Windows Live Messenger - Manually Uninstall

How to Manually Uninstall Windows Live Messenger ​

   Information

This article will show you how to manually remove Windows Live Messenger completely. This is helpful when you have issues with Messenger not able to uninstall normally, and reinstalling fails.

You will need to be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this.

Here's How:
1. First we have to shutdown Windows Live Messenger if it's running. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del and Select Start Task Manager then click on Processes Tab find msnmsgr.exe and click on End Process.

2. Then we have to remove Windows Live Messenger from Programs and Features. So go to Start then under search type in Programs and Features

3. Under Programs and Features look for Windows Live Essentials then click of Uninstall

4. Then it will give you an option to Remove all the Windows Live Programs like Windows Live Mail, Windows Live Writer etc. You might wanna remove all of them then it will more smooth.

5. Once the Uninstall is completely then download and install CCleaner. Once it's uninstalled, then run CCleaner.

6. Click on Run Cleaner to make sure all the Temp files are removed.


7. Now we have to remove the Contact cache folders located under Application Data folder for that go to Start under search type in %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\ and Hit Enter and Delete the Windows Live Contacts folder.


8. Now we have to delete few left over keys in Registry make sure you make a backup of the Registry.


9. Now go to Start and under search type in Regedit and press enter.

10. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.



11. In regedit, navigate to each location below.

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows Live and Delete Messenger folder
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft and Delete MSNMessenger
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft and Delete MSNMessenger
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Live\Communications Clients and Delete Shared
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft and Delete IdentityCRL

12. Now reboot your computer​

Hope this helps,

Captain

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Uninstall One or More "Windows Essentials" Programs
• How to Have Windows Live Messenger with a Windows 7 Taskbar or Tray Icon
• How to Change to Full or Compact View in Windows Live Messenger 2011
• How to Change the Default Sounds in Windows Live Messenger

 

[derekimo]

Nice work Capt.

 

[CarlTR6]

Excellent job.

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

Nice work Capt.

Excellent job.

Thanks Derek and Carl !

 

[Corrine]

If you use Hotmail and prefer using Windows Live Messenger on your desktop instead of in your browser, it is easy to turn it off. Just hover over your name in the top right corner of Hotmail (or any other Windows Live web app) and select Sign out of Messenger. Alternatively, you can select Appear offline.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Very good work Cap'n, well done!

 

[Abhishek Ghosh]

Nice tutorial Capt.Jack Sparrow.

@Corrine: Nice tips too!

 

[The Howling Wolves]

Great job Capt. Jack...
I know we've been through a few of those together with different OP's and this tutorial will help tremendously.
Corrine's tip on signing off or working off line is great.
I have hotmail and was never interested in WLM having too much fun here in 7 Forum.

 

[A Guy]

Good one Capt.

A Guy

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

Thanks All !

 

[LADYPINKtomato1]

Have you ever used...Revo Unstaller ? I've found it to work great..
It's also a Free program. I might add here.. I have NO affiliation with them.
Capt. this is a wonderful tutorial on this matter.

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

Have you ever used...Revo Unstaller ? I've found it to work great..
It's also a Free program. I might add here.. I have NO affiliation with them.
Capt. this is a wonderful tutorial on this matter.

Thanks LPt ... I used to use Revo Uninstaller myself it's a great software. But sometime it won't remove all the files that has to be remove in order to get Live Messenger working again after the reinstall. Such cases you could use this article. And the Free edtion is not very friendly on 64-Bit editions

 

[LADYPINKtomato1]

Capt.. some very good points.. you've made.. I'll follow your maual uninstall for I M.

 

[LADYPINKtomato1]

Solved.. thanks so much.

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

Solved.. thanks so much.

Your Welcome

 

[Grathiam]

Unfortunately, the Capt's MSN uninstall didn't work for me!

I've reloaded Win-7 Ultimate and 4-hours of updates (now current), after experiencing both my motherboard and 2-hardrives fail, after a major lightening storm! Sadly, my condo building is not grounded...and cannot be changed.
I am the administrator.

msnmsgr does _not appear in Task Manager, nor does it appear Programs & Features


I'm perplexed!

 

[Brink]

Hello Grathiam,

Have you already tried to reinstall Windows Live Messenger to repair it, then see if it may uninstall normally through Programs and Features?

Windows Live Messenger Free Download

 

[Grathiam]

Hello Grathiam,
Have you already tried to reinstall Windows Live Messenger to repair it, then see if it may uninstall normally through Programs and Features? Windows Live Messenger Free Download

-----------------------------

Brink, Thanks and I appreciate your suggestion, but it didn't work:

I did load Live Messenger, from the linked site. So, now I have skydrive, Live, Live Mail, Messenger,
Photo Gallery and Movie Maker on my HD. I don't want any of these programs.

When I click on the 'e' (internet explorer) icon in the bottom tray, MSN is loaded, but I cannot access nor find Internet Explorer anywhere. The task Manager does not list MSN nor Win Essentials, _HOWEVER_,
Win Essentials now listed in Control Panel-Programs. So, I deleted Essentials, _yet_ MSN is still active and appears upon clicking the 'e' in the bottom tray. MSN is not listed in taskmgr nor CNTL panel.

I'm still perplexed

 

[Brink]

That looks like you just opened Internet Explorer to MSN as your homepage.

 

[Grathiam]

That looks like you just opened Internet Explorer to MSN as your homepage.

Brink,
I appreciate all the time you've spent seeking to resolve my problem.
Yes, I realize that IE-10 is set to open MSN. I err'ed when initially re-loading updates on my replacement
Win-7 Ultimate install!!
I've tried the above Capt's guide to uninstalling MSN, as well as other uninstall guides I've found online.
None worked! MSN never appears in taskmgr or CNTL Panel-Programs

I tried changing the 'Home Page' in IE-10 from 'http://www.msn.com/?st=1' to 'about:blank' {w/o quotes}, which I use on IE-9, on my laptop. But, the 'about:blank' change wasn't accepted on my copy of IE-10. I need/want one click access to IE, which resides in the left bottom tray, with a Firefox.

I also tried to uninstall the Win-7 updates which first added IE-9, then IE-10 to my new Win-7 install, hoping I could just do a re-install of IE (hopefully just IE-9). Unlike Microsoft's online guide which said that updates could be deleted, I followed their guide and it doesn't work, at least on my Win-7 Ultimate. I was hoping to

I cannot see link on MSN which will allow me to access IE-10 and change the home page or find a way to get ride of MSN...a program I've never wanted to use.

SO...Doctor Brink...I dislike having taken so much of your time, but I'm still stymied and now feeling not only perplexed, but ignorant

Thank you, jay

I