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How to uninstall greyed out Windows 10 apps
A good idea is to enter Safe Mode and try to remove the application after that
5 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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We have all sorts of applications on our PC, but sometimes certain apps can become grayed out and unable to remove. This can be a problem, so today we’re going to show you how to uninstall grayed out apps on your Windows 10 PC.
Grayed out applications are somewhat common, and some applications are built-in into Windows, so that’s the reason they’re grayed out.
Sometimes applications you install can get corrupted, and that will prevent you from removing them. Speaking of grayed out apps, here are some problems that users reported.
How can I uninstall grayed out apps on PC?
1. Use a specialized tool
One way to uninstall grayed-out apps is to use dedicated software. A PC cleaning utility such asIObit Uninstalleroffers many benefits when it comes to safely remove applications.
With an uninstalling utility, you will make sure that the app you are trying to uninstall along with all its corresponding files is completely erased from your PC.
IObit Uninstaller is our top choice because it is easy to use, allowing users to uninstall and clean leftover files from one central window, so you will not have to jump between apps and setting panels.
The uninstallation feature is very simple. It displays a listing similar to what you find in Windows settings. You can easily select the unwanted app and then click on the trash icon on the right for a clean uninstall.
⇒Get IObit Uninstaller
2. Enter Safe Mode and try to remove the application
Once the Safe Mode starts, try to remove the application. If that doesn’t work, you might want to try removing the application’s installation directory manually.
This method isn’t usually advised since it can leave registry entries behind, but if other solutions aren’t working, you might want to try it out.
If you can’t uninstall grayed out apps on your PC, perhaps there’s a certain glitch that is preventing you from doing that.
However, you might be able to fix this problem simply by entering Safe Mode and trying to remove the application from there.
In case you’re not familiar, Safe Mode is a special segment of Windows that runs with default settings, so it’s perfect for troubleshooting. To enter Safe Mode, follow the steps above.
3. Use Microsoft’s troubleshooter
After the troubleshooting process is finished, the issue should be resolved and you’ll be able to easily uninstall any application from your PC with ease.
Many users reported that this method worked for them, so be sure to try it out.
According to users, issues with certain applications can sometimes occur, and they can become grayed out and unable to remove.
Microsoft is aware of this issue, and it has released its own troubleshooter to help you with this problem.
4. Use PowerShell
After doing that, the problem will be resolved and you’ll successfully remove the selected application.
If you’re having problems removing certain applications from your PC, perhaps you can try removing them usingPowerShell.
Bear in mind that this solution only works for Universal applications that are downloaded from the Microsoft Store or available in Windows by default.
Before we start, we have to warn you that PowerShell is an incredibly powerful tool, so you can cause damage with it if you’re not careful, so use this solution and PowerShell at your own risk.
Grayed-out applications can sometimes be a problem, and in this article, we showed you several solutions that can help you deal with them, so be sure to try them all out.
More about the topics:apps
Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He’s a PC enthusiast and he spends most of his time learning about computers and technology.
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s one of the Troubleshooting experts in our worldwide team, specializing in Windows errors & software issues.
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Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s specialized in Windows errors & software issues.