Software Tips

10 Easy Ways to Uninstall Programs and Apps that are Problematic

Uninstall Programs and Apps
Uninstall Programs and Apps

Photo by Jeremy Bezanger on Unsplash

After prolonged use of the PC, a huge number of programs are accumulated on it. Sometimes this can slow down your computer a lot, or you just start to get confused with shortcuts from programs that you just stopped using. Below you will read about 10 ways to uninstall Programs and Apps that are no longer needed or that are problematic.

When does the problem occur?

Maybe it’s when you’re trying to run too many programs at once or maybe you have deleted expired subscriptions and it’s an old app that hasn’t been updated recently. Or it could be the program just won’t open and needs to be uninstalled. Whatever the reason, uninstalling a program/app can be performed easily by anyone.

So before you consider computer repairs, try these solutions for removing problematic programs and apps.

Program manufacturers uninstall tool

If there’s a program, odds are it will have a built-in uninstall tool and this is one quick way to uninstall Programs and Apps that are no longer needed.

Go to the Start menu and locate the program or application (the app) among the list of programs currently residing in your device. Once you’ve located the programs, you should be able to open the folder and see the option to “uninstall” listed in the folder.

Click and follow the instructions, and the program or app should get uninstalled from your device.

Uninstall Programs and Apps from Control Panel

 Uninstall Programs and Apps
Uninstall Programs and Apps

Using the control panel of your computer is a good way to uninstall Programs and Apps that are problematic. If you’re operating an uninstaller tool in Windows 10 or 11, you can run the uninstaller from the Control Panel.

Start by opening the Start menu and clicking on Settings, then Apps, and finally Apps and Features. This will open the folder and allow you to find and select the specific program or app you want to uninstall.

When you select a program or app, a command to uninstall should appear on the list of options. Click on Uninstall, then just follow the prompts and commands that come up on the screen.

Uninstall Programs and Apps in Task Manager

Uninstall Programs and Apps
Uninstall Programs and Apps

For Windows operators, the Task Manager tool can be a lifesaver with troublesome programs and uninstalling apps. Start by holding down the CTRL, ALT, and DELETE keys together to bring up the Lock Screen. The last option on the page should read Task Manager.

The Task Manager will show every program and app currently running on your device. Just locate the program or app you wish to uninstall, select End Task, then go back and uninstall the program or app.

You can also access the Task Manager tool and bypass the lock screen by holding down the CTRL, SHIFT, and ESC keys.

Uninstall Programs and Apps in Safe Mode

Ah, safe mode. If you’ve ever had problems with programs and apps, especially on older computers, you’re familiar with Safe Mode, it’s a good way to uninstall Programs and Apps that are problematic.

To uninstall a program/app in Safe Mode, start by turning the computer on in Safe Mode through Settings. You can do this one of two ways: press the Windows key and I to open Settings, or just click Start and then go to Settings. Next, click on Update and Security, then select Recovery.

That should bring up the Advanced Startup window, which has the option to Restart Now. Select that option, then select Restart Now, the computer will restart and allow the user to select an Option screen. Choose Troubleshoot, Advanced Options, Startup Settings, Restart.

The computer will restart again and present further options. Choose 4, or F4, to start the device in Safe Mode. That will grant you access to uninstalling the program while in Safe Mode. You can follow these instructions to hard reset your iPhone.

Microsoft Install/Uninstall troubleshooter

Ironically, to uninstall a program or app using this option, you’ll need to download another program first. More specifically, you’ll need the Microsoft uninstall troubleshooter program.

Once downloaded, open the program using the device that has the program/app you want to be removed. Select the Advanced link and click Next, Uninstalling, choose the program/app in question, Next, and follow the instructions.

Once the program has finished, the option to uninstall the program on your computer should be available. Anything else may constitute an uninstall error.

Additionally, the program should also provide the option for feedback and more information on the program/app. The report screen should also provide a selection of repair options.

Uninstall Programs and Apps With Third-party uninstaller

Uninstall Programs and Apps
Uninstall Programs and Apps

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

When in doubt, go find the tool you need.

Just like the Install/Uninstall troubleshooter, a third-party uninstaller can either be a general, all-purpose tool or one designed specifically for the program/app you’re trying to uninstall on your computer.

Be careful about which tool you select, as some of them can be points of infection for your device. Always look for official third-party software for uninstalling programs first, specifically the ones recommended by the device manufacturer or the program/app operators.

It may help to think of an uninstall tool like any other piece of hardware. Don’t buy cheap or knock-offs; the safety of your device should be the top concern of any program/app.

Uninstall Programs and Apps With System Restore

First, check to see if your device has Restore Points enabled in its settings. If so, the user can make use of the System Restore. If not, enable Restore Points first.

Restore Points acts like a time capsule for your computer by allowing the user to restore the device settings to a specific date and time. So if your device started acting up at 3 p.m. on February 17, Restore Points offers the ability to bring the device back to how it was operating on February 14 at 10 a.m.

When using this option, find a date and time before the program/app in question was installed on the device. It will restore the device to how it looked and operated before that program was added. Just keep in mind this option will also remove any other programs/apps installed after the Restore Point.

Remove Preinstalled Items

Preinstalled items refer to any and all the programs that were placed on a device during manufacture. If you get a new phone, for example, it usually comes with a selection of games and programs already set up on the device whether the user wants them or not.

If the user chooses to remove them, simply find the program/app, click it, and select the option to Uninstall.

Use care with this option, and don’t start uninstalling programs wildly. It’s always embarrassing having to download a program you already deleted, such as a Calendar or Calculator app.

Ghost Programs

Even after a program/app has been successfully uninstalled, traces of its existence may still be visible on the device. These traces, which can look like a prompt for a deleted program on the Start menu, get referred to as ghosts because the uninstalled program still shows up.

Uninstallers can be used for these ghosts, but great care should be taken. Registry cleaners can be problematic, as they could accidentally remove other programs vital to the health of your device.

Problem Updates

Finally, any recent updates performed on your device can be uninstalled. Find the Apps and Features file on the Control Panel and look for the program/app in question.

Conclusion

Follow these options to uninstall a program/app. You can be sure one of them will work one way or another and you will avoid uninstalling errors.

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