The windows software installation and uninstall process are not always that user-friendly. More often than not, it becomes quite a headache for users trying to get rid of specific applications from the system. Numerous factors, including a corrupted or disabled Windows Installer service or issues with the operating system, can cause this. So, what to do when a program won’t uninstall? Let’s find out.
Why an App Won't Uninstall Windows 10
Removing software from a Windows system should, in theory, be an easy process – but it’s not always so. There can be dozens of reasons why this happens, causing additional hassle, especially for those wanting to free up some space or get rid of a particular piece of software. Here are some of the most common causes of the “software won’t uninstall” dilemma.
Corrupted or Missing Uninstallation Files
A lot of programs come with their own uninstaller, but if the necessary files are damaged or there is some other reason for their absence, the uninstallation process fails. This usually happens due to an incomplete installation, system crash, or accidental deletion of some required files.
The Application is Still Running in the Background
Some programs do not close completely. Their processes are active and they stop Windows from making changes to their files during such instances. Even after the application has been closed, processes or services in the background related to this software will run and therefore create conflict during uninstallation.
Windows Installer Service Issues
The Windows Installer service handles the installation and removal of software. If this service is disabled or stuck or not functioning properly, uninstallation cannot be completed as some programs cannot be removed.
Insufficient User Permissions
Some applications can be uninstalled only with administrative privileges. In the absence of the required permissions, Windows may block the uninstallation process. This happens quite frequently with system utilities, security software, and enterprise applications.
Leftover Registry Entries and System Files
Many programs leave behind registry entries and files on the system even after uninstalling. If these remnants are not properly cleaned up, the program might still appear on the system or cause trouble when you try to uninstall it.
Malware or Stubborn Software
There are some programs, PUPs and malware in particular, that are intentionally designed to be hard to remove. They either come without a regular uninstaller, use misleading ways to hang around, or manage to reinstall themselves after being deleted.
6 Ways To Force Uninstall a Program That Won't Uninstall
Having trouble removing a stubborn program from your computer? We have a few tried-and-tested methods that can help you solve the problem of “program won’t uninstall”.
1. Use Third-Party App Uninstaller
If a program does not uninstall through Windows’ built-in ways, you can try a third-party uninstaller. These tools are supposed to help remove stubborn programs that can include leftover files and registry entries that standard uninstallers often leave behind. Master Uninstaller is an efficient software that removes even the most persistent programs.
To use Master Uninstaller to fix the “program won't uninstall” problem:
- Download and Install Master Uninstaller from the official website.
- Launch the Software and scan for installed programs.
- Select the Problematic Program from the list.
- Click Uninstall, and the Master Uninstaller takes off the program along with leftover files.
2. Restart the Windows Installer
The Windows Installer service is essential to the uninstallation process even though it would seem like it solely deals with software installation on Windows. If Installer service is either deactivated or malfunctioning, you may have difficulties when removing apps from the system.
Restarting the Windows Installer service will be the first step in our troubleshooting process because it is usually the cause of uninstallation difficulties. We'll attempt re-registering Windows Installer and see if that helps if restarting doesn't work.
Here's how to remove program that won't uninstall:
- Press Win + R.
- Click Open after entering services.msc in Run.
- Locate and right-click the Windows Installer service in the window that appears.
- From the context menu, select Properties.
- Click the Stop button in the Properties tab, wait for a few seconds, and then click the Start button.
- Verify that Automatic is selected as the Startup type.
- For the changes to be saved, click Apply > OK.
Now you can check if it works by trying to uninstall an application. If the program still won't remove, try re-registering the service.
- Click Run as administrator after typing cmd into Windows search.
- Select Yes.
- To run the command, put msiexec /unreg into the Command Prompt and press Enter.
- Following the execution of the command, run msiexec /regserver.
- Now, try deleting the program that was causing the problem by closing the Command Prompt.
3. Terminate The Application's Process in Task Manager
If the program's process is active in the Task Manager, you might not be able to uninstall it. An error will result from this procedure interfering with the uninstalling process.
If this is the case, you can try removing the software after terminating its execution in Task Manager.
Here's how to remove program that won't uninstall using the task manager:
- Click Open after typing Task Manager into Windows search.
- Locate the program you wish to remove by selecting the Processes tab in the window that appears.
- Select End task with a right-click.
- After finishing, exit Task Manager and see if the specified program can now be uninstalled.
To resolve the problem, you can alternatively attempt to restart the Windows Explorer process within the same window. Just find Windows Explorer and give it a right-click. Choose Restart and watch the magic unfold.
4. Uninstall the App in Safe Mode
As previously stated, you may also encounter the problem of “cant remove program” if the background-running application obstructs the uninstallation procedure. It turns out that the removal process may also be hampered by other programs on your computer.
We need to boot into Safe Mode to resolve this issue because it is hard to identify which specific application on your operating system might be the cause. Windows is launched in Safe Mode with the bare minimum of necessary drivers and applications.
As a result, the mistake will be fixed during the uninstallation process and background apps won't interfere.
Here's how to solve the “program won't uninstall” fix:
- To access Windows Settings, press Win + I simultaneously.
- Navigate to the Recovery area on the right side of the window after selecting System from the left pane.
- Click the Advanced Startup button labeled "Restart now."
- Press Restart once more.
- In the following window, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options.
- Click Restart after selecting Startup Settings.
- To enter Safe Mode in the window that appears, press 4.
- Try deleting the targeted program once the computer has successfully booted into Safe Mode.
With any luck, this method will allow you to successfully uninstall it. After you're finished, restart your computer to get out of Safe Mode to see if the program won't uninstall problem is fixed.
5. Make Use Of the Default Uninstaller
The uninstaller that comes with many apps performs a good job of uninstalling them. This uninstaller can be found in File Explorer's official application folder.
Double-clicking the uninstaller will launch it. To use the uninstaller, navigate to the folder location in File Explorer. You can look for an uninstaller on the official manufacturer's website if you are unable to locate one in File Explorer. Consider using free third-party solutions to remove apps in bulk if you wish to uninstall several programs at once.
6. Take Out the Registry Keys
If the software won't uninstall even after all these methods, there's a possibility that a Registry problem is preventing you from uninstalling the program. When you uninstall the program, the Registry keys linked to it should ideally be deleted automatically.
If that doesn't work, though, you can manually delete the program's Registry keys. Before using this procedure, make sure you are logged into Windows as an administrator. It ought to resolve the issue permanently.
Conclusion
You can delete an application completely from your computer if you no longer need it in order to make room for better and more recent options. Should you encounter any difficulties throughout this procedure, the aforementioned techniques ought to assist you in quickly resuming the uninstallation. The “program won't uninstall” problem takes quite a simple approach to solve.
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Simple and Practical: Easily uninstall unwanted software.
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Thorough Cleanup: Completely remove residual files.
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Blacklist Protection: Identify and block malware and adware.