How to Properly Reinstall Software in Windows

This article explains how to reinstall software in Windows. Instructions apply to Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.

How to Properly Reinstall a Program in Windows

You'll need to identify the program from the list of apps installed on your computer, and then, in most cases, fully remove it before installing it again.

1. Open Control Panel. Use the search bar to find Control Panel in Windows 11 and other newer versions of Windows.

   Another quick way to get there in some versions of Windows 10 and Windows 8 is with Power User Menu, but only if you're using a keyboard or mouse. Choose Control Panel from the menu that appears after pressing WIN+X or right-clicking on the Start button.

2. Select Uninstall a program located under the Programs heading, or Add or Remove Programs if you're using Windows XP.

   If you're not seeing several categories with links below them, but instead just see several icons, pick the one that says Programs and Features.

   If the program you're planning on reinstalling requires a serial number, you'll need to locate that serial number now.

3. Choose the program you want to uninstall by scrolling through the list of currently installed programs you see on this screen.

   If you need to reinstall a Windows Update or an installed update to another program, select View installed updates on the left-hand side of the Programs and Features window, or toggle the Show updates box if you're using Windows XP. Not all programs will show their installed updates here, but some will.

4. Choose Uninstall, Uninstall/Change, or Remove to uninstall the program.

   This button appears either on the toolbar above the program list when a program is selected or off to the side, depending on the version of Windows you're using.

   The specifics of what happens now depends on the program you happen to be uninstalling. Some uninstallation processes require a series of confirmations (similar to what you may have seen when you first installed the program) while others may uninstall without requiring your input at all.

   Answer any prompts as best you can—just remember that you're wanting to completely remove the program from your computer.

   If uninstalling doesn't work for some reason, try a dedicated software uninstaller to remove the program. In fact, if you already have one of these installed, you may have even seen a dedicated uninstall button in Control Panel that uses that third-party program, such as the "Powerful Uninstall" button when IObit Uninstaller is installed—feel free to use that if you see it.

5. Restart your computer, even if you're not required to.

   Don't consider this an optional step. As annoying as it might sometimes be, taking the time to reboot your computer will help ensure that the program is completely uninstalled.

6. Verify that the program you uninstalled has been fully uninstalled. Check that it's no longer listed in your Start menu and also check to make sure that the program's entry in Programs and Features or Add or Remove Programs has been removed.

   If you created your own shortcuts to this program, those shortcuts will likely still exist but, of course, will not work. Feel free to delete them yourself.

7. Install the most updated version of the software available. It's best to download the latest version of the program from the software developer's website, but another option is to just get the file from the original installation disc or a past download.

   Unless instructed otherwise by the software documentation, any patches and service packs that might be available should be installed to the program after the reboot following the installation (Step 8).

8. Restart your computer again.

9. Test the reinstalled program.

Why You Sometimes Need to Reinstall Software

Reinstalling a software program is one of the more basic troubleshooting steps available to any computer user after attempting to automatically repair Windows problems, but it's often an overlooked step when trying to solve a software problem.

By reinstalling a software title, be it a productivity tool, a game, or anything in between, you replace all the program files, registry entries, shortcuts, and other files needed to run the program.

If whatever problem you're having with the program is caused by corrupt or missing files (the most common cause of software problems), a reinstallation is very likely the solution.

The proper way to reinstall a software program is to completely uninstall it and then to reinstall it from the most updated installation source you can find.

Uninstalling and then reinstalling a program this way is really pretty easy, but the exact method differs a bit depending on the Windows operating system you happen to be using.