How to Uninstall Files on Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

By / September 13, 2025

If your Windows 11 PC is running out of storage or feels cluttered, removing unnecessary files is one of the easiest ways to free up space and speed things up. But “uninstalling files” can mean different things — deleting personal files, clearing temporary data, or removing installed programs.

This guide will walk you through different ways to safely uninstall or remove files on Windows 11, step by step, so you don’t accidentally delete something important.

Understanding the Difference Between Deleting and Uninstalling

Before we begin, let’s clear up a common confusion:

  • Deleting files means manually removing documents, pictures, videos, etc.

  • Uninstalling programs means removing installed apps and their associated files.

  • Clearing temporary/system files means getting rid of Windows cache, logs, and junk files safely.

We’ll cover all three so you can keep your system clean.

Step 1: Delete Personal Files You Don’t Need

Sometimes we simply need to clean up our downloads or documents.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.

  2. Go to folders like Downloads, Documents, Pictures, Videos.

  3. Select the files you don’t need.

  4. Right-click and choose Delete or press Shift + Delete (to permanently delete without sending to Recycle Bin).

Tip: If you want to recover space immediately, empty your Recycle Bin:

  • Right-click the Recycle Bin icon > Empty Recycle Bin.

Step 2: Uninstall Unnecessary Apps and Programs

Large applications can take up gigabytes of space. Here’s how to uninstall them:

Method 1: Using Settings App

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.

  2. Go to Apps > Installed apps.

  3. Scroll through the list and find the app you no longer need.

  4. Click the three dots (…) next to the app and select Uninstall.

  5. Follow on-screen prompts to complete removal.

Method 2: Using Control Panel (For Classic Programs)

Some older desktop programs may not appear in Settings.

  1. Press Windows + R, type appwiz.cpl, and press Enter.

  2. In the list of programs, select the one you want to uninstall.

  3. Click Uninstall at the top.

Step 3: Use Storage Sense to Remove Temporary Files

Windows 11 has a built-in tool to automatically delete junk files.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.

  2. Go to System > Storage.

  3. Under Storage management, click Storage Sense.

  4. Turn it On and click Run Storage Sense now.

This will clear temporary files, old updates, and recycle bin items.

Step 4: Manually Clear Temporary Files

For deeper cleaning, you can manually clear temporary folders:

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + R, type %temp%, and hit Enter.

  2. Select all files (Ctrl + A) and delete them.

  3. Repeat the process with temp and prefetch folders.

Note: Some files may be in use and cannot be deleted — skip those.

Step 5: Use Disk Cleanup Tool

Disk Cleanup is another built-in utility to remove unnecessary system files.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + S, type Disk Cleanup, and open it.

  2. Select the drive you want to clean (usually C:).

  3. Check the boxes for files you want to delete (Temporary files, Thumbnails, Recycle Bin, etc.).

  4. Click OK > Delete Files.

Step 6: Remove Large Files You Don’t Use

You can find and delete large files quickly using Storage settings:

  1. Go to Settings > System > Storage.

  2. Click Show more categories.

  3. Select Large or unused files to review what’s taking space.

  4. Delete files you no longer need.

Step 7: Use a Trusted Third-Party Cleaner (Optional)

If you want a one-click solution, you can use tools like CCleaner or BleachBit.

  • These scan for leftover files, cache, and temporary data.

  • Always download them from their official websites to avoid malware.

Precautions Before Deleting or Uninstalling Files

  • Backup Important Data: Always copy critical files to an external drive or cloud.

  • Don’t Delete System Files: Avoid removing anything in C:\Windows unless you know what it does.

  • Check Program Size: Some apps don’t take up much space — uninstall big ones first.

Conclusion

Keeping your Windows 11 PC clean is simple once you know where to look. You can delete personal files, uninstall programs, clear temporary files, and use built-in tools like Storage Sense and Disk Cleanup to reclaim valuable storage space.

Take a few minutes every month to do this, and your PC will stay fast and clutter-free.

FAQs

Q1: Will uninstalling files speed up my PC?
A: Yes — freeing up storage space helps Windows run more efficiently, especially if your drive is almost full.

Q2: What’s the difference between deleting and uninstalling?
A: Deleting removes files you created, while uninstalling removes entire programs and their related files.

Q3: Can I recover deleted files?
A: Yes — if they are still in the Recycle Bin, you can restore them. If permanently deleted, use recovery software (success isn’t guaranteed).

Q4: Is it safe to delete everything in the Temp folder?
A: Yes — temporary files are safe to remove. Windows will recreate them if needed.

Q5: How much space can I free up by uninstalling files?
A: It depends — uninstalling unused programs can free up several GB, especially games or editing software.

Related Posts:

Scroll to Top