Programs you install on your PC not only take up valuable hard drive space, but they can also affect performance, particularly those that have components or processes that are set to run in the background all the time or automatically launch whenever you start your computer.

Uninstalling programs you don’t ever use or don’t need anymore can free up space on your drive, along with other resources, including processing power and memory.

How to remove unwanted programs

In Windows 7 or 10, click Start > Control Panel.

In Windows 8.1, right-click the Start button and select Control Panel.

In all versions, make sure the View by option is set to Category (top-right), then click Uninstall a program under the Program heading.

By default, programs are listed by name, but you can click the Installed On column header to sort them by how long they’ve been installed on your PC.

If you see any you no longer want or need, then click to highlight it, then click the Uninstall (or Uninstall/Change) button that appears on the top toolbar and follow any remaining steps to remove the application.

Windows 10 users can also get a list of all the software installed – including Windows Store apps – by clicking Start > Settings > System > Apps & Features.

Use the dropdown menu at the top to sort by name, size or installation date. Click on a program or app, then click Uninstall to remove it.

Watch out

The main problem you might face is accidentally uninstalling something that you later realise you need. But as long as you have the original installation discs (or download serial numbers for paid-for programs), you can always reinstall software at a later date if required.

Windows 10 apps can be reinstalled from the Windows Store if needed. Open the Store app, click your user icon (top-right), then click My Library. Apps not currently installed on your PC will be marked with a little downward-pointing arrow on the right.