A program for removing programs forcibly. Removing programs and unnecessary files

As a rule, when you remove software, a certain amount of junk data remains on your computer's hard drive. These can be entire folders and individual files in the places where the software was installed, configuration elements in user folders and entries in the registry database.

If you want to remove everything completely, it is better to rely on the help of the appropriate utilities. However, not every junk removal program actually does a complete cleanup. For this reason, we have selected the best uninstallers and present them to you in this article.

3 best uninstallers

IObit Uninstaller: reliable and high quality

Also very popular is IObit Uninstaller, which, first of all, very reliably and efficiently removes programs you do not need. With the help of this free software, you can even get rid of various toolbars that you might once have installed by pure chance. As with other uninstallers, we recommend that you consider creating a system restore point before using this software.

Geek Uninstaller: You don’t even have to install it

The second most popular uninstaller is GeekUninstaller. The concept of the program itself is especially wonderful: it does not need to be installed directly on your PC's hard drive. In addition, with this utility you can also clean the registry of debris. Just remember to back up your data before doing this.

Revo Uninstaller: limited features in the free version

At the very bottom of our preference rankings is Revo Uninstaller. What we like about this utility is the ease of use - uninstalling programs is quick and easy. In addition, you are offered a large amount of additional information about the relevant software. Of course, you will have to put up with some limited functionality compared to the paid version of the utility.

Chip output:

Modern operating systems such as Windows 10 are no longer prone to becoming full of junk data very quickly. However, it makes sense to keep the system on a diet and periodically clean it up.

Warning: If you decide to use an uninstaller, be careful, as even the best utilities do only what they were designed to do: completely delete data from the hard drive. If the necessary files are among this data, this can lead to trouble. So first, save a copy of your important files, preferably on an external storage device.

You can choose a suitable external hard drive for storing backups in our corresponding ratings and drives.

Users have to constantly install and also uninstall unnecessary applications. It does not matter for what reason you have to uninstall programs. It is worth noting that in most cases errors appear at the time of uninstallation.

If the program is not completely uninstalled, the operating system may malfunction. To avoid such a situation, it is recommended to use specialized programs to delete files. Destroyers completely erase traces of the presence of programs. Thanks to a complete uninstallation, additional space is freed up on your hard drive and the registry is cleared.

How to completely remove programs

To ensure that the process of erasing information from a disk does not cause problems in the operation of the operating system, it is necessary to use specialized programs. Before downloading the utility, you need to understand that the user can use both paid and free programs.

The most popular uninstallers used by professional users include:

• CCleaner;
• Revo Uninstaller;
• Total Uninstall;
• Soft Organizer.

Any downloaded uninstallers have their own characteristics. Before deciding on a program, you need to familiarize yourself with the capabilities of each uninstaller.

CCleaner

This is the best program to remove any application. It should be noted that you can download the utility completely free of charge. The program, in addition to uninstalling installed programs, has additional functionality.

Everyone knows that in order to restore the operating system after a serious error, you need to use a “restore point”. If Windows OS creates a large number of such points, the system begins to freeze, and disk space decreases sharply. Thanks to this, you can get rid of unnecessary restore points.

It should be noted that the program for uninstalling programs can be installed on any operating system of the Windows family starting from XP. The utility is constantly updated, which means that any errors that appear are quickly eliminated. In addition, new functionality is being added.

Revo Uninstaller

The program is designed to delete files without the possibility of recovery. Before proceeding with uninstalling applications, the utility analyzes the system. Thus, the application detects all installed drivers and programs.

In addition to the usual uninstallation of programs, the application is capable of:

• Clear browser history;
• Remove unnecessary files;
• Create a backup copy of the registry;
• Detect the tails of previously deleted programs.

Removing programs from your computer will improve the performance of your operating system. In addition, the utility is capable of restoring registry elements damaged after incorrect deletion.

Total Uninstall

Despite the fact that there are a huge number of applications that can remove any software and extensions, Total Uninstall is one of the best tools. At the time of installing any application, the utility takes pictures of the system registry, before and after the installation process. This is necessary so that all system changes can be tracked.

The features of the uninstaller include:

• Search for programs using key queries;
• Ability to create backup copies;
• Monitoring file system and registry changes;
• Analysis of installed objects.

This type of shredder does an excellent job of removing games and antiviruses. Even an inexperienced user can handle the controls.

One of the best utilities designed to completely remove applications. You can download the program for free from the official website. not only removes unnecessary programs, but also cleans up traces left by the uninstaller built into the operating system. If the program was deleted by mistake, it can be restored.

In addition to uninstalling software products, the utility method:

• Recover previously deleted programs;
• Remove several products at the same time;
• Forcefully uninstall products that cannot be removed in normal ways;
• View the history of previously performed actions.

The program for uninstalling other programs has an intuitive interface, so all that remains is to install the product and you can get to work.

Soft Organizer

Uninstalling apps can cause problems in some cases. It is impossible to uninstall everything using standard methods. Therefore, it is worth considering an application such as. The program provides guaranteed removal of software products, as well as components remaining after uninstallation. Compared to its competitors, Soft Organizer remembers all program installation locations. This applies not only to the main components, but also to entries added to the registry.

• Forced removal of any applications;
• Monitoring registry changes;
• Frequent product updates;
• Simple and convenient interface.

If you often delete programs, you won't find a better Software Organizer.

Conclusion

The user always downloads the application that will be most useful. Therefore, before installing uninstallers, you need to familiarize yourself with all the pros and cons of the programs. If you don't have time to look for the best product, you should pay attention to CCleaner and Total Uninstall. If necessary, these products can be disposed of.

Video review of programs for removing applications

Unstable operation of the operating system can be caused by many external factors, which are not always obvious. However, there is some correlation between the fast, stable performance of Windows and the number of third-party applications installed by the user. However, uninstalling programs does not guarantee complete removal of all traces of them from the system: it leaves behind “phantom” files, folders, libraries, and Registry elements.

The list of installed programs is located in the Control Panel, “Programs and Features” section. It’s worth noting right away that this is not a complete list of applications. Also, in some cases, uninstallation is impossible: the necessary files are missing, the uninstaller is damaged, or some other problems occur that can only be resolved with the help of alternative application managers (uninstallers). Their advantages include the fact that they provide more information about the installed software and changes already made (monitoring function).

The review includes 6 programs:

• Revo Uninstaller Pro
• Wise Program Uninstaller
• IObit Uninstaller
• Ashampoo UnInstaller
• Soft Organizer
• Uninstall Tool

First of all, we are interested in the following aspects of each of the utilities:

• Working with the list of applications: sorting, search, display modes
• Installation control: real-time monitoring, log storage
• Uninstallation: batch uninstallation, other types of removal, scanning depth

Revo Uninstaller

Revo Uninstaller, compared to the Windows toolkit, demonstrates better speed, functionality and helps deal with applications that cannot be removed by the standard method.

The main features of the program are presented in the “All Programs” module. Using the “View” menu, you can switch to the most convenient option for displaying the list. Applications are combined into groups, and the “Details” mode provides sorting that complements the search. Of particular interest was the hunter mode, in which the desired application is marked by pressing the cursor on the open window.

There are 3 uninstallation methods in total: forced, standard and quick. In each option, Revo Uninstaller first creates a restore point and a full backup of the Registry. To cancel changes, just go to the backup manager and specify a rollback point.

Standard removal (the “Delete” command) involves launching the program’s uninstaller and then scanning associated Registry items and files that can be deleted manually. There are 4 types of scanning available: built-in, secure, moderate and advanced, depending on the depth of the search.

The most effective way to remove tracked applications installed through Revo Uninstaller. This type of uninstallation requires preliminary monitoring of the installation via Revo Uninstaller ("Install Programs" command). All changes made by the installer are transferred to Uninstaller in real time. Thus, there is no need to take a photo before and after installing the program.

Log files containing a list of changes are stored in the Monitored Programs section. It is worth paying attention to the “Log Database”, which contains information about programs compatible with the current OS - this data may also be required during uninstallation.

Revo Uninstaller also has other cleaning tools in stock, such as a startup manager, junk file cleaner, evidence remover, and fatal deletion. There is no point in focusing attention on them, since they are not related to the main purpose of the utility.

The free version of the programs has a number of limitations: forced uninstallation, advanced scanning, creating a backup copy of the Registry and others are not available. At the same time, the basic functionality includes scanning after removal, 8 additional utilities and free technical support.

Resume

Revo Uninstaller contains the full set of features needed to cleanly uninstall applications, with installation tracking, reporting and system backup capabilities.

[+] Several uninstallation options
[+] Real-time monitoring
[+] Additional utilities
[+] Availability of Registry and file system scanning modes

Wise Program Uninstaller

In fact, the main functions of Wise Program Uninstaller can be listed in one line: protected, forced removal and removal of an item from the list.

Safe Mode is the most obvious choice: it uses the uninstaller of the program itself. Otherwise, a forced method is used, when the search for associated files, folders and Registry keys is assigned to Wise Program Uninstaller. It is interesting that when listing the features of Uninstaller, a combined uninstallation is mentioned, which, however, was never found in the program interface: only safe and forced removal are available. It is also impossible to select the scanning depth.

Damaged uninstallers can be easily removed using the button in the upper right part of the line with the name of the program. Using the context menu, you can go to the corresponding entry about the program in the Registry.

Another opportunity that the developers focus on is restoration. However, this is a standard installer function that does not relate directly to Wise Program Uninstaller.

Resume

An easy-to-use utility that allows you to remove unnecessary programs and their remains. Alas, there is no need to talk about “thorough and comprehensive uninstallation”. Wise Program Uninstaller will find its use with the caveat that there is no function for creating a backup copy, and it is also impossible to analyze the changes made by the installer.

[+] Simplicity
[−] Low functionality
[−] No scanning

IObit Uninstaller

IObit Uninstaller is a free utility that includes deep scan functions, forced application uninstallation, and works without installation.

The “All Programs” section displays a list of installed programs and information about each of them: publisher, version, occupied size, installation date and other information. In addition to the general list, sections “Recently Installed” and “Large Programs” are available.

There are two options for uninstalling applications - standard and advanced. Advanced uninstallation involves searching for remaining items (files, registry keys) on the computer. There is no installation monitoring, which further establishes IObit Uninstaller as more of a portable utility.

If you need to uninstall several applications in one go, the batch uninstallation mode will be convenient (as you know, with standard Windows tools, through Programs and Features, you can process only one program at a time). In IObit Uninstaller, just check the required lines and the programs will be removed in order. In addition to the actual uninstallation, it is also possible to remove entries about uninstallers.

IObit Uninstaller creates restore points that can be managed through Windows Recovery Center. Records of deleted data are recorded in the log (“Menu - Log Management”) in text format.

The Toolbars section contains add-ons that, as practice shows, are not always legally “registered” in the system. After scanning, they can be removed from the system.

Resume

The IObit Uninstaller utility is easy to use due to its portability (it can be stored on removable media), contains the most important functions related to uninstallation, and allows you to safely delete unnecessary files and keys. However, Uninstaller does not include installation monitoring, so it falls slightly short of its paid counterparts.

[+] Portability
[+] Great functionality for the free version
[+] Removing add-ons
[−] Lack of monitoring

Ashampoo UnInstaller

Home page:

Ashampoo UnInstaller is a complete solution for uninstalling applications. This includes installation monitoring, thorough removal of remaining traces in the file system and Registry, and other tools.

Monitoring allows you to take a snapshot of the changes made by the installer in real time. All information is subsequently used to completely remove the controlled program. You can start monitoring either manually or in the background - changes will be recorded in logs automatically.

If a program entry is damaged, it cannot be deleted. In the list, the line with the program is red; only one operation is available for it - deleting an entry. It is worth noting that in other uninstallers (say, IObit Uninstaller or Revo Uninstaller Pro) you can clear individual Registry keys, but here there is no chance that all the keys will be deleted along with the entry.

For programs installed in the standard way, without monitoring, removal is available using the uninstaller (the “Programs” tab). To top it off, Ashampoo UnInstaller will offer to find files and Registry items remaining on the system. It has been noted that uninstallation through Ashampoo UnInstaller does not always go smoothly and the program freezes, which is why it has to be restarted.

Additional Ashampoo UnInstaller tools can be divided into service tools related to administration and file deletion (the first three sections of the “Tools” section). The program settings are located in the “General” section, additional system information is located in “Windows→Tools”. Using the Backup Management module, you can manage existing backups. At the same time, there are not enough settings that regulate the creation of checkpoints in user-specified situations.

Resume

Ashampoo UnInstaller has monitoring and reporting, but some basic uninstallation features have not been given enough attention. As a result, processes such as creating a backup copy or deleting traces are beyond the user's control. The positive aspects include additional tools that can improve Windows performance.

[+] Additional tools
[−] Unstable operation
[−] Unintuitive interface

Soft Organizer

Soft Organizer allows you to control application installations in real time. Moreover, according to the developers, the program works faster than analogues in its category, “without resorting to long-term storage of information about all files before and after installation.”

However, installation monitoring is not a unique feature, even with the feature that it works in real time. At the same time, Soft Organizer has the most convenient shell: it’s easy to familiarize yourself with all the changes in the installer and, if necessary, make adjustments: change a parameter in the Registry, add a file to exceptions, etc.

The utility is presented as a window without tabs, with a list of installed programs. Such minimalism did not affect functionality - quite the opposite. By selecting the desired element, you can quickly find out what traces the program left on the system. The list can be sorted and grouped by developers, age, tracking status, updates. By the way, the mass search for updates for applications implemented in Soft Organizer is very convenient. Batch removal is also possible; to do this, just select several items in the list and click the “Remove programs” button.

Perhaps there is not enough sorting of the list by size, although there is such an option in the standard Programs and Features panel. One of the more serious complaints is the lack of options regarding creating a backup copy in advance.

The program was created by a Russian-speaking company, so the interface, help and support are in Russian. Soft Organizer users can make their suggestions on the page.

Resume

Soft Organizer provides a convenient and fast interface for managing applications and good functionality. We were pleased with the package capabilities for working with files: both updating and uninstalling.

[+] Functionality
[+] Convenient and uncomplicated interface
[+] Batch features
[−] Inability to create a backup copy

Uninstall Tool

Uninstall Tool is another program for quickly uninstalling applications, including hidden and system components, monitoring installation, removing erroneous entries and startup items.

The list of installed programs is contained in the “Uninstaller” section, which, in turn, has several more tabs at the bottom of the window. In addition to the general list, you can go to system and hidden components that do not appear in Windows Programs and Features. The list is sorted by criteria such as size and installation date; information about each application is available in the left panel. When selecting several lines, the batch functions of the Uninstall Tool are activated, namely the forced deletion and deletion of entries from the Registry. Standard uninstallation is not provided in this mode, which is explained by several reasons: this process still requires user intervention, a reboot may also be required, etc.

All uninstall commands are concentrated in the “Actions” menu: standard uninstall, delete entry and force delete. For more thorough removal of traces, a Removal Wizard is included. Cleaning involves deleting files left in the Program Files, Application Data folders, shortcuts, Registry keys, etc. It should be noted that deleting traces of programs is only available in the registered version; without this, you can only view the elements remaining after uninstallation.

The “Install and Monitor” section provides access to installation monitoring. Again, no pre- and post-installation scanning is required: a snapshot of changes is created in real time, saving user time.

Tracked programs are displayed with an icon in the list column of the same name. In the case of a tracked application, there is no need for a thorough scan since all entries have been logged. They can only be viewed in XML format, although during the installation process the history can also be saved in a text file.

Among other section options, the startup editor should be mentioned. With its help, you can remove unnecessary elements and disable startup of certain programs.

Resume

Uninstall Tool is a fairly functional and convenient uninstallation utility that has significant limitations in the trial version. However, there is a monitoring mode, batch operation and the ability to remove hidden components.

[+] Work in portable mode

[+] Removing hidden components
[−] No backup management

Pivot table

The Windows system has its own built-in programs (uninstallers) that can be used to uninstall programs installed on your computer. But in fact, built-in uninstallers only have basic functions and often cannot remove the program completely. They usually leave some working files, such as empty registration keys, folders on your C drive, program data, shortcuts, etc. Sometimes these "tails" can be detrimental to the ongoing operation of the system.

If you really want to remove a program completely from your computer, then a third-party uninstaller program is what you need. These types of uninstallers deeply scan the system in order to find and remove all remaining files. Here are the best uninstaller programs for a computer running Windows.

1. Revo Uninstaller

We hope we were able to help you. Leave your comments below, share your opinion and experience in using the above uninstaller programs for Windows OS.

I will present an overview of the best, in my opinion, programs designed to remove other programs installed on the computer. The programs presented in this list can claim the title of “best uninstaller”.

Uninstaller programs are programs for removing other programs, designed to completely remove all traces of the uninstalled program from the operating system.

Uninstalling programs using Windows does not always allow you to completely clear your computer of the program being removed. Traces of the application remain on the computer: registry entries, data folders, etc. Therefore, there is a need to use a specialized program.

I have compiled a review of the best program uninstallers for the Windows operating system based on my experience. I am familiar with all these programs, I have used some or continue to use them for a long time. I think that getting to know these applications will be useful for visitors to my site.

Many of the programs presented here have additional features that significantly expand the functionality of the software. This review does not include “harvesters” - computer optimization programs (AVG PC TuneUp, Advanced SystemCare, Ashampoo WinOptimizer, Wise Care 365, etc.) that have special modules for removing programs, because these are programs of a broader profile.

Most of the best programs designed to remove installed programs from your computer are paid, some applications are free.

Revo Uninstaller Pro

Revo Unstaller Pro is a powerful uninstaller program with additional functionality. Revo Uninstaller Pro has three program removal modes, which create a system restore point and a full copy of the registry. Forced removal of programs is possible; the program has a unique “hunter” mode for removing applications that are not in the list of installed programs.

Revo Uninstaller Pro has a mode for tracking the installation of programs on your computer. In the future, if the program is uninstalled, all changes made by the program will be deleted, and the application will be completely deleted.

Revo Unstaller Pro includes additional utilities for cleaning your computer from unnecessary files, startup manager, browser cleaner, office application cleaner, fatal deletion tool, etc.

Currently, on my computer, I use Revo Uninstaller Pro to uninstall programs from Windows. You can read a detailed review of the Revo Uninstaller Pro program.

There is a free version of the Revo Uninstaller Free program, which you can read about using by clicking here.

Revo Uninstaller is produced by VS Revo Group.

Total Uninstall is one of the best uninstaller programs. Using a special module, the installation of the program on the computer is monitored and snapshots of the registry are taken. Thanks to this, in the future the program will be completely removed from the computer.

Total Uninstall implements batch removal of programs, has a startup manager, and a function for removing junk files.

For a long time I used the Total Uninstall program as my main program for removing programs from the operating system.

The Total Uninstall program was created by a developer from Romania, Gavrila Martau.

iObit Uninstaller

The free iObit Uninstaller program is used to completely remove unnecessary programs from your computer. The program has the following features: deleting programs and unnecessary folders, batch deleting programs, “powerful scanning” mode, permanent deletion, deleting toolbars and plug-ins in browsers, managing applications and Windows settings, forced deletion.

You can find out more about the capabilities of the iObit Uninstaller program in the article.

The iObit Uninstaller program is produced by the Chinese company iObit, the developer of popular programs: Advanced SystemCare, iObit Driver Booster, and other software.

The Uninstall Tool uses an installation monitor to monitor the installation of new programs in order to completely remove all traces of installed applications in the future. Uninstall Tool has a simple and intuitive interface.

The program has a forced uninstall function, it is possible to manage programs in startup, and batch uninstallation of programs is implemented.

The Uninstall Tool program is produced by the American company CrystalIDEA Software.

Ashampoo UnInstaller is a powerful program for removing programs installed on the operating system. The program has an application installation tracking mode for further complete removal of all traces of the installed program.

In addition to removing programs, Ashampoo UnInstaller includes a large number of additional tools with which you can optimize your computer: clear your hard drive of temporary files, optimize the registry, clear Internet history: delete cache, cookies, delete empty folders, delete unnecessary fonts, defragment the hard drive, manage Windows services, autostart, change file associations, etc.

Ashampoo UnInstaller was created by the German company Ashampoo, a well-known software manufacturer: , Ashampoo Burning Studio, Ashampoo Photo Commander, etc.

There is a detailed article about on my website.

The Soft Organizer program (formerly known as Full Uninstall) is designed to completely remove programs installed on your computer. The application monitors all changes that occur during the installation of the program on the computer. This allows you to completely uninstall unnecessary software.

Using the program, you can detect traces of previously deleted applications for their complete removal using Soft Organizer. The program removes universal Windows applications, uninstalls several programs at once, checks for new versions of programs, etc.

You can read more about using the Soft Organizer program.

The manufacturer of the Soft Organizer program, the Russian company ChemTable Software, is known for its applications: , .

Advanced Uninstaller Pro is a free application uninstaller. The program monitors the installation of a new program, and then, when it is uninstalled, uninstalls all changes made from the computer.

Advanced Uninstaller Pro has additional tools: startup manager, registry optimization, deleting temporary files, cleaning the Start menu, managing fonts, working with browsers: clearing the cache, removing extensions and toolbars, etc. The program has extensive functionality, uninstalling programs is just one of the functions.

The Advanced Uninstaller Pro program was developed by the Romanian company Innovative Solutions, the application works in English (including other languages, Russian is not supported).

Wise Program Uninstaller is a simple free program for removing applications installed on your computer. This is a pure uninstaller without additional features.

Wise Program Uninstaller has only three uninstall modes: secure uninstall, smart uninstall to remove programs that cannot be uninstalled, and changing the application installation path.

The Wise Program Uninstaller program is produced by the Chinese company Wise Cleaner, developer of the following programs: Wise Care 365, Wise Registry Cleaner, Wise Folder Hider and many other applications.

Read more about working with Wise Program Uninstaller.

Other uninstaller programs

In this part of the article I will mention a few more programs that deserve attention. These programs can be used on your computer if, for some reason, other applications are not suitable for you.

Your Uninstaller! PRO is a good uninstaller program. This application is not on the list of the best because the program has not been updated for a long time.

Your Uninstaller contains additional utilities: startup management, disk cleaning, Start menu cleaning, removal of traces of Internet activity, permanent deletion of files, access to Windows tools.

At one time I used the Your Uninstaller program and had a positive experience with it.

The Your Uninstaller program is developed by the American company URSoft.

Geek Uninstaller is a simple free program, sort of a free version of the Uninstall Tool. Geek Uninstaller is a portable program that can be run from removable media (flash drives, external hard drives, etc.).

Geek Uninstaller has a forced uninstall feature.

Read more about using Geek Uninstaller in the article.

The program developer is Thomas Koen from the Netherlands.

Bulk Crap Uninstaller

Bulk Crap Uninstaller is a free program for uninstalling applications from your computer. The program has an autorun manager, the user receives detailed information about the application being removed, silent uninstallation is possible, simultaneous removal of several programs, etc.

Read more about working with Bulk Crap Uninstaller.

The program was created by Polish developer Marcin Szeniak.

Conclusions of the article

In conclusion, a small reminder: do not use uninstaller programs to remove antiviruses from your computer. Because an antivirus is a special program that is closely integrated into the operating system.

The article provides an overview of the best, in my opinion, uninstaller programs: Revo Uninstaller Pro, Total Uninstall, iObit Uninstaller, Uninstall Tool, Ashampoo UnInstaller, Soft Organizer, Advanced Uninstaller Pro, Wise Program Uninstaller. Most programs, in addition to the function of uninstalling other programs, have additional modules that significantly expand the capabilities of the applications.