The introduction of the Microsoft Store was one of the largest changes to Windows in modern history. This change was accentuated by one of the most controversial “upgrades” the operating system has ever seen: the Windows 8 Start menu.
Whether you love it, hate it, or use a Windows shell replacement to avoid it altogether, the Microsoft Store and its apps are likely things you’re going to have to interact with at some point in your PC’s life.
For those of you not so crazy over the Microsoft Store’s apps, it’s worth it to know the uninstallation process. Your PC will likely come with several apps from the Microsoft Store installed out of the box, so tidying up your PC involves pruning those.
For whatever reason you’re looking to uninstall Microsoft Store apps, this article has you covered. Let’s discuss the two easiest ways to uninstall Microsoft Store apps, as well as a brief overview of what these apps are in the first place.
What Are Microsoft Store Apps?
The Microsoft Store started as an app store on Windows 8, then known as the Windows Store, to distribute Universal Windows Platform apps. In Windows 10, Microsoft consolidated all of its other storefronts and distribution platforms into a single app and gave it a new name.
Those platforms include the Xbox Store, Windows Phone Store, Windows Marketplace, and more.
In late 2018, Microsoft revealed that the Microsoft Store was home to over 35 million application titles. Similar to Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store, the Microsoft Store helps distribute applications after a certification process. Unlike many other third-party applications you may download off the web, apps on the Microsoft Store are vetted for safety and compliance.
However, not everyone is a fan of the tablet-like interfaces that many of these apps bring to the desktop. One of the best examples is Skype—if you’re like me, you much prefer the more compact, standalone desktop version to the app listed on the Microsoft Store. That being said, let’s look into how you can uninstall any Microsoft Store app.
Uninstall Microsoft Store Apps From Start Menu
The simplest and most intuitive way to uninstall Microsoft Store apps is directly from the Windows 8 or Windows 10 Start menu. It takes just a few clicks.
All you have to do is open your Start menu, scroll down the list of installed applications, and find the Microsoft Store app that you never want to see again. Right-click on it, click Uninstall, and that’s it—you’ll never be bothered by it again.
Some applications, such as Microsoft Edge, don’t have the Uninstall button. Applications like this are considered to be core to Windows and are blocked from any simple means of uninstallation. Doing so could affect the functionality of other programs.
Uninstall Microsoft Store Apps via Settings
The next-easiest method to uninstalling Microsoft Store apps is by doing it through your Windows Settings.
To access Settings, press the Windows + I key combination.
From this screen, click on the Apps tile. This will take you to a page that, if you scroll down, has a long list of all of the applications installed on your PC. There’s also a search field so you can easily filter and find the application you may be looking for.
Clicking on any application in this list will unveil the Move and Uninstall buttons for it. The Uninstall button will—unsurprisingly—start the uninstallation process for the respective application.
Uninstalling Microsoft Store Apps with Third-Party Software
The simplest alternative to uninstalling Microsoft Store apps from within Windows Explorer involves third-party software. It’s worth noting that this isn’t always safe, and we personally don’t recommend going down this road unless you’re out of options.
Of these options, TheWindowsClub’s 10AppManager for Windows 10 is one of the best. It will allow you to uninstall and reinstall applications that come preinstalled with Windows 10. However, it must be stated that this software may be updated, changed, or patched in a way that could have unintended consequences at any time past the date of publishing this post.
There are other freeware applications out there that can uninstall Microsoft Store apps, such as CCleaner—but we’ve already explained why you shouldn’t download CCleaner in a past post, and we haven’t changed our minds. Understand the risks that come with modifying Windows with third-party software and only do so if you’ve created a backup and/or system restore point.
Whether they came preinstalled with Windows or were installed by you, getting rid of Microsoft Store apps is extremely easy and can be safely performed all within the Windows UI. Whichever apps you wish to uninstall can be nixed away in just a matter of seconds by following the instructions above.
Do you know any other ways to get rid of Microsoft Store Apps? Want to let us know what you think or get some help? Feel free to drop us a comment below!