How to Completely Remove Apps and Programs on Windows
Removing unneeded apps from your computer is essential to free up resources and keep things tidy. However, sometimes these apps don't do a great job of cleaning up after themselves when uninstalled. Here’s how you can ensure that no remnants are left behind:
1. Remove Registry Entries
Some apps store data in the registry, including settings and preferences. When you uninstall them, they might not remove this information. To manually delete registry entries:
Press Win + R to open Run, type "regedit" in the text box, and click "OK" to launch the Registry Editor.
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ and find the key associated with the uninstalled app. Right-click it and select "Delete."
Be cautious and back up the Windows registry or create a system restore point before making changes to avoid any mishaps.
2. Manually Remove Leftover Folders
Check the following locations for any leftover folders of the uninstalled apps:
Press Win + E to open File Explorer and navigate to "This PC".
Open your installation drive (usually C:) and look in the "Program Files" and "Program Files (x86)" folders.
Also, navigate to %appdata% to open the AppData folder and clean up the Roaming, Local, and LocalLow subfolders.
3. Delete Temp Files
Windows stores launch configurations and cached data in the Temp folder. To manually delete temp files:
Search for "Disk Cleanup" using system search and launch the utility.
Select the drive from which the program was removed and scroll down to tick the "Temporary Files" checkbox.
Click "OK" and confirm by clicking "Delete Files."
Alternatively, open Run and enter %temp% to delete files associated with the uninstalled app directly from the temp folder.
By following these steps, you can ensure that any remnants of uninstalled apps are completely removed, freeing up disk space and keeping your system clean and efficient.
Remember, being cautious and thorough in the cleanup process can prevent issues and optimize your system's performance. Happy tidying!