Remove 9 Unwanted Windows 10 Apps & Programs

This guide shows you how to remove nine common preinstalled Windows 10 apps and programs that many users find unnecessary, such as Candy Crush, Xbox Game Bar, and OneDrive. You’ll free up disk space, reduce background activity, and declutter your Start menu. No special tools are needed—just a few minutes and an administrator account.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 10 PC with an administrator account (you’ll need to confirm UAC prompts).
• Internet connection (only if you choose to reinstall an app later from the Microsoft Store).
• Patience—some apps require multiple steps to fully remove.

Step-by-Step

1. Open Settings. Press Win + I to open the Settings app. This is the central place for managing most built-in apps.
2. Go to Apps & Features. Click on Apps, then select Apps & features from the left sidebar. This shows a list of all installed applications.
3. Sort the list (optional). Use the filter dropdown to sort by Name or Size to find the apps you want to remove quickly.
4. Remove simple apps. For apps like Candy Crush Saga, Spotify, or Netflix (if present), click on the app name, then click Uninstall. Confirm any prompts. These are typical third-party apps that uninstall cleanly.
5. Uninstall Xbox Game Bar (or just disable it). Xbox Game Bar is a built-in overlay. You can uninstall it via Settings > Apps > Apps & features > “Xbox Game Bar� > Uninstall. If you prefer to keep it but disable the overlay, go to Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar and turn off the toggle.
6. Remove OneDrive (if you don’t use it). OneDrive is a cloud storage app. To uninstall, go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features > “OneDrive� > Uninstall. If you want to keep the app but stop it from running at startup, right-click the OneDrive icon in the system tray, select Settings, and uncheck “Start OneDrive automatically when I sign in to Windows.�
7. Remove Cortana (optional). Cortana is a digital assistant. It cannot be fully uninstalled via Settings, but you can disable it: open Group Policy Editor (type gpedit.msc in the Run dialog) and navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search. Enable “Allow Cortanaâ€� and set it to Disabled. Then restart your PC. (Note: Group Policy Editor is only available in Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education. On Home, you can use the registry method—search online for “disable Cortana Windows 10 Homeâ€� for a safe guide.)
8. Remove Mail and Calendar (if you use a different email client). These are UWP apps. Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features, search for “Mail and Calendar,� click it, and select Advanced options. Then click Reset first (to clear data), then Uninstall. This ensures a clean removal.
9. Remove Groove Music, Movies & TV, or other built-in media apps. Use the same method: Settings > Apps > Apps & features > select the app > Uninstall. These apps are lightweight but you may not need them.

After removing these apps, restart your PC to ensure all changes take effect and no background processes remain.

Common Mistakes

• Uninstalling without checking dependencies. Some apps like Xbox Game Bar are tied to other Xbox features. Removing it may break game recording or the Xbox app itself. If you use those, consider disabling instead of uninstalling.
• Forgetting to reset UWP apps before uninstalling. For Mail and Calendar, if you don’t reset first, you might get stuck with a “This app is in useâ€� error. Always reset first.
• Using PowerShell commands without knowing them. Many online guides suggest using PowerShell to remove built-in apps. If you type the wrong command, you could remove system-critical apps like the Store or Calculator. Stick to Settings unless you’re experienced.
• Not checking if an app is actually needed. For example, OneDrive is integrated into Windows. Removing it might affect Office autosave or file syncing if you use those. Only remove if you’re sure you don’t need it.
• Ignoring the “Advanced optionsâ€� for UWP apps. Some apps have a “Resetâ€� button that clears data. Skipping this can leave behind corrupted data or make the app reappear after a Windows update.

Tips

• Use the “Storage senseâ€� to see what’s taking space. Go to Settings > System > Storage. This shows you which apps are large, helping you prioritize.
• Batch remove apps. If you have many apps to remove, do them all in one session to avoid repeated UAC prompts.
• Reinstall from the Microsoft Store if needed. If you remove an app and later regret it, you can reinstall it from the Store—most are free.
• Create a system restore point before uninstalling. Type “Create a restore pointâ€� in the Start menu, click on “System Protection,â€� and create one. This lets you roll back if something breaks.
• Use the “Startupâ€� tab in Task Manager. Some apps run at startup even if you don’t use them. Disable unnecessary startup items to speed up boot time.

Troubleshooting

If the uninstall fails or an app reappears after restart, try these steps:

• App is grayed out or “Uninstallâ€� is disabled. This happens with system apps. Use PowerShell as an administrator: right-click Start, select “Windows PowerShell (Admin)â€�, and run Get-AppxPackage *appname* | Remove-AppxPackage. Replace appname with the package name (e.g., *xbox*). Be careful—this is powerful.
• App reappears after a Windows update. Some apps are re-provisioned by Microsoft. To prevent this, you can use the Get-AppxProvisionedPackage command in PowerShell to remove the provisioning, but this is advanced. A simpler workaround is to just uninstall again after the update.
• Error “This app is in use.â€� Close all instances of the app, including background processes (check Task Manager). If it persists, restart your PC and try again.
• OneDrive uninstall fails. OneDrive is deeply integrated. If the uninstall button is grayed out, open the Run dialog (Win+R), type %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /uninstall and press Enter. This runs the official uninstaller.
• After removing an app, another app stops working. For example, removing Xbox Game Bar might affect the Xbox app. Reinstall the removed app from the Store to restore functionality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I remove all Microsoft Store apps?

No. Some apps like the Microsoft Store itself, Settings, and Calculator are system components and should not be removed. Removing them can cause instability.

Will removing these apps speed up my PC?

It can reduce background activity and free up disk space, but the effect on performance is usually minimal. The biggest gains come from disabling startup programs and increasing RAM/SSD.

Is it safe to uninstall OneDrive?

Yes, if you don’t use OneDrive. Your files in OneDrive will remain on your PC, but they will no longer sync. You can reinstall it later from the Microsoft Store.

Why do some apps come back after a Windows update?

Microsoft re-provisions certain built-in apps during feature updates. You can uninstall them again, or use the provisioning removal method (advanced) to prevent this.

Can I remove Cortana completely?

On Windows 10 Pro, you can disable it via Group Policy. On Home, you can use a registry tweak, but it’s not officially supported. Disabling is safer than trying to remove the executable.

What if I can’t find an app in Apps & Features?

Some apps are installed per-user. Check the Microsoft Store’s “Library� to see if they are installed. You can also search for the app in the Start menu, right-click it, and select “Uninstall� if available.

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