How To Uninstall Any Program And Remove Leftovers Without Any Third-Party Software From Windows 11

Uninstalling programs can sometimes leave behind unwanted files and registry entries, taking up valuable space and potentially affecting system performance. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through the process of thoroughly removing any program from your Windows 10 or 11 computer, ensuring no traces remain.

Walkthrough Video

Step 1: Completely Close the Program

Before beginning the uninstallation process, it’s crucial to ensure the program is fully closed:

1. Close the main program window normally.

2. Check the system tray (lower-right corner of the taskbar) for any minimized instances. Right-click on any icons related to the program and select “Quit,” “Exit,” or “Close.”

3. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc or search for it in the Start menu).

• Check the “Apps” section for any instances of the program.
• Look in the “Background processes” section for related processes.
• If you find any, right-click and select “End task.”

Step 2: Uninstall via Windows Settings

1. Open the Start menu and click on “Settings” (gear icon).
2. Navigate to “Apps” > “Apps & features.”
3. Scroll through the list or use the search box to find the program you want to uninstall.
4. Click the three dots next to the program name.
5. Select “Uninstall” and confirm your choice.
6. Follow the uninstallation wizard if one appears.

Step 3: Remove Leftover Files

Programs often leave behind data files after uninstallation. To remove these:

1. Press Windows key + R, type “%appdata%” and hit Enter.
2. Look for folders named after the program, its developer, or company.
3. Delete these folders if found.
4. Repeat this process for the following locations:

• Local AppData: Press Windows key + R, type “%localappdata%” and hit Enter.
• Program Files: Press Windows key + R, type “%programfiles%” and hit Enter.
• Program Files (x86): Press Windows key + R, type “%programfiles(x86)%” and hit Enter.
• ProgramData: Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\ProgramData (you may need to enable “Show hidden files”).

Step 4: Clear Temporary Files

1. Press Windows key + R, type “%temp%” and hit Enter.
2. Select all files (Ctrl + A) and delete them.
3. If some files can’t be deleted, skip them (they may be in use by the system).
4. Repeat this process for the Windows temporary folder “temp” (without % signs)

Step 5: Remove Registry Entries (Advanced Users Only)

1. Press Windows key + R, type “regedit” and hit Enter.
2. Click “File” > “Export” to create a backup of your registry.
3. Browse for a safe location and save your backup file.
4. Navigate to the following locations and look for keys related to the uninstalled program:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node (for 64-bit Windows)
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
• HKEY_USERS.DEFAULT\Software

If you find any related keys, right-click and select “Delete.”

Step 6: Restart Your Computer

After completing all these steps, restart your computer to ensure all changes take effect and any lingering processes are terminated.

Additional Notes:

Some programs may use unique locations to store files or registry entries. If you’re trying to remove a specific program and these steps don’t cover everything, you may need to search online for program-specific uninstallation instructions. For stubborn programs or if you’re uncomfortable modifying the registry, consider using a third-party uninstaller tool. However, be cautious and only download reputable software. If you’re unsure about deleting a file or registry key, it’s better to leave it than risk causing system issues. Always create backups of important data before making significant changes to your system. Some antivirus programs or system protection software might interfere with the complete removal process. You may need to temporarily disable them, but remember to re-enable them afterwards.

Conclusion

By following these comprehensive steps, you can ensure that unwanted programs are completely removed from your system, freeing up space and potentially improving your computer’s performance. This thorough approach helps maintain a clean and efficient Windows environment.