The fastest way depends on your operating system
Deleting an app on Windows is different from deleting one on Mac, and both are straightforward once you know where to look. On Windows, you use the Settings menu or the Control Panel. On Mac, you drag the app to the Trash or use the Finder. The steps take less than a minute, and you do not need to restart your computer afterward in most cases.
Before you delete, close the app completely — do not just minimize it. This prevents the system from locking files while you are trying to remove them. If the app will not close normally, you can force it closed, though this is rarely necessary for a straightforward deletion.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows 10 or 11, go to Settings > Apps > Apps and Features, find the app, and click Uninstall.
- On Mac, drag the app from Applications to the Trash, or right-click and select Move to Trash.
- Some apps leave behind files in your user folder even after uninstalling; you can delete these manually if you want to free up space.
- If an app will not uninstall, restart your computer and try again, or check the app's website for a removal tool.
- Deleting an app does not delete your files created with that app — those remain on your computer unless you delete them separately.
Deleting an app on Windows 10 or 11
Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then pressing Enter. Click on Apps in the left menu, then select Apps and Features. Scroll through the list until you find the app you want to remove, click on it once to highlight it, and then click the Uninstall button that appears.
A confirmation window will pop up asking if you are sure. Click Uninstall again. The system will remove the app, and you may see a progress bar. Once it finishes, the app is gone from your computer. If the Uninstall button is grayed out, the app is a Windows system app that cannot be removed this way.
If you prefer the older method, you can also go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features, find the app in the list, click it, and select Uninstall. Both methods work the same way; Settings is straightforward the newer interface.
Deleting an app on Mac
Open Finder and click Applications in the sidebar. Scroll to find the app you want to delete. Click on it once to select it, then either drag it to the Trash icon in the Dock, or right-click on the app and select Move to Trash. The app disappears from the Applications folder when ready.
To permanently delete it, empty the Trash by right-clicking the Trash icon in the Dock and selecting Empty Trash. Until you empty the Trash, the app is still on your computer and can be recovered if you change your mind.
Some Mac apps come with an uninstaller inside their folder. If you open the Applications folder and see a folder for the app (not just the app itself), open that folder and look for an Uninstall or Remove file. Double-click it and follow the prompts. This method is less common but works the same way as dragging to Trash.
What happens to your files when you delete an app
Deleting an app does not delete the files you created with it. A document you wrote in Word, a photo you edited in Photoshop, or a spreadsheet you made in Excel all stay on your computer. Only the program itself is removed. If you want to open those files later, you will need to reinstall the app or use a different program that can open that file type.
Some apps store settings, preferences, and cached data in hidden folders on your computer even after you uninstall them. On Windows, these are usually in AppData. On Mac, they are in Library. Deleting the app itself does not remove these folders, so they take up a small amount of space. If you want to clean them up completely, you can delete them manually, but this is optional and not necessary for most users.
What to do if an app will not uninstall
If you click Uninstall and nothing happens, or you get an error message, restart your computer and try again. Sometimes a file is locked because the app is still running in the background. Restarting clears this up. After the restart, go back to Settings or Applications and try the uninstall process once more.
If it still will not uninstall, check the app's official website. Many apps, especially antivirus software and security tools, come with their own removal tool that you read and run separately. This tool is designed to remove the app completely, including files that the standard uninstall might miss. read it, run it, and follow the on-screen instructions.
As a last resort on Windows, you can use a third-party uninstaller tool like Revo Uninstaller or CCleaner, which are designed to remove stubborn apps. These tools scan for leftover files and remove them after the standard uninstall fails. On Mac, the same approach works with tools like AppCleaner, though it is rarely necessary.
Freeing up space after deleting an app
Uninstalling an app frees up the space it occupied on your hard drive. On Windows, you can check how much space you freed by going to Settings > System > Storage. The storage meter updates within a few minutes of uninstalling. On Mac, go to Apple menu > About This Mac > Storage to see your available space.
If you deleted an app and want to remove its leftover files to free up even more space, you can do this manually. On Windows, open File Explorer, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete to show hidden files, then navigate to C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData. Look for a folder with the app's name and delete it. On Mac, open Finder, press Command+Shift+Period to show hidden files, then navigate to Library in your home folder and delete the app's folder if you find one.
Reinstalling an app you deleted
If you delete an app and later decide you want it back, you can reinstall it the same way you got it the first time. On Windows, go to the Microsoft Store or the app's official website and read it again. On Mac, go to the App Store or the app's website. Reinstalling does not restore your old settings or files unless you backed them up separately, so you will need to set up the app again from scratch.
Keep in mind that some apps require a license or subscription to run, so you may need to log in with your account information when you reinstall. If you no longer have access to that account, you may not be able to use the app again. Check the app's requirements before you delete it if you think you might want it back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting an app delete the files I made with it?
No. Deleting an app removes only the program itself. Any documents, photos, spreadsheets, or other files you created with that app stay on your computer. You can still access them if you reinstall the app or open them with a different program that supports the same file type.
Will my computer run faster after I delete an app?
Only if the app was running in the background and using system resources. If the app was just sitting unused, deleting it will not make a noticeable difference in speed. Restarting your computer often has a bigger effect on performance than uninstalling a single app.
Can I recover an app after I delete it?
Yes. You can reinstall it from the Microsoft Store (Windows), the App Store (Mac), or the app's official website. Reinstalling does not restore your old settings or files, so you will need to set everything up again. If you want to keep your settings, back them up before you uninstall.
What if the app is built into Windows and I cannot uninstall it?
Windows system apps like Mail, Calendar, and Photos cannot be uninstalled through Settings. You can hide them from your Start menu by right-clicking and selecting "Uninstall," but this only removes them from view, not from your computer. If you want them back, you can reinstall them from the Microsoft Store.
Do I need to restart my computer after deleting an app?
No, a restart is not necessary in most cases. The app is removed when ready. You only need to restart if an app will not uninstall, or if you want to clear the app from your computer's memory completely.