How to Force Uninstall a Program in Windows 10

There are different ways to uninstall a program in Windows 10. The easiest methods are through the “Add or Remove Programs” utility or the “Settings” app. However, sometimes issues arise that prevent third-party apps and programs from uninstalling using conventional methods.

In this article, we will walk you through the steps of five more ways to force uninstall an app or program in Windows 10.

How to Force Uninstall a Program in Windows 10

To force a stubborn third-party app or program to uninstall, try the following methods:

1. Use app or program uninstaller

The registry file for the program you are trying to uninstall may have been deleted. Luckily, majority of third-party apps and programs come with their uninstaller. This utility is essentially an uninstallation wizard; here's how to use it:

1. Navigate to the directory where the app or program is installed. The default directory for most third-party applications is "X:Program Files(Program or application name)" or "X:Program Files(x86)(Program or application name).
   
2. Find the utility in the directory. It is usually called "uninstall.exe" or "uninstaller.exe", then double click on it.
   
3. Follow the instructions on the screen. At the end, the wizard will uninstall the program.

2. Use the command prompt

To uninstall a program or application through the command prompt, you must first run the command prompt as an administrator:

1. In the Windows search box, type “cmd”.
   
2. Select the "Command Prompt" application.
   
3. Right-click on it, then click "Run as administrator". The command prompt will open with administrator permissions.
   Then to uninstall the program:
   
4. At the prompt, type “wmic” then press Enter.
   
5. You will see the prompt "wmic:rootclic>" to confirm that the "Windows Management Instrumentation" processes are ready to use.
   
6. To get a list of the programs you have installed on your computer, type "product get name" and then press Enter.
   
7. All apps and programs will show up. Execute the following command to uninstall the program: “product where name=”program name” call uninstall”. Instead of "program name", type the name of the program.
   
8. You will be asked to confirm if you want to run the command. Select "Y" to confirm then Enter, or "N" to cancel.
   
9. After a short while, you will receive a message confirming that the method was executed successfully, so your program has been uninstalled.

3. Use Registry Editor

Another way to uninstall a program or application is to remove all traces of it from your PC's registry. Here's how to use the Registry Editor:

1. Open a Run dialog box by pressing Windows logo key + R.
   
2. Type “regedit” then press Enter.
   
3. In “Registry Editor” via the left pane, navigate to the following directory: “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Uninstall. »
   
4. Under "Uninstall Key" in the left pane, find the subkey for the app or program you want to uninstall. Notes: The subkey may not have the same name as the application or program.
   
5. Right-click on it and select “Delete”.
   
6. Choose "Yes" in the pop-up confirmation window.
7. Once the subkey has been successfully deleted, close the "Registry Editor" and then restart your PC.
   
8. Once it restarts, verify that the app has been removed.

4. Use Safe Mode

Sometimes third party interference can be the reason why you are unable to uninstall a particular app. One of the best ways to fix this problem is to start your PC in safe mode where only standard apps are allowed to run.

1. Open a Run dialog box by pressing Windows logo key + R.
   
2. Type "msconfig", then press Enter to open the "System Configuration" utility.
   
3. Select the "Start" tab.
   
4. Under "Boot Options", check the "Safe Boot" option.
   
5. Click “Apply” then “OK”.
   
6. Select "Restart" from the pop-up dialog to restart your PC.
   

Once your PC restarts, it will be in safe mode. To uninstall the app, follow the steps for one of the three methods described above.

5. Use a third-party app

If none of the above methods worked, you can try a third-party uninstaller. There are a variety of programs specifically for Windows 10 to force uninstall persistent apps and programs. One of the best is Revo Uninstaller.

Revo Uninstaller application is specially designed to uninstall programs that are installed on a PC but not listed in Installed Programs. To uninstall using Revo Uninstaller:

1. Install the "Revo Uninstaller" application.
   
2. Launch the app, then click the "Force Uninstall" button in the left pane.
   
3. In the "Forced Uninstall" window, in the "Exact program name" text field, begin to accurately type the name of the program or application. Alternatively, you can point to the file or folder path by clicking the "Search" button.
   
4. If Revo Uninstaller finds a built-in uninstaller, it will show its path as another uninstall option. To try this method – if you haven't already – check the “Run the selected built-in uninstaller” option in the lower left corner. Or uncheck the option if the uninstall.exe file does not work.
   
5. If a track log is found under the "Found log (number)" tab, you can select it to uninstall it that way.
   
6. To scan your computer for leftover program elements, select one of three modes: "Secure", "Moderate" and "Advanced". Each subsequent mode requires more time as it performs a deeper scan of the remains.
   
7. Click Next. » Depending on the options you selected, Revo Uninstaller will run the built-in uninstaller, use the trace log to remove the program, or start the leftover scan.
   • The time it takes to scan depends on your PC hardware, the total number and type of programs you have installed, and the program you are uninstalling.
     
8. When the scan is complete, a list of remaining registry entries will be displayed, followed by a list of leftover files.
   
9. Select the files you want to delete, then click "Delete".
   • Only entries in bold will be deleted. Those that are not in bold and red are shown so that you have an idea of ​​the location of the entries in bold.
   • If there are no registry leftovers found, Revo Uninstaller will display the list of leftover folders and files.
10. Browse through the items, then click the “Select All” button then “Delete”.
    

The program or application is now uninstalled.

Finally get rid of persistent apps

Sometimes using “Settings” or “Add or Remove Programs” app is not enough to uninstall some third-party apps in Windows 10. This could be due to several reasons. Luckily, there are also several other ways to successfully uninstall a hard-to-remove app.

Methods include running a command through the Command Prompt, deleting all associated files in Registry Editor, or as a last resort, using a third-party uninstaller.

Can we possibly uninstall the program or application? If so, which method worked? Let us know in the comments section below.