Programs - Uninstall using Command Prompt in Windows

How to Uninstall Programs using Command Prompt in Windows​

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to uninstall programs using a command prompt in XP, Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

   Note

This will only list programs that use Windows Installer when installed.

It is recommended to uninstall a program in Programs and Features if able instead to have a full list of installed program.

Here's How:

1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.

2. Open an elevated command prompt in XP/Vista/Windows 7 or Windows 8, and go to step 4 below.

3. Open Safe Mode with command prompt in XP/Vista/Windows 7 or Windows 8, and go to step 4 below.

4. In the command prompt, type wmic and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

5. Type product get name and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: This will give you a list of program names installed on your computer to use in the next step. This list will not always have all of the programs listed in Programs and Features though.

6. Type in either command below using the exact name of the program (ex: Microsoft Silverlight) listed in step 5 above within quotes that you want to uninstall, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
(To be prompted Y/N to approve. Recommended)

product where name=”name of program” call uninstall


(To NOT be prompted Y/N to approve.)

product where name=”name of program” call uninstall /nointeractive



7. If prompted, type Y to confirm uninstalling the program, and press Enter. (see screenshot above)

8. When successfully uninstalled, you can close the command prompt. (see screenshot below)

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Uninstall, Change, or Repair a Program in Windows 7
• How to Uninstall or Change a Program in Vista
• How to Uninstall Programs and their Leftovers using Revo Uninstaller Freeware
• How to Completely Uninstall Avast Antivirus

 

[LuciferDarc]

what if the product name is not shown in cmd

 

[Brink]

Hello Lucifer, and welcome to Seven Forums.

What program are you trying to uninstall?

Is the program listed in Programs and Features in the Control Panel?

 

[theonlybob]

uninstall

I am uninstalling some software that i need to replace. when i run this it says that it removed it but it still shows in the programs and features. i rebooted as well with no difference.

If i try and uninstall it a second time it says No Instance(s) Available. So it removed something but not the software.

Attached are a sheen grab that shows it being uninstalled then when i try and do it again. Also a second from another machine with the same issues after "uninstalling" it.

Ideas?

 

[Brink]

Hello Bob, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If it was a corrupted software installation, then it may still show like that. Since it shows it as uninstalled, you could also manually remove the program's uninstall entry in Programs and Features.

Programs and Features - Remove Uninstall Entry

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[theonlybob]

Hello Bob, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If it was a corrupted software installation, then it may still show like that. Since it shows it as uninstalled, you could also manually remove the program's uninstall entry in Programs and Features.

Programs and Features - Remove Uninstall Entry

Hope this helps,
Shawn

thanks for the welcome.

It wasn't corrupt and I can actually still remove it normally from add\remove with no issues. Its almost like it just removed the information from wmic but ignored everything else.

 

[Brink]

Odd. I'm not sure unless this may have been just a sub feature of the main program that was uninstalled via the command for why it was still listed in Program and Features.

 

[theonlybob]

Odd. I'm not sure unless this may have been just a sub feature of the main program that was uninstalled via the command for why it was still listed in Program and Features.

Yeah, its a install shield exe so i just created a iss file for uninstall and am going to do it that way. Longer but it works.

Will try the command line on something else, thanks for the guide and your response I appreciate it.

 

[DamChihuahua]

Brink

Just a quick question. I've got the ' ASK TOOLBAR ' installed on my home computer. I've tried to delete it using Add/Remove programs, CCleaner and AVG Tune Up. To no unveil it has not deleted. It keeps telling me that there's an error and not able to uninstall and to contact admin. Does uninstalling a program from the CMD prompt give you an elevated power to uninstall programs if the traditional methods don't?

Great tutorial and awesome thread going here. Thanks for all your posts.

Danny

 

[Brink]

Hello Danny, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Using an elevated command prompt would use elevated rights to uninstall it using the method in this tutorial. Using the normal uninstaller would depend on if the uninstaller prompts with UAC for elevated rights or not.

However, "Ask Toolbar" is one of those programs that often get installed by default along with another program you had installed unless you unchecked the option to not include it.

See if this below may help with "Ask Toolbar". It's also installed as a toolbar or add-on in your browser.

Remove Ask Toolbar and Ask.com Search (Uninstall Guide)

 

[DamChihuahua]

Hello Danny, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Using an elevated command prompt would use elevated rights to uninstall it using the method in this tutorial. Using the normal uninstaller would depend on if the uninstaller prompts with UAC for elevated rights or not.

However, "Ask Toolbar" is one of those programs that often get installed by default along with another program you had installed unless you unchecked the option to not include it.

See if this below may help with "Ask Toolbar". It's also installed as a toolbar or add-on in your browser.

Remove Ask Toolbar and Ask.com Search (Uninstall Guide)

Thanks for the quick reply Brink. I did try Malwarebytes and it did detect it, but it didn't remove it completely. I was able to remove it from inside ie and I cannot see in manage add ons. It does however show up in my list of programs. This is where I run into the problem of not being able to uninstall it. It comes up with the error. It says "error code 1316.C:\windows\installer\asktoolbar.msi". This error comes up anyway I try to uninstall it.

Thanks again for your help.

Danny

 

[Brink]

In that case, give the tutorial on the first page a try to see if it may be able remove it.

 

[DamChihuahua]

I will. Thanks again

Danny

 

[Brink]

You're welcome. Please let us know how it went.

 

[desantis191]

Automation?

This is a great post and step by step. Works great. Does anyone know if it can be added to a Batch script to uninstall multiple programs at once? Is there a way to get by the question Y/N?
GD

 

[Brink]

Hello GD, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You would need to know the names of all the programs you wanted to uninstall as listed in step 5.

Afterwards, you could create a batch file with multiple commands for each program like in step 6. I would recommend to leave the Y/N to approve as a safety check to prevent uninstalling the wrong program by mistake.

 

[desantis191]

Automation

Thanks for such a speedy reply. I am using this at work to uninstall 2 programs that I know the exact name, and want the uninstall to be silent. Have 400 users, and they would go nuts if they had to click Y. You know how users can be.
I am not certain of the syntax inside the script, I can call wmic, and the uninstall , but how to answer the question inside the script (I am a novice scripter)
GD

 

[Brink]

To not have the Y/N prompt, you can use the command below instead. I've also updated the tutorial to help.

product where name=”name of program” call uninstall /nointeractive

 

[desantis191]

OK, I am experiencing difficulties. In my script I call the uninstall like this:

wmic:root\cli>product where name="Autodesk 360" call uninstall /nointeractive

I get an error

C:\Windows\system32>wmic:root\cli where name="Autodesk 360" call uninstall /nointeractive 1>product
The system cannot find the path specified.

When I call wmic first, wmic initiates, but then waits for input.

Can the command be modified in a way to be run in the script?

Thanks

GD

 

[Brink]

You might see if issuing the WMIC command, have a timeout command for a few seconds, then have the uninstall command may work.

 

[desantis191]

Automation

I think I figured it out, I the node info, and ran it liker this,

wmic product where name="Autodesk 360" call uninstall /nointeractive

This worked.

Thank you very much for the help.

GD