Looking to get a particular program off your computer? Here's how to exercise that on Windows 8.

Whether y'all're looking to free upwards space on your hard drive or just don't want to continue programs you never use, uninstalling programs is a practiced habit. But if you're used to before versions of Windows, you might not be sure how to uninstall software in Windows eight. Where is the control panel? And how practise you uninstall Mod apps? Allow'due south go over everything.

Uninstalling Desktop Software In Windows viii

Nosotros showed you how to uninstall software from Windows 7, and the process actually hasn't changed much. To summarize: head to the Control Panel, selectUninstall A Plan, so pick the programme you lot want to remove and click Uninstall. Longtime Windows users know this, but how practice you fifty-fifty get to the Command Panel in Windows eight?

Good question. The fastest way might be to head to the Start Screen, and so start typing Control – the Command Panel should pop upwardly in the search results.

If that doesn't work for you, right-click the First button in desktop mode. Y'all'll see all kinds of useful things:

right-click-start-button-optoins

However you lot get there, once you're in the Control Panel yous tin click Uninstall A Program, listed under Programs, to become to the uninstallation screen. Just make certain your Control Panel View by: is set to Category and y'all'll see selection below.

windows-8-control-panel

When y'all get there, you'll see a list of programs installed on your reckoner.

windows-8-uninstall-program

Find and select the program you desire to remove, then click Uninstall. This will outset the uninstaller for the given program, which can vary – follow the on-screen instructions, but know that some programs will try to trick you lot into keeping them.

That's all there is to it for desktop applications, simply there might be some programs you notice on your First screen that you can't observe in Uninstall A Program. What do you do about those?

Uninstalling Modern Apps In Windows viii

At that place are two kinds of programs that run in Windows eight – desktop programs, which run on the desktop and act much the way Windows programs always accept; and Modern apps, which are new to Windows 8, are installed from the Windows Store, typically run in fullscreen mode, and resemble smartphone apps.

Modern apps don't follow the aforementioned rules equally desktop ones, and one of those differences is how you uninstall them. They're not in the Control Panel, so how do you uninstall Modern apps?

Caput to the Start Screen, then right-click the app you want to uninstall.

windows-8-uninstall-modern-apps

At the bottom of the screen you'll observe an Uninstall push, complete with a trash can icon. Click this and you'll encounter a prompt:

windows-8-uninstall-apps-prompt

You know what to do: click Uninstall, and the app is gone. That'south information technology.

Note that, if you correct-click a desktop app's icon from the First Screen, clicking Uninstall will accept you to the Uninstall Programs department of the Control Panel.

Third Party Uninstallers, And Why You Might Want To Use Them

Some people don't like using the uninstall tools built into Windows, considering they leave behind files. For example: if you uninstall a game, then reinstall it after, y'all might notice that your saves are still in that location. Other programs might leave backside a few settings, while demo versions of software will get out behind a note saying that they're expired (preventing yous from simply installing the software again to get another gratuitous trial).

If you want to completely uninstall a given plan – settings, saves and all – the default tools offfered by Windows aren't going to cut it. This is why we've gone over the best 3rd party uninstallers.

For example, IObit Uninstaller (free) is a portable plan that lets you lot batch uninstall Windows programs. This ways y'all can set the software to remove multiple programs then work through them ane at a time.

Another tool worth looking into is Revo Uninstaller ($xl), known for its ease of use. With it you tin can uninstall a program quickly just by right-clicking its desktop shortcut:

My colleague Mihir says Comodo Programs Director (free) is his favourite uninstaller. It's fast, and leaves backside less than like programs.

There are other programs out there offering uninstallers, such every bit CCleaner.

What Are You Uninstalling?

Nosotros've pointed out the best Windows software, simply I'd like to know what you think is the worst. What are you uninstalling, and why? Fill me in in the comments below, okay?

Oh, and while nosotros're talking most terrible software, here'south how to remove the crapware that came with your computer.