Alex Ruben
How To Uninstall Games from Microsoft Store on Windows 11/10
Uninstalling games from the Microsoft Store is a handy way to clear up space and maybe give your PC a little breathing room. But it’s not always straightforward, especially if you’re dealing with games that won’t show the uninstall option or refuse to cooperate. The usual method of hitting uninstall in the Store doesn’t always work — sometimes you gotta get your hands dirty with Windows Settings or even PowerShell.
Step 1: Open the Microsoft Store
Start by launching the Microsoft Store. You can do this by clicking on the Start Menu and typing “Microsoft Store”, then clicking it once it pops up. If you’ve pinned it to your taskbar, even better. From here, you’ll head into your library to see what’s installed.
Step 2: Access the Library
Once the Microsoft Store is open, look on the left side for Library. Click it. That’s where all your apps and games you’ve purchased or downloaded sit, ready for management.
Step 3: Find Your Installed Games
Scroll through or search for your game. Sometimes, they’re neatly grouped under Games, or they just appear in your list. If you don’t see an uninstall button here, that’s when it gets tricky.
Step 4: Check for the Uninstall Option
Next to each game, there might be a three-dot menu (⋮). Click it — sometimes it offers Uninstall. But fair warning: on some setups, that button’s grayed out or missing, especially with certain Universal Windows Platform (UWP) games. Just because it’s listed doesn’t mean you can delete it that way anymore.
Method 1: Using Windows Settings to Uninstall
If the Store doesn’t help, the next move is to manually uninstall via Windows Settings. The reason this helps is because all installed apps are listed here in a more reliable way. Here’s how:
- Open Settings: Click the Start Menu, then the gear icon, or press Windows + I.
- Navigate to Apps: Choose Apps in the sidebar. This shows all installed apps and games.
- Find your game: Use the search bar or scroll down to locate your game. Sometimes, it’s listed under its app name or publisher.
- Uninstall: Click on the three-dot menu next to the game and select Uninstall. Confirm when prompted. Sometimes, this takes a few seconds, but it usually works better than trying through the Store.
On some machines, especially after Windows updates, this uninstallation process can be slightly glitchy — a reboot or re-attempt might be needed. But in general, it’s more reliable.
Method 2: Using PowerShell to Remove Stubborn Games
Yeah, PowerShell. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than it should sometimes. If a game refuses to uninstall normally, you can try a force removal. Here’s what to do:
- Open PowerShell: Type PowerShell in the Start menu, right-click, and select Run as administrator.
- List installed apps: Type `
Get-AppxPackage` and hit Enter. This will show all UWP apps, including games, though they might be listed under different package names. - Find the correct package name: You can filter the list by app name, for example: `
Get-AppxPackage *game-name*`. Replace *game-name* with part of your game’s name. - Remove the app: Once you spot the correct package, run `
Remove-AppxPackage`. Replace `` with the full package name you found.
This is kinda rough and not always foolproof. Sometimes, it might require multiple attempts or additional commands to fully clean out the app. Also, be cautious — you don’t want to accidentally delete system apps.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
If a game still hangs around after all this, or you get permission errors, it’s worth checking:
- Make sure you’ve got admin rights. Without them, uninstalling certain apps can be blocked.
- Try restarting your PC after uninstall attempts — Windows sometimes needs a kick to update its app list.
- In rare cases, a third-party uninstaller (like IObit Uninstaller or Revo) can help clean stuff up when Windows tools fail.
Conclusion
Uninstalling games on Windows 10 and 11 isn’t always seamless, especially with how the Microsoft Store manages apps. When the usual in-app options or Store settings don’t cut it, diving into Settings or PowerShell often does the trick. Just remember, a little patience and some command-line tinkering can save a lot of frustration, especially with stubborn apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reinstall the game after uninstalling it?
Absolutely, just go back to the Microsoft Store and download it again. No need to buy it twice, as long as it’s still available.
Will uninstalling delete my saved data?
Most of the time, yes. Saved data usually lives in your user folder or on the cloud, but it’s worth double-checking the game’s support pages if you’ve got precious progress.
What if the game doesn’t show up in the apps list?
If it’s missing, it might have been installed outside of the Store or got corrupted somehow. Check other folders or launchers, or head to the game’s support site for troubleshooting steps.
Summary
- Try uninstalling through Windows Settings if Store doesn’t work
- Use PowerShell for stubborn, non-removable apps
- Restart your PC if things act flaky
- Admin permissions are your friend here
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Good luck removing those games — it’s often messier than it should be, but not impossible.