three scanners, as they all pick up things the others don't.
    • Click here for a guide on removing malware and toolbars.
  3. Windows 8 apps are separate and don't appear in the Control Panel program manager. These will need to be deleted in a different way.
    • Open the Charms bar and select "Settings".
    • Select "Change PC settings" and then select "Search and apps".
    • Select the "App sizes" option and then select the app you want to delete.
    • Click the "Uninstall" button and then click "Uninstall" again to confirm.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 5:

Mac

  1. You can quickly open the Applications folder from your Dock, or by clicking the "Go" menu in Finder and selecting "Applications". [1] You can also press ⇧ Shift + ⌘ Command + A . This is the most common location for installed programs to be found.
  2. Programs are either represented by a single icon, i.e. "Mozilla Firefox", or as a folder of programs, i.e. "Microsoft Office". You can delete entire folders at once or just single programs. [2]
    • If you accidentally drag the wrong program into the Trash, just drag it back into the Applications folder.
  3. Right-click on your Trash icon and select "Empty Trash" to delete the program(s) inside. Click Empty Trash to confirm that you want to delete everything.
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Troubleshooting

  1. Many programs will leave behind configuration files. These files can be helpful if you end up reinstalling the program. Sometimes, though, you'll want to completely remove the files.
    • Hold the ⌥ Option key and click the "Go" menu.
    • Select "Library" from the "Go" menu.
    • Find files related to the program in the ~/Library/ , ~/Library/Preferences/ , and ~/Library/Application Support/ folders. Drag these files to the Trash.
  2. Newer versions of OS X include the Launchpad. You'll find all of your installed programs here. You can only uninstall programs that have been installed from the Mac App Store. To remove any other programs, you'll need to follow the method above.
  3. If you are having difficulty removing a program, you may need to enlist the help of a program remover. One of the most popular removal programs for Mac is App Cleaner, available for free from freemacsoft.net/appcleaner/ .
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Method 3
Method 3 of 5:

Linux

  1. You can uninstall programs through the Package Manager, but once you get used to the terminal you'll find it faster.
    • You can usually open the terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T .
  2. Type dpkg --list and press ↵ Enter . A long list of installed software will be displayed. You can use the terminal's scrollbar to look through the list. [3]
    • The fourth column of the list will show a description of the program. This can help you identify the program you want to uninstall.
  3. Type sudo apt-get --purge remove programname and press ↵ Enter . Make sure that you enter the program name exactly as it appeared in the list.
    • The above command will remove the program and all of its configuration files. If you want to keep the configuration files, omit the --purge part of the command ( sudo apt-get remove programname ).
    • You can uninstall multiple programs at once by listing each package you want to remove in the command. For example, to uninstall Skype and Opera, you would type sudo apt-get --purge remove skype opera .
  4. You will be prompted for you password and then asked to confirm that you want to remove the program. The terminal readout will display all of the packages that will be removed. Any programs that rely on the original package will be removed as well.
    • After the program is removed, you'll be returned to the terminal prompt.
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Troubleshooting

  1. Linux keeps old package installers in case you need to reinstall a program. These packages could be taking up a large amount of space on your hard drive. You can check how much space these files are taking by typing du -sh /var/cache/apt/archives .
    • Type sudo apt-get autoclean and press ↵ Enter . This will remove all of the packages for apps that have been uninstalled.
    • You can remove every package installer by typing sudo apt-get clean
Method 4
Method 4 of 5:

iOS

  1. You'll start to see all of your icons wiggle.
    • You won't be able to delete apps that came installed on your iPhone. The only way to delete these apps is to jailbreak your device. This is a risky process that voids your warranty and can brick your device. If you're OK with the risks, click here for a guide on jailbreaking.
  3. The app and all of its settings will be removed from your iOS device. [4]
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Troubleshooting

  1. This could be caused by issues with your Restriction settings. Remember that you can't uninstall certain system apps like Camera. [5]
    • Open the Settings app.
    • Tap "General" and then "Restrictions".
    • Ensure that "Deleting Apps" is enabled.
Method 5
Method 5 of 5:

Android

  1. You can find this in your App Drawer or Notification bar.
  2. This will load a list of all the apps installed on your device.
  3. You'll only be able to uninstall apps that appear on your "Downloaded" list. You may not be able to uninstall apps that came installed on your device.
  4. You'll be asked to confirm that you want to remove the app. Tap "Yes" to confirm and delete the app completely.
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Troubleshooting

  1. This usually means that the app was preloaded on your device. You can tap the "Disable" button to keep it from running. The only way to completely uninstall preloaded apps is to root your device.
    • Click here for a guide on rooting your Android device.

Expert Q&A

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Add New Question
  • Question
    Why do I need to enter my password to delete an application in my computer?
    Chiara Corsaro
    Computer Specialist
    Chiara Corsaro is the General Manager and Apple Certified Mac & iOS Technician for macVolks, Inc., an Apple Authorized Service Provider located in the San Francisco Bay Area. macVolks, Inc. was founded in 1990, is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with an A+ rating, and is part of the Apple Consultants Network (ACN).
    Chiara Corsaro
    Computer Specialist
    Expert Answer
    If it's a Mac, you occasionally need to authenticate that you intend to delete the program. It's not anything you need to worry about.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Yes No
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  • Question
    Do I need to do anything after putting the application in the trash? My computer is a Mac, for reference.
    Chiara Corsaro
    Computer Specialist
    Chiara Corsaro is the General Manager and Apple Certified Mac & iOS Technician for macVolks, Inc., an Apple Authorized Service Provider located in the San Francisco Bay Area. macVolks, Inc. was founded in 1990, is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with an A+ rating, and is part of the Apple Consultants Network (ACN).
    Chiara Corsaro
    Computer Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Yes, you need to clear out the recycling bin to make sure that the application is completely uninstalled. Then, I recommend restarting your computer to clear out any temporary cache files.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
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      References

      1. ↑ Chiara Corsaro. Certified Apple Technician. Expert Interview. 18 October 2019.
      2. ↑ Chiara Corsaro. Certified Apple Technician. Expert Interview. 18 October 2019.
      3. ↑ http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/howto-delete-remove-software-using-apt-get-command/
      4. ↑ http://osxdaily.com/2014/08/30/how-to-uninstall-apps-iphone-ipad-quick/
      5. ↑ http://www.technipages.com/iphone-cant-delete-apps-x-doesnt-appear

      About this article

      Article Summary X

      If you're using Windows, open the Control Panel and select Programs and Features or Uninstall a program . Select and program and click Uninstall . If you're using a Mac, open the Applications folder, and then drag the program's icon to the Trash.

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      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 31,979 times.

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