Device Security
How to Safely Remove Unknown Programs From Windows
Uninstall in the right order, deal with programs that fight back, and finish with a clean-up scan so nothing comes back.
10 min read · Beginner friendly
Once you have identified programs you did not install (see How to Audit Installed Programs on Your Windows PC), follow this sequence to remove them safely.
Create a System Restore point before you start: search "Create a restore point" from the Start menu and click Create. If anything goes wrong you can roll back.
Step 1: Uninstall via Settings
- Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps
- Find the program, click the three dots, choose Uninstall
- Follow the prompts — refuse any "keep settings" or "reinstall later" offers
- Reboot if asked
Step 2: Programs that won't uninstall
Some malware blocks itself from being uninstalled. If that happens:
- Boot Windows into Safe Mode (Settings → System → Recovery → Advanced startup → Restart now → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Safe Mode)
- Try the uninstall again from Safe Mode
- If it still resists, run Malwarebytes Free while in Safe Mode and let it remove the program
Step 3: Clean up leftovers
- Delete any leftover folders in
C:\Program FilesandC:\Program Files (x86) - Delete leftover folders in
%appdata%and%localappdata% - Open Task Scheduler and delete any scheduled tasks linked to the removed program
Step 4: Verify with a malware scan
Run a full Malwarebytes scan followed by Windows Defender's offline scan to make sure nothing was hiding.