7 Best Ways to Force Uninstall Programs in Windows 10

It’s a good idea to uninstall an app or program you no longer need. What if Windows doesn’t let you uninstall it? If this has happened to you, there are other ways to forcefully remove a program in Windows 10.

Depending on the situation, uninstalling a program can be as simple as using the control panel or as cumbersome as using a System Restore Point. In this article, we will go through all the possible paths. So let’s get straight to the point.

1. Use Control Panel

Using the Control Panel is the old-fashioned way to uninstall programs and software in Windows. It is probably the easiest way and requires little or no expertise. Therefore, this is the first method you should try. Here’s how it works.

Stage 1: Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Medicine appwiz.cpl and press Enter.

Step 2: In the Programs and Features window, locate the program you want to uninstall. Right click on it and select Uninstall.

Follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall the program. If the problem persists, move on to the next solution.

2. Uninstall with Command Prompt

If Control Panel cannot remove the program, you can also use Command Prompt in Windows to remove programs and software from your computer. Read on to find out how.

Stage 1: Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog. write now cmd and press Ctrl+Shift+Enter to open Command Prompt with admin rights.

Step 2: In the Command Prompt window, type wmic and press Enter. Then type product takes a name and press Enter.

You will be presented with a list of programs installed on your computer. Make a note of the name of the program you want to remove.

Stage 3: Type the commands mentioned below and press Enter.

product where name="program name" call uninstall 

change it program name in the above command, with the name of the program mentioned earlier. For example, if you are trying to uninstall ‘PC Health Checkup’, type the following command and press Enter.

product where name="Windows PC Health Check" call uninstall

Step 4: You will be asked to confirm. Press Y and then Enter.

Once complete, you will get a message that says ‘Method execution successful’.

3. Use Registry Editor

Any programs or applications running on your PC have their files stored in the Windows Registry. Deleting these files will effectively remove the program in question from your computer.

Warning word. The Windows Registry is an integral part of the Windows operating system. Modifying or deleting files from the Registry can cause problems beyond repair. If this is not something you are comfortable with, we recommend skipping this method.

However, if you’re comfortable using the Registry to uninstall programs, here’s how it works.

Stage 1: Open the start menu, type registry editorand press Enter.

Step 2: Now in the address bar at the top, copy and paste the address given below to quickly navigate to the key below.

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

Stage 3: In the left pane, expand the Uninstall key to find the subkey of the program you want to remove. Right click on it and select Delete.

Once deleted, restart your computer and see if the program in question has been removed.

4. Uninstall in Safe Mode

Sometimes, third-party apps and processes running in the background can affect the computer’s performance. Also, they may not allow you to uninstall the program. You can try uninstalling the program in Safe Mode to make sure of that.

Here’s how to enter Safe Mode in Windows 10.

Stage 1: Press Windows key + I to open settings. Go to Update & Security.

Step 2: Go to the Recovery section on your left and click the ‘Reboot now’ button under ‘Advanced startup’ on your right.

Stage 3: Then go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings. Then click the Restart button.

Step 4: Your computer will restart and the Startup Settings menu will open, select any version of Safe Mode by pressing the corresponding key (4, 5 or 6) to enter Safe Mode.

Once in Safe Mode, use any method mentioned above to uninstall the program.

5. Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter

Microsoft also offers a utility called ‘Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter’ that can automatically find and fix items on your PC that are blocking the installation or uninstallation process.

Download Troubleshooter

You can download and run the troubleshooting tool by following the on-screen instructions. This should fix any issues blocking the uninstall process.

6. Use System Restore Point

Besides the above, you can also use a system restore point to go back to your system before you installed that app or program. Note that doing this also means you will lose any settings and other apps you installed after creating that restore point.

However, if you have recently installed the program, you can back up important files before switching to a restore point.

7. Third Party Tool

If all else fails, you can try your hands on a dedicated third-party uninstaller. Such uninstallers can remove apps and software without leaving any traces or residual files. These tools have proven to be effective when removing often stubborn programs or software.

There are many uninstallers that claim to do the job effectively. Among them, Revo Uninstaller is a popular choice among users.

Download Revo Uninstaller

Install Revo Uninstaller on your PC and use it to uninstall a program.

Clean up the Clutter

Using the above methods will definitely give you success in removing unwanted programs from your PC. Besides, some of these methods are also useful when you want to uninstall programs without leaving any residue.