The introduction of the Microsoft Store is one of the biggest changes to Windows in modern history. This change was highlighted by one of the most controversial “updates” the operating system has ever seen: the Windows 8 Start menu.
Whether you love it, hate it, or use a Windows shell replacement to completely avoid it, the Microsoft Store and its apps are something you will probably have to interact with at some point in your PC’s life.
For those of you who are not so crazy about Microsoft Store apps, learn how to uninstall them. Most likely, you will immediately have several applications from the Microsoft Store installed on your computer, so you need to uninstall them to clean up your computer.
For whatever reason you want to uninstall Microsoft Store apps, this article will help you. Let’s discuss the two easiest ways to uninstall Microsoft Store apps, as well as a quick overview of what those apps are in the first place.
What are Microsoft Store apps?
The Microsoft Store began as an app store for Windows 8, later known as the Windows Store, for distributing Universal Windows Platform apps. In Windows 10, Microsoft merged all other storefronts and distribution platforms into one app and gave it a new name.
These platforms include the Xbox Store, Windows Phone Store, Windows Marketplace, and others.
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At the end of 2018, Microsoft announced that there are over 35 million app titles stored in the Microsoft Store. Similar to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, the Microsoft Store helps distribute apps after a certification process. Unlike many other third-party apps that you can download from the Internet, apps in the Microsoft Store are tested for security and compliance.
However, not everyone is a fan of the tablet interfaces that many of these apps bring to the desktop. One of the best examples is Skype. If you’re like me, you would much prefer the leaner, standalone desktop version of the app listed in the Microsoft Store. That being said, let’s see how to uninstall any Microsoft Store app.
Uninstall Microsoft Store apps from the Start menu
The easiest and most intuitive way to uninstall Microsoft Store apps is directly from the Windows 8 or Windows 10 Start menu. It only takes a few clicks.
All you have to do is open the Start menu, scroll through the list of installed applications, and find the Microsoft Store app you will never want to see again. Right-click it, select Uninstall, and that’s it – it will never bother you again.
Some applications, such as Microsoft Edge, do not have a Remove button. These applications are considered essential to Windows and cannot be removed by any simple means. This may affect the operation of other programs.
Uninstall Microsoft Store apps via Settings
The next easiest way to uninstall Microsoft Store apps is through Windows Settings.
To access the settings, press the Windows key + I key combination.
On this screen, click the Apps tile. You will be taken to a page which, if you scroll down, has a long list of all the applications installed on your computer. There is also a search box so you can easily filter and find the app you might be looking for.
Clicking on any application in this list will open the Move and Remove buttons for it. The Uninstall button, unsurprisingly, will launch the uninstallation process for the corresponding application.
Uninstall Microsoft Store apps using third-party software
The easiest alternative to uninstalling Microsoft Store apps from Windows Explorer is third-party software. It is worth noting that this is not always safe and we personally do not recommend going down this route unless you have options.
Of these options, TheWindowsClub’s 10AppManager for Windows 10 is one of the best. This will allow you to uninstall and reinstall the applications that come with Windows 10 preinstalled. However, it should be noted that this software may be updated, changed, or patched in such a way that it may have unintended consequences at any time after the date this document was published. message.
There are other free apps that can uninstall Microsoft Store apps like CCleaner, but we already explained why you shouldn’t download CCleaner in a previous post, and we didn’t change our mind. Be aware of the risks associated with modifying Windows with third-party software, and only do so if you’ve created a backup and / or a system restore point.
Whether they came pre-installed with Windows or were installed by you, getting rid of Microsoft Store apps is extremely easy and can be done safely in the Windows user interface. Any apps you wish to uninstall can be uninstalled in seconds by following the instructions above.
Do you know of other ways to get rid of Microsoft Store apps? Want to let us know what you think or get help? Feel free to leave us a comment below!
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