This is how you uninstall apps that Windows Settings won’t let you

Out of the box, a Windows 11 PC comes with several apps and features that not everyone needs, and removing them can be a real nuisance.

Still, some apps and services can’t be uninstalled because they depend on system features, are tied to the hardware, or are part of manufacturer partner deals.

Some of these unwanted apps you never use waste space and, when idle, consume RAM that could very well be used elsewhere. Here’s how to remove them.

Why Windows blocks some uninstalls

Microsoft ties core apps to the OS, while manufacturers preload their own for revenue and hardware control

Credit: Shaheer Khan/MUO

For Windows 11 on its own, some first-party apps are what Microsoft considers to be essential to the OS experience, which is why Windows greys out the options to uninstall them, or completely hides them.

As mentioned above, Microsoft Edge is protected because other components depend on it, and uninstalling the browser may impact apps like Widgets or Copilot. Though Edge is removable in regions like the EEA.

On the other hand, OEM bloatware appears on laptops sometimes because manufacturers partner with services and apps like antivirus programs, VPNs, and more, and they get a share of the revenue from each purchase.

Other than that, OEM utilities are there to manage firmware updates, lighting, performance profiles, and more through vendor-specific drivers.

Start with Control Panel

Programs and Features can remove trial software and desktop apps that Settings won’t

Credit: Shaheer Khan/MUO

Control Panel has been on Windows for decades, but most of the features have slowly started to migrate into the Settings app, to make it a comprehensive place to access everything in one place. Still, Control Panel has some features that you won’t find in Settings, like the option to uninstall some apps.

If you see the uninstallation option greyed out in Settings for a few applications, a few of them can still be uninstalled from the Control Panel, like the antivirus apps with free trials. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Go to Programs → Uninstall a Program.
3. Select the program and click Uninstall.

Control Panel still may not display all apps that you’d want to remove, though, and for those programs, there’s a different route.

Switch to winget for stubborn desktop apps

One command removes an app by name or ID, with no menus to click through

Windows has its own package manager called winget that lets you install and uninstall apps without the restrictions you’d find in Settings or the Control Panel, for convenience. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Open winget by running this command in CMD/PowerShelll as an administrator: winget.
2. Run winget list to get a list of all installed apps via this command: winget list.
3. Then, depending on which app you want to uninstall, type the name in the command: winget uninstall "app name." You can also use the app ID to uninstall to avoid any mistakes:winget uninstall --id App.ID --exact.
4. If the command fails, try adding the source where you might have installed the app from, like winget uninstall "App Name" --source winget.

For third-party apps, winget is the best tool because it uses the app’s own installer, but it still doesn’t handle first-party apps well, since it can’t access protected system components.

Use PowerShell for built-in Microsoft apps

Remove-AppxPackage strips Store-packaged apps that Windows treats as part of the OS

First-party app removal is a different process, and you’ll need to remove the app’s root, which is the entire package. This is why it works best for Microsoft-installed programs only.

Most of the first-party apps are fine as is. I don’t recommend uninstalling core features like Microsoft Store or components like Windows Shell Experience Host, because that can break Start, Settings, or app installs.

Nevertheless, here’s how you can remove first-party components:

1. Open PowerShell as an administrator.
2. Run the command Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Select-Object Name, PackageFullName to list all apps.
3. To remove a specific app from the list, just enter the app’s name in this command. This example removes Phone Link Get-AppxPackage *PhoneLink* \| Remove-AppxPackage
4. To prevent Windows from reinstalling the app for new user accounts, remove the provisioned package as well via this command: Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Where-Object DisplayName -like "*XboxGamingOverlay*" | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online.

Clear out what uninstallers leave behind

Once the apps are out of the way, don’t forget to remove the leftover data, which includes the registry keys and the cache. This leftover data can leave stale entries and conflict with a reinstallation.

Therefore, I recommend clearing %appdata% or %localappdata% of any folders associated with the relevant app and clearing out their registry keys under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software, and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE, too. However, do create a backup point via the Registry Editor before making any changes so you can recover in case you delete something that you shouldn’t have.