How to Force Uninstall Software That Won't Uninstall (8 Ways)

Have you ever encountered software that can't be uninstalled? How to deal with such stubborn applications? Read on, and this page will walk you through eight methods to uninstall software that won't uninstall.

Most of the time, installing the necessary programs on Windows is seamless. However, you may encounter a scenario where the installed program appears to be hard to remove. If so, do not worry.

With a few simple and quick guides from EaseUS, you can uninstall software that won't uninstall from your device in no time. Read further to know more and tackle this issue.

1. Way 1. Quit the App in Task Manager
2. Way 2. Use Free Program Uninstaller
3. Way 3. Uninstall the App in Safe Mode
4. Way 4. Restart the Windows Installer
5. Way 5. Use Microsoft Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter
6. Way 6. Remove the Software's Registry Keys
7. Way 7. Force Uninstall the App via Registry Editor
8. Way 8. Force Uninstall the App via Command Prompt

Way 1. Quit the App in Task Manager

You cannot remove a program when its process is still running in the Task Manager. In this case, try to end the process in Task Manager before uninstalling the app.

Step 1. Press "Ctrl" + "Shift" + "Esc" to open Task Manager.

Step 2. In the Processes tab, right-click on the program you wish to uninstall and select "End task."

Step 3. Close the Task Manager and try uninstalling your programs again. Further, you can restart Windows Explorer to see if that method works.

Then, you can uninstall a program using cmd or a reliable third-party tool.

Way 2. Use Free Program Uninstaller

Another easy and fast method is to use a third-party program uninstaller. An excellent tool you can use is EaseUS Todo PCTrans. This software comes in handy and has a free feature that will help remove software that won't be uninstalled in a few seconds.

Apart from various features, one helpful function of this software is to repair programs that are not running properly on your device.

Here are the steps you can follow to uninstall programs:

Step 1.  Launch EaseUS Todo PCTrans, click "More Tools". Choose App Management, Click "Start" to securely uninstall your apps and repair your damaged apps. 

Step 2. All of apps installed on your PC, choose the selected one you want to uninstall or repair. (If your uninstall process fails, you can click the small triangle icon and select "Delete".)

Step 3. Click "Uninstall". (If you want to repair apps, click the icon right behind "Uninstall" and choose "Repair".)

This tool can also completely uninstall Wurthering Waves. You can download it with the button here for convenience.

Way 3. Uninstall the App in Safe Mode

It will also be hard to uninstall specific programs if other apps or programs are running in the background on your device. This could be solved by using the Safe Mode option, which will launch the Windows basic apps and drivers essential for running it. 

Step 1. Open Windows Settings with the shortcut "Windows" + "I." From the left-hand side, select "System" / "Update & Security" and navigate to the "Recovery" session.

Step 2. Click on the "Restart Now" button near the option "Advanced Startup."

Step 3. Then, in the "Choose an option" screen, go to "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options" > "Startup Settings" > "Restart."

Step 4. The computer will restart again. After the options list appears, you can hit "4" or "F4" to launch Safe Mode. Once booting your system to Safe Mode, try uninstalling the programs again. You can restart your device to stop the Safe Mode option.

Way 4. Restart the Windows Installer

The Windows Installer service helps in both the process of installing and uninstalling programs. So, by any chance, if it is accidentally disabled or not working correctly, it could lead to the system being unable to uninstall programs. If this is the issue, you can restart or re-register the Windows Installer to effortlessly uninstall any programs. 

Step 1. Hit "Windows" + "R" to open Run and enter services.msc.

Step 2. Right-click on the "Windows Installer" service from the pop-up window and choose "Properties" from the context menu. 

Step 3. Then, click on "Stop" and then "Start." Ensure that the Startup type is set to "Automatic."

Step 4. Apply the changes and close the window. 

If the program still does not uninstall after this process, try re-registering the Windows Installer service.

Step 1. Type cmd in Windows Search bar and hit "Run as administrator" to open Command Prompt. 

Step 2. Type msiexec /unreg and click "Enter" to execute the command.

Step 3. Next, type msiexec /regserver to execute this command as well. 

You can close the Command Prompt and uninstall the program to see if this method works.

Way 5. Use Microsoft Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter

The Microsoft Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter is a practical utility on your Windows. This troubleshooter is ideal for solving software that won't uninstall on your device. Here is how to do it: 

Step 1. If you don't have this tool, download the Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter on your PC. Run the tool and click "Next."

Step 2. From the two options that appear on the screen, select "Uninstalling."

Step 3. A new window opens, and choose the program that you want to uninstall. Click "Next." In case the program is missing, select the option "Not listed" and then click "Next." Then, search for the required program.

Step 4. Click "Yes" and try to uninstall the program by the on-screen instructions to finish the process.

Share this article so that your family and friends also find it easier to tackle if they face such a situation.

The following 3 methods may cause data loss or system damage due to improper operation, so try them with proper precaution.

Way 6. Remove the Software's Registry Keys

Usually, when you uninstall a program from your computer, the Registry Keys associated with it are also deleted. However, if that is not happening, you can remove it manually.

Log into Windows as an administrator to try this method. Once the issue with the Registry is solved, you can fix the uninstallation process. Here are the steps:

Step 1. Open the Run box and type Regedit.

Step 2. Navigate to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" > "SOFTWARE" > "Microsoft" > "Windows" > "CurrentVersion" > "Uninstall."

Step 3. Find the key you want to delete, right-click on it, and select "Delete."

In addition, you can also try to repair the broken registry items and then see if the programs can be uninstalled or not.

Way 7. Force Uninstall the App via Registry Editor

A similar method to the last one is removing any unwanted program through the Registry Editor. 

Step 1. Enter "Win" + "R" to open the Run dialogue box. Enter Regedit to open the Registry Editor.

Step 2. Follow the path "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" > "SOFTWARE" > "Microsoft" > "Windows" > "CurrentVersion" > "Uninstall."

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Step 3. In the Uninstall folder, find the program you want to delete. Right-click on it and select Delete. Click Yes to confirm. 

Finally, restart your computer and check if the uninstallation process is a success.  

Way 8. Force Uninstall the App via Command Prompt

Command Prompt is helpful when it comes to repairing any damaged files or even configuring your PC settings. But it can also remove any programs from your device forever. 

Step 1. Type CMD in Windows search bar and open Command Prompt as administrator.

Step 2. Type wmic and "Enter." Then type product get name, and "Enter" again. This will give a list of programs installed on your PC. 

Step 3. Now type the command - product where call uninstall and press "Enter."

(Replace the "name of the program" tag in the code above with the program you wish to delete.)

Step 4. Press "Y" to continue the process. After the process is finished, restart your PC.

You can either try any of the methods discussed or use a convenient tool like EaseUS Todo PCTrans to force the uninstall of programs or software safely and quickly from your PC.

We also provide a guide for users who use Windows Server 2012/2016/2019 to solve program uninstallation failure issues.

Why Is My Application Not Uninstalling

The reasons for the applications not uninstalling can be anything. Here are some of the possible and common reasons that may prevent your programs from being uninstalled:

• Running processes
• Permission issues
• Windows Installer service issues
• Corrupted registry entries
• Incomplete previous uninstallation
• Anti-virus software interference

Information in this page can be helpful to other users. Don't forget to share it on your social media so that other users can remove the applications that won't uninstall.

Conclusion

Next time you face a situation where an application is not deleting, you know what to do. Any of the methods discussed in this article is helpful depending on the reason for the cause of the issue. Moreover, it is always essential to opt for a quick fix, and for that, tools like EaseUS Todo PCTrans are a big savior with their advanced features.

Uninstall Software That Won't Uninstall FAQs

Here are a few commonly asked questions for you to refer to if you have additional doubts on the same topic:

1. How do I remove all traces from uninstalled programs?

You can altogether remove uninstalled programs from your Windows by following either of the following methods:

1. Manually remove software leftover files after the uninstall process.

2. Remove the remaining traces using a third-party program.

2. Can Office 365 be uninstalled?

Yes, you can uninstall Office 365 quickly, depending on the type of installation. The most common types are Click-to-Run or Microsoft Windows Installer. In this case, Office 365 can be uninstalled through the Control Panel.

3. Can you delete your hidden apps?

Hidden apps can be permanently deleted from your Windows device by searching it on the Control Panel and selecting the required app from the installed programs.