How to uninstall Windows Store programs efficiently
Windows (especially latest versions) comes with many built-in programs like Groove Music, Calculator, Calendar, Mail, Weather. However, not all of these programs are really helpful.
For example, what’s the last time you’ve launched Groove Music? Or checked the MSN Weather? Or used native Microsoft mail and messaging programs? You may not use some built-in software regularly, but you still have them on your computer or in your start menu. That is not quite a productive way to use the resources of your computer. In this case, the uninstallation of unneeded programs would be the most reasonable decision.
Before we go on with uninstalling software, let’s answer several questions that might bother you.
Is uninstallation of Windows Store programs risky in any way?
No. You do not risk when you uninstall Windows Store programs because they are not connected with any vital operating system files or sensitive data. Thus, the uninstallation of a Windows Store software is safe.
What’s the difference between uninstalling a Win Store software and any other program?
Unlike third-party programs, Windows Store software is installed by default and does not include built-in uninstallation mechanisms. It means that removing these "native" Windows programs is not an easy task that might require some time and effort to find an appropriate cleanup tool.
Is uninstallation worth the effort?
There is no harm in leaving the programs as they are. However, if you decide to uninstall them, that can bring you several benefits:
- Start menu that is easy to navigate: Getting rid of unnecessary software simplifies your access to valuable
programs.
- More of free disk space: Windows programs are lightweight if taken separately, but together they
may occupy a lot of space on your drive.
- Higher performance: The fewer programs you have running on the
background the more free RAM you get so removing unnecessary programs can make your computer work faster
There are several ways to uninstall built-in Windows programs, each having its pros and cons. Let’s take a look and choose the best one.
Windows uninstallation option
You can remove some Windows Store programs by using their built-in uninstallers. To do it, you have to:
- Go to Start menu - Settings.
- Select All Apps in the top right corner.
- Find the software you want to remove in the list.
- Click Uninstall.
Pros: Doesn’t require much effort
Cons: Works only for some Windows programs, while the rest of them just lack the Uninstall option.
Windows PowerShell method
PowerShell is a scripting language that is built into Windows and can be used to perform different tasks, including the uninstallation of programs. To remove any software using this method, open PowerShell as an administrator. Windows PowerShell looks like this:
Then, you need to insert specific commands for each program you'd like to get rid of. For example, to uninstall
Movies and TV, you have to insert the following command:
Get-AppxPackage *zunevideo* | Remove-AppxPackage
Pros: This way allows to remove more built-in programs than the Windows uninstallation option. Using a specific command, you can also get a list of all Windows Store programs on your computer.
Cons: Working with a console and scripting language might be difficult to deal with if you've never
done this earlier. As a Windows user, you are probably more familiar with software that offers a convenient
interface.
Use the Uninstaller tool in CleanMy® PC
CleanMy® PC makes it easy to remove any Windows Store program. All you have to do is launch the CleanMy® PC and go to the Uninstaller module.
CleanMy® PC provides a list of all programs installed on your computer. Windows’ built-in software is marked with the corresponding label so that you could easily detect it.
You need to choose the program you want to remove, click the Uninstall button, and then confirm your decision. The software will be removed automatically along with all its files. CleanMy® PC makes sure the program is removed completely and no leftovers remain on the hard drive.
Pros: Uninstalling Windows Store programs is absolutely free. The interface is really user-friendly. You do not need specific knowledge and skills to go through the process. The uninstallation is pretty fast as long as Windows’ built-in programs are easy for CleanMy® PC to trace and remove. The module copes with the task perfectly and leaves no remnants after the uninstallation.
Cons: Try out the tool and see if you can find any.
Download CleanMy® PC and uninstall any built-in Windows program. You’ll see that Uninstaller offers the best way to remove unwanted software. With the free trial version of CleanMy® PC, you can delete any number of default Windows programs.
