To see all installed apps in Windows 10, select Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features. The list shows every app with its size and install date. Use the search box or Sort by to find one quickly.
Applies to: Windows 10. Keep in mind that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Security updates now come only through the Extended Security Updates program, which stops on October 12, 2027.
Check in Settings
- Select Start > Settings > Apps.
- Select Apps & features.
- Scroll the list, or type a name in the search box.
- Use Sort by to sort by Name, Size, or Install date.
Select an app to see Modify, Uninstall, or Advanced options.
Select Start. Your most-used apps are at the top, followed by all apps from A to Z. Select a letter to jump through the list.
Check Programs and Features
Some older desktop programs show more detail here, like the publisher and version.
- Press Windows + R, type
appwiz.cpl, and press Enter. - Select a column heading, like Installed On, to sort the list.
See every app in one window
Press Windows + R, type shell:AppsFolder and press Enter. File Explorer opens a folder showing every app you can start, including Microsoft Store apps and Windows tools. Switch to Details view to sort by name. Right-click any app to pin it or create a desktop shortcut.
Find where a program is installed
Open Start, right-click the program, and select More > Open file location. Right-click the shortcut that appears and select Open file location again to reach the program’s real folder. Most desktop programs live in C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86).
Check optional Windows features
Some built-in tools, such as Notepad, WordPad or extra fonts, are listed separately. Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Optional features to see and remove them.
Save a list with a command
Open PowerShell and run winget list to list installed apps and programs, if the winget tool is on your PC. To list only Microsoft Store apps, run:
Get-AppxPackage | Select-Object Name, Version
Add > apps.txt to the end of either command to save the list to a file.
See which apps start with Windows
Installed apps often add themselves to startup. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, select More details if needed, and open the Startup tab. It lists every app that starts when you sign in, along with its impact on startup time. Right-click one you don’t need right away and select Disable. The app stays installed and still opens when you start it yourself.
Troubleshooting
- An app is in Start but not in Apps & features. It may be a portable program that runs without installing. Delete its folder to remove it.
- winget isn’t recognized. Install or update App Installer from Microsoft Store, then open a new PowerShell window.
- The list is missing an app you just installed. Close and reopen Settings, or restart the PC.
Frequently asked questions
How do I uninstall an app I don’t need?
Select it in Apps & features and choose Uninstall. Other methods are in uninstalling programs on Windows 10.
An app isn’t working. What now?
Try repairing or resetting it. Clearing app data and cache in Windows 10 shows how.
How do I choose which app opens a file?
That’s a separate setting, covered in setting default apps in Windows 10.
How do I save my app list to reinstall on a new PC?
Run winget export -o C:\apps.json in PowerShell. Copy the file to the new PC and run winget import -i C:\apps.json there. Apps that winget can’t find in its catalog are skipped and listed for you.
Why are some apps missing an Uninstall button?
Built-in Windows apps such as Settings and Microsoft Edge can’t be removed this way. Some work PCs also block uninstalling.
Which apps take up the most space?
In Apps & features, set Sort by to Size. The biggest apps appear at the top. Games and video editors are usually the largest.
Related: reinstalling Microsoft Store in Windows 10 and installing an MSIX app on Windows 10.
For reference, Microsoft documents How to check if an app or program is installed in Windows, winget list and Get-AppxPackage.
Matt Jacobs writes and maintains the guides on Support Your Tech, which he started in 2017. He spent most of his career keeping small-business PCs running and still takes the occasional consulting job, so the steps here come from fixing the same problems on other people’s computers. Every guide is checked on his own Windows 11, Windows 10, Mac, iPhone and iPad before it goes up.