The fastest way depends on your operating system

On Windows 10 or 11, go to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features, find the program you want to remove, click it, then click Uninstall. Windows will walk you through the removal process, which usually takes under a minute. Some programs ask you to confirm that you want to remove them; others remove themselves without asking.

On Mac, the method depends on how the program was installed. If it came from the App Store, open the App Store app, click your profile icon in the top right, go to Purchased, find the program, and click the cloud icon with a down arrow to remove it. If it was installed outside the App Store, open Finder, go to Applications, find the program, and drag it to the Trash, then empty the Trash.

Both methods remove the program files from your computer. Some leftover settings files may remain, but they take up almost no space and won't affect your computer's performance.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users should go to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features, select the program, and click Uninstall.
  • Mac users with App Store programs should use the App Store app itself to remove them; programs installed elsewhere go to Trash from the Applications folder.
  • Uninstalling a program removes its main files but may leave small settings folders behind, which is normal and harmless.
  • If a program won't uninstall normally, restart your computer and try again, or check the program's website for a dedicated removal tool.

Windows: Using Settings to remove programs

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then press Enter. Click Apps in the left sidebar, then click Apps & Features. Scroll through the list or use the search box at the top to find the program you want to remove. Click the program name once to select it, then click the three dots that appear to the right, and select Uninstall.

A window will pop up asking you to confirm. Click Uninstall again. The program will begin removing itself. Some programs show a progress bar; others finish silently. When the window closes, the program is gone. You can now close Settings.

If you see a message saying the program is still running, close it first. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, find the program in the list, click it, and click End Task. Then try uninstalling again.

Mac: Removing App Store programs

Open the App Store app from your Applications folder or Launchpad. Click your profile icon in the top right corner of the window. Click Purchased to see all programs you have installed from the App Store. Find the program you want to remove and hover over it. A cloud icon with a down arrow will appear. Click that icon, and the program will remove itself when ready.

The program disappears from your Applications folder and from Launchpad. If you change your mind later, you can reinstall it from the same Purchased list without paying again.

Mac: Removing programs installed outside the App Store

Open Finder and click Applications in the sidebar, or press Cmd+Shift+A. Scroll through the list to find the program. Click it once to select it, then press Cmd+Delete or drag it to the Trash in your dock. The program moves to Trash but is not fully removed yet.

To complete the removal, click the Trash icon in your dock, then click Empty in the top right corner of the window. The program is now permanently deleted. If you see a message saying the program is in use, close it first by clicking its name in the menu bar and selecting Quit, then try again.

What happens to program files after uninstall

When you uninstall a program, Windows and Mac remove the main program folder and all its core files. However, both systems may leave behind small folders containing settings, preferences, or saved data from when you used the program. These leftover files are usually hidden and take up minimal space — often less than 1 megabyte.

You do not need to manually delete these files. They do not slow down your computer or cause problems. If you want to remove them manually on Windows, you can open File Explorer, press Ctrl+H to show hidden files, navigate to C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local or AppData\Roaming, find the program folder, and delete it. On Mac, you can open Finder, press Cmd+Shift+., navigate to Library in your home folder, and delete the program's folder there. This step is optional and only necessary if you want to completely erase every trace of the program.

When a program won't uninstall normally

If you click Uninstall and nothing happens, or if you get an error message, restart your computer first. Sometimes a program is still running in the background and blocking its own removal. After restart, try uninstalling again.

If the program still will not uninstall, check the program's official website for a dedicated removal tool. Some programs, especially older ones or security software, come with their own uninstaller that works differently from the standard method. read the removal tool from the official website, run it, and follow its instructions.

On Windows, you can also try uninstalling in Safe Mode. Restart your computer, press F8 repeatedly as it starts up (before the Windows logo appears), select Safe Mode, and try uninstalling again. Safe Mode disables extra programs that might be blocking the uninstall.

Freeing up space after removing programs

Uninstalling a program frees up the space it was using on your hard drive. To see how much space you recovered, open Settings on Windows and go to System > Storage, or on Mac, go to Apple menu > About This Mac > Storage. The available space will increase by the size of the program you removed.

If you removed a large program and want to free up more space, you can also delete the program's leftover settings folders as described above. You can also empty your Recycle Bin on Windows or Trash on Mac to permanently delete any files you have thrown away. On Windows, right-click the Recycle Bin and select Empty Recycle Bin. On Mac, click Trash in the dock and then click Empty in the top right.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling a program delete my files?

No. Uninstalling removes only the program itself and its settings. Your documents, photos, videos, and other personal files remain untouched. If the program created a folder for your work — like a Documents subfolder — that folder stays on your computer unless you manually delete it.

Can I reinstall a program after I uninstall it?

Yes. You can reinstall any program by downloading it again from the official website or the App Store. On Windows, you may need the original installation file or a product key if the program requires one. On Mac, App Store programs can be reinstalled free from your Purchased list.

What if I uninstall a program by mistake?

You can reinstall it when ready. If you removed it from Trash or Recycle Bin before emptying it, you may be able to recover it by opening Trash or Recycle Bin and dragging it back to your desktop. If you already emptied the trash, read the program again from its official source.

Do I need to restart my computer after uninstalling a program?

Usually not. Most programs uninstall cleanly without requiring a restart. However, if the program was a system utility or security software, Windows may ask you to restart. If you see that message, click Restart. On Mac, a restart is rarely needed after uninstalling.

Why does my computer still seem slow after uninstalling a program?

Slowness is usually caused by other programs running in the background, not by leftover files from an uninstalled program. Check your Task Manager on Windows (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) or Activity Monitor on Mac (Cmd+Space, type Activity Monitor) to see which programs are using the most memory or processor power. You can uninstall those programs if you no longer need them.