First introduced at Build 2020 last year, Windows Package Manager is a tool Microsoft developed to simplify the application installation process. While we have seen excellent third-party solutions like Winstall to batch install Windows 10 apps using Winget, Microsoft has now added the option to let users use Winget to uninstall software. However, it is still an experimental feature. In this article, you will learn how to enable Windows Package Manager right now and how to use Winget to uninstall applications.
Uninstall Applications Using Windows Package Manager
1. If you haven’t installed Winget yet, go to: Winget’s GitHub repository to download and install.
2. Once installed, Open Powershell/Command Prompt Using the Windows Search bar. You have to click ‘Run as Administrator’ to open the window.
3. Next, type ‘winget properties’ to make sure it is installed properly. This command also shows you the list of experimental features and they are disabled by default. You can see the ‘Disabled’ status next to each feature.
3. To enable the uninstall function in Winget, type the command ‘winget settings’ in Powershell. You will now notice that a .json file is opened in your default text editor.
4. We will enable two experimental features – removal and listing. The first will help you uninstall apps, while the second will show you the list of apps installed on your PC. When the text editor opens, Paste the following text into settings.json and save.
"experimentalFeatures": {
"uninstall": true,
"list": true
},
5. Now, use the command ‘wing list’ To see the list of apps installed on your Windows 10 PC
6. Now you can ‘winget uninstall’ to uninstall the app
winget uninstall "Microsoft To Do"
7. After entering the uninstall command, you will see a progress bar with the text ‘Starting unpacking…’ in the Powershell window. You will see the message ‘Successfully removed’ when the progress bar reaches 100%. The app you requested is no longer available on your Windows 10 PC.
Use Winget to Uninstall Software in Windows 10
This is how you can uninstall apps and software using Winget on your Windows 10 PC. It is undoubtedly a welcome addition, especially for users accustomed to the command line interface. If you prefer the old-fashioned way, check out our articles on how to remove built-in apps to clear clutter from your Windows 10 PC, general instructions for uninstalling apps. Command line interface is not for everyone and you can also use the best free uninstaller for Windows 10.
