In Windows, how do I uninstall programs?
Beginning with Windows 95, all versions of Windows have an
Add/Remove Programs control panel that facilitates
uninstalling programs. In DOS and Windows 3.1,
you were required to manually delete the folders, files, and
autoexec.bat and config.sys entries in order
to uninstall a program. However, in Windows 95 and later, you are not
required to manually uninstall programs, and UITS doesn't
recommend it.
The following instructions describe how to use the Add/Remove
Programs control panel:
Windows XP in the default XP view
- From the
Start Menu, selectControl Panel.
- Click the
Add or Remove Programsicon.
- Select the program you wish to remove and click
Remove.
Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, 2000, and XP in Classic View
- From the
Startmenu, selectSettings, and thenControl Panel.
- Double-click the
Add/Remove Programsicon.
- Select the program you wish to remove and click
Add/Remove.
Using the Uninstall program from the Start menu
If the program you wish to uninstall is not listed among the installed
programs, there might be an uninstall program for that item on the
Start menu. You can look for such an option by following the
instructions below:
- From the
Startmenu, selectProgramsorAll Programs.
- Find the folder for the program you wish to uninstall and highlight it.
- In many cases, on the menu that appears, you will see an uninstall option.
If the program has neither a listing in the Add/Remove
Programs control panel nor its own uninstall program, you might
try installing it again, and then trying to uninstall it via
the Add/Remove Programs control panel.
If all the above suggestions fail, call the technical support number for the program and ask how you can uninstall it.
Also see:
- How do I install or uninstall components of Windows 95, 98, or Me?
- In Windows 95, 98, Me, NT 4.0, 2000, or XP, how do I remove program icons from the Start menu?
Last modified on April 14, 2006.






