Everyday Computer Skills · Installing & Removing Apps · Lesson 3 of 5

Uninstalling Apps

Remove apps you don't use, on Windows and on a Mac.

Removing an app on Windows

Taking an app off your computer is called uninstalling it. It is the opposite of installing.

On Windows 11, you uninstall apps from Settings. Settings is the app where you change how the computer works. Here are the steps:

1. Click the Start button, then click Settings. It has a gear icon.
2. Click Apps on the left.
3. Click Installed apps. You see a list of every app on the computer.
4. Find the app. You can type its name in the search box above the list.
5. Click the three dots ... next to it.
6. Click Uninstall, then click Uninstall again to confirm.

Some apps open their own uninstaller at this point. Follow its steps, the same way you would an installer. You may see the "allow this app to make changes" box again. If you started the uninstall, it is fine to click Yes.

Not sure what an app is? Search its name on the web before you remove it. Some apps on the list came with the computer and help it run, like tools from the computer's maker. Leave those alone.

Uninstalling an app does not delete your own files, like photos or letters, that you saved in your folders.

Removing apps on a Mac, and why it helps

On a Mac, removing an app works a little differently.

1. Click the Finder icon in the Dock. Finder is where you see your files and folders.
2. Click Applications on the left.
3. If the app sits inside its own folder, open the folder. Look for an uninstaller, such as "Uninstall" plus the app's name. If you find one, double-click it and follow the steps.
4. If there is no uninstaller, drag the app to the Trash at the end of the Dock.

The app is fully gone when you empty the Trash. Some apps that come with the Mac, like Mail, can't be removed.

So why bother removing apps at all? Apps you never use still cost you:

• They take up storage space, the room your computer has for keeping things.
• Some run in the background and slow the computer down.
• Old apps may stop getting updates, which are fixes from the maker. An app without updates can have safety holes that criminals use.

A good habit is to look at your app list every few months. If you haven't used something in a long time, remove it. You can always install it again later from the store or the official site.