Are you using all of the programs in your Microsoft Windows installation? It is not uncommon for your system to have applications or programs installed that you don’t even know about.
All Windows installations come with built-in applications. They take up valuable hard drive space. These are often startup programs that can also affect your computer’s performance by running in the background and slowing it down.
Unused or outdated software can also contain dangerous or malicious code These unwanted programs that you never asked for are called bloated programs. These include:
unwanted software
preinstalled trials
toolbars
adware
How do you detect and remove unwanted Windows 10 apps and programs?
Browse each installation by typing “Control Panel” in the search bar and clicking on it.
Check your installed programs and use the normal uninstall
Search each installation by typing Control Panel into the search bar and clicking on it.
Click Programs and Features to see a list of all programs and applications installed on your computer.
Go through the list and see if there are any programs that you don’t need or need. If so, click on each of them and then click the “Remove” button to remove them.
Don’t delete anything unless you know what it does. Some work with other programs or applications in order for them to work. For example, drivers and some support programs are associated with your hardware, so do not remove them. If you do this, you might break something.
If you are unsure, do a Google search for the name of the unwanted Windows 10 app or program to see what they do and if your computer needs it.
– /
Uninstall pre-installed or new Windows apps
For Windows 8 and 10 users, many apps are preinstalled. Some of them are isolated from the rest of your system, unwanted, and difficult to find.
To find them, click the Start button and then click the gear icon.
Click Applications and then Applications & Features.
Scroll through the list to see if there are games or applications that you don’t use or don’t want. For example, if you are not playing games on your computer, you can uninstall programs such as Xbox and its components.
To uninstall, click the app and select Uninstall.
Your Windows system may have outdated, redundant applications or programs that are no longer supported and may be malicious.
Below are nine examples of unwanted Windows 10 apps and programs and how to remove them.
PC Optimizer Pro
Many users have installed a PC cleaning application either intentionally or accidentally at some point. Most of these products are useless and many are harmful because registry cleaners do not improve Windows performance.
PC Optimizer Pro is an example. It is touted as a system optimizer that claims to have detected several issues on your computer during installation.
If you try to fix the problems, a message will appear stating that you need to buy the full version to do this.
To remove it from your computer, follow these steps.
First try uninstalling PC Optimizer Pro through Windows Control Panel. Right-click the Start button, choose Control Panel> Programs and Features.
Search for PC Optimizer Pro. If you find it, click on it and select “Remove”. If it doesn’t show up in your programs, try Revo Uninstaller to remove it completely.
MyCleanPC
MyCleanPC is another rogue registry cleaner. The Microsoft community strongly discourages the use of MyCleanPC and other programs that purport to clean the registry and optimize the system.
Instead, they often wreak havoc on systems by destroying necessary settings and files and rendering Windows unusable.
Microsoft Windows Defender is preinstalled and built into the operating system. It will identify MyCleanPC and associated tag files as Potentially Unwanted Program.
Windows Defender quarantines files in real time and blocks them from accessing your computer. Enter Windows Defender in the search bar and click it.
Click Virus & Threat Protection> Threat History. In the Quarantined Threats section, click View Full History.
Find MyCleanPC and click Uninstall.
Java
Only certain features of some programs, such as LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice, require Java to function properly.
Java doesn’t work in recent browsers. If you are not an Android developer or use specialized software that requires Java, you should uninstall it
At the very least, make sure you are using the most recent version of Java so you don’t jeopardize your privacy and your computer.
To manually remove Java from Windows 10, click Start> Settings> Applications> Applications & Features.
Find Java and click Uninstall.
If you are unsure if you need Java, make sure you have the latest version.
First, type Java in the Start menu. Click Check for Updates to open the Java Control Panel.
Click Check Now.
If an update is available, you will see a pop-up with the message “Java update available”.
Click Update to complete the installation of the latest Java version.
QuickTime is currently used in macOS as Apple’s video player. However, the Windows version has not been supported since 2016. It also has several critical vulnerabilities and therefore is no longer safe for Windows computers.
Uninstall QuickTime using the normal uninstallation process described above. Select Control Panel> Programs and Features.
Start by searching for QuickTime, click it and select Uninstall.
Slip Printer
Windows Coupon Printer provides access to deals from Coupons.com. However, the software often comes bundled with other programs and many users do not realize that they have installed it. You can use the same program without downloading any software.
Uninstall Coupon Printer using the same normal uninstall process as shown below: Control Panel> Programs and Features> select Coupon Printer by Coupons.com> Uninstall.
Microsoft Silverlight
Microsoft Silverlight is a web framework designed for running Internet applications, similar to Adobe Flash. It is no longer supported by modern browsers as most of them have switched to HTML5.
To uninstall Microsoft Silverlight, select Control Panel> Programs and Features> Add or Remove Programs.
Scroll to find Microsoft Silverlight, click it, and then click Remove.
Shockwave Player
Like Adobe Flash Player, Shockwave Player is a runtime plugin. It was discontinued in April 2019 and is no longer offered for download. You can uninstall it using the usual Windows 10 standard uninstallation, just like many of the programs and apps above.
Go to Control Panel> Programs and Features> Add or Remove Programs. Find Shockwave Player, click on it and choose Uninstall.
My News Wire
My News Wire is an ad-supported application developed by SaferBrowser that claims to provide users with easy access to live streaming and select news channels. It often sneaks into your computer unnoticed. Once installed, it will start redirecting search queries and showing annoying pop-ups.
Since his business model is to make money from advertising, he is known to distribute malware and adware.
Uninstall My News Wire in the usual way by going to Control Panel> Programs and Features> Add or Remove Programs.
Find My News Wire or SaferBrowser in the list of programs. Find any of them, click on it and select “Remove”.
uTorrent
uTorrent is a popular torrent client that has become cumbersome, bloated, and even dangerous in recent years. Many consider it unreliable now as it has been found to be related to cryptocurrency mining software, includes suggestions for unwanted browsers and wastes your system resources.
To uninstall uTorrent, first try to find it in the list of programs on your computer and use the usual removal method. If you cannot find uTorrent in the list, please use one of the following methods.
Start by logging in as an administrator. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys in Windows 10 to open Task Manager.
Find anything related to uTorrent under Background Processes and click End Task. Be aware that editing the registry incorrectly can cause serious system errors. If you’re not tech savvy, it’s best to leave this step to a PC specialist.
To remove invalid registry entries, search Control Panel> Appearance and Personalization> Folder Explorer Options. Then choose View.
In the Advanced Settings section, select the Show hidden files and folders check box.
Press Windows + E to open File Explorer. Enter uTorrent in the search bar and delete any leftover uTorrent you find.
Manually Uninstall and Delete Remaining
Start by logging in as an administrator. Press the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys in Windows 10 to open Task Manager .
The programs and applications listed above are unnecessary as they do not serve any useful purpose and may harm your system. If you find that you need or need one of them again, you can reinstall it.
It is always a good idea to keep your computer clean by removing unnecessary or unnecessary Windows 10 applications.
