Using the Control Panel to Remove Programs

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated November 20, 2017)

1

Over the course of time, you will undoubtedly install numerous programs on your Windows system. These programs may be shrink-wrapped applications or ones that you download from the Web. At some point, however, you may realize that you don't want a certain program to remain on your system and so would like to free up the resources it consumes. This is when you use the Control Panel to remove such programs.

The Control Panel is the starting point for a wide variety of functions, such as backing up your computer, modifying network parameters, changing the desktop background, etc. It's also where you go when you want to remove, or uninstall, programs.

To uninstall a program, follow these steps:

  1. Display the Control Panel.
  2. Click the Uninstall a Program link, under the Programs category. Windows displays the Programs and Features window. (See Figure 1.)

    3. Figure 1. The Control Panel's Uninstall a Program screen.

  3. In the list of installed programs, click once on the program you want to uninstall and then click the Uninstall/Change button. (The button appears only after clicking on the program.)
  4. Follow the prompts that appear, answering each one as the uninstall process continues. Windows informs you when the program is uninstalled.

 This tip (12024) applies to Windows 7, 8, and 10.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Finding and Changing Word's Internal Commands

If you know how to create macros, you can easily create entire replacements for Word's internal commands. Here's all you ...

Discover More

Calculating Weekend Dates

Do you look forward to the weekend? Well, you can use Excel to let you know when the next weekend begins. Here's how you ...

Discover More

Pulling All Hyperlinks

Word allows you to add hyperlinks to your document. If your document includes quite a few hyperlinks, you may want a way ...

Discover More
More WindowsTips

Understanding Regional Settings

Microsoft Windows is "globally friendly." By this I mean that regardless of where you are in the world, you can easily ...

Discover More

Displaying the Control Panel

The Control Panel is (or has been) the heart and soul of controlling Windows. How you display the control panel, however, ...

Discover More

Changing Control Panel Views

The Control Panel is an important "dashboard" that leads you to various system-related applications. There are a few ways ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is eight more than 6?

2017-11-20 10:35:56

Henry Noble

Many programs do not do a good job of uninstalling themselves.
For more thorough removal, take a look at Revo Uninstaller from the VS Revo Group. There are free and paid versions.
https://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download_compare.html
Revo begins by using the uninstall feature described in this Tip, then takes removal to the next level by searching for files, directories, and registry entries left behind by the program's uninstaller. Users have complete control of what is removed in this second phase.

Newest Tips
Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.