How to uninstall a program in Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 10 and MacOS
Computer users who have unwillingly installed a program can easily uninstall it using built in Windows features. PC users should know that nowadays Internet is flooded with various potentially unwanted applications which install together with free software or through deceptive online banner ads.
Most commonly software that install without user's consent cause unwanted ads, slows down user's operating system and can lead to privacy and security issues. To avoid installation of potentially unwanted programs Internet users are advised to only install software that they trust and be very attentive when downloading freeware.
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- How to uninstall software in Windows XP?
- How to uninstall software in Windows 7?
- How to uninstall software in Windows 10?
- How to uninstall software in MacOS?
- Software removal using CCleaner (Windows 10)
- Software removal using Combo Cleaner (MacOS)
To uninstall a program from Windows XP:
1. Navigate to the Windows start menu by clicking on the "Start" button.
2. When the Start Menu opens select "Settings", then click on "Control Panel".
3. In the Control Panel window click on the "Add or Remove Programs".
4. In the "Add or Remove Programs" window select the program you want to uninstall and click in the "Change/Remove" button.
To uninstall a program from Windows 7:
1. Navigate to the Windows start menu by clicking on the Windows logo (Start) button.
2. When the Start Menu opens select "Control Panel".
3. Depending on your view options either click on "Uninstall a program" or "Programs and Features".
4. When the programs and features window opens select the program your want to uninstall from the list and click on the "Uninstall" button.
5. Confirm that you want to uninstall a program by clicking on the "Yes" button.
To uninstall a program from Windows 10:
There are 4 different ways to uninstall potentially unwanted programs on Windows 10, with the 3rd method being a slight variation of the second method. Note that some apps and programs are built into Windows and can't be uninstalled. You can try to repair a program first if it's just not running correctly.
Method 1. Uninstall from the Settings page
1. Right-click the Start Menu button and click Settings.
2. Click Apps.
3. In the resulting Apps & features window, select the application you want to uninstall.
4. Click Uninstall.
5. Click Uninstall again to confirm the action.
Method 2. Uninstall from the Control Panel
1. Type in Control Panel in the Search box and click the result.
2. If your Search box is hidden, click the Start Menu button and immediately type in Control Panel and click the result.
3. In the resulting Control Panel window, click Uninstall a program.
4. In the resulting Apps and Features window, scroll through the list and select the application you want to uninstall.
5. Click the Uninstall button above.
6. Or right-click the application and click Uninstall.
7. Click Yes to confirm the action.
Method 3. Uninstall from the Control Panel via Start menu
1. Alternatively, open the Start Menu and scroll through the applications list.
2. Find the application you want to uninstall.
3. Right-click the application and click Uninstall.
4. In the resulting Apps and Features window, scroll through the list and select the application you want to uninstall.
5. Select the application and click the Uninstall button above.
6. Or right-click the application and click Uninstall.
Method 4. Uninstall using CCleaner
1. Download, install, and run CCleaner.
2. After launching the program select Tools.
3. In the uninstall programs list, select the program you want to uninstall.
4. Click the Uninstall button.
5. Click Yes to confirm the action.
Video guide on how to uninstall a program from Windows 10
How to uninstall a program in macOS
Mac OS X users can download applications from various sources, for example, the Internet, Mac App Store, removable media, etc. Unfortunately, nowadays the Internet is crowded with deceptive free software installers and thus many users end up installing rogue applications that later cause browser redirects or intrusive online ads. This article will show how to uninstall such unwanted apps. Notice that you can’t uninstall applications that are part of OS X, for example, Safari or FaceTime.
Uninstall applications that are downloaded from the Mac App Store:
1. Click the “Launchpad” icon that is in your Dock.
2. Click and hold down your mouse button over an app’s icon until all the icons begin to jiggle.
3. Then click the “X” button located in the top left corner of the app you want to uninstall.
Later you can reinstall any of the uninstalled applications from the Mac App Store.
Uninstall apps downloaded from the Internet (using their own uninstallers):
1. Click the “Finder” icon located in your Dock and select “Applications” (from the side menu).
2. Then look for the application you want to uninstall. Either drag and drop the application's icon to the trash can or go through the folders and search for the application's uninstaller. If present double click the uninstaller and follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall the app.
Uninstalling a program using Combo Cleaner
To use the Uninstaller feature on Combo Cleaner, you need to purchase Combo Cleaner Premium. To successfully uninstall a program with Combo Cleaner you need to give it full disc access.
1. Download, install and run Combo Cleaner.
2. After launching the program select "Uninstaller" and click on "Start Scan".
3. After the scan has finished in the uninstall programs list select the program you want to uninstall and click on the "Remove" button.
4. If asked, click on "Authenticate" to confirm the program removal, and enter your admin password.
Video on How to uninstall a program in macOS:
Conclusion:
Now you know how to uninstall applications using build-in OSX features or using third-party tools. To stay safe online and avoid installing rogue applications it's recommended to download apps only from the Mac App Store. If you need to download applications from other sources be sure to inspect each download and installation step. This way you will be able to opt-out of installing bundled software that can cause issues.
