How to Uninstall a Microsoft Store Game in Windows 11

To uninstall a Microsoft Store game in Windows 11, select Start > All apps, find the game, right-click it (or press and hold it), and select Uninstall. You can also go to Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select More next to the game, and choose Uninstall. The game stays in your Microsoft Store Library, so you can install it again later without buying it twice.

Applies to: Windows 11, games and apps installed from Microsoft Store.

Before you uninstall a game

Uninstalling removes the game’s files from your PC and frees the space they used. It does not cancel a purchase or remove the game from your Microsoft account. A few quick checks can save you trouble later:

• Your saved progress. Many games that use Xbox services save progress on the PC first and then sync it to the cloud when the PC is online, so the save is waiting for you after a reinstall. Not every game works this way. If a game keeps its saves only on your PC, uninstalling can remove them. Open the game once while connected to the internet, and check its settings or its publisher’s help page if you are unsure.
• Your account. To reinstall a purchased game later, you need to sign in to Microsoft Store with the same Microsoft account you used to get it.
• Mods and extra content. Add-ons, mods and downloaded content may need to be downloaded again after a reinstall. Large games can take a long time to download, so keep that in mind if you have a slow or metered connection.
• Where the game came from. These steps are for games from Microsoft Store. A game installed from Steam, Epic Games or another launcher is usually best removed from inside that launcher.

Uninstall a Microsoft Store game from the Start menu

This is the quickest way to remove a single game.

1. Select Start on the taskbar, then select All apps. The full list of installed apps opens in alphabetical order.
2. Scroll to the game, or search for it in the list. Games are listed by their own name, not under “Microsoft Store.”
3. Right-click the game (on a touch screen, press and hold it), then select Uninstall.
4. If Windows asks you to confirm, confirm the uninstall. The game disappears from the list once Windows has removed it, which can take a little longer for very large games.

If Uninstall does not appear in the menu, or nothing happens when you select it, use the Settings method below.

Uninstall a Microsoft Store game in Settings

Settings shows every installed app in one place, which makes it easier to find a game you forgot about and to remove several games one after another.

1. Select Start > Settings. The Settings app opens.
2. Select Apps in the left pane, then select Installed apps. You will see a list of your installed apps and programs.
3. Find the game in the list. Microsoft Store games and desktop programs appear together here.
4. Select More (the three dots) next to the game, then select Uninstall.
5. Confirm when Windows asks. When the game is gone from Installed apps, the uninstall is complete.

Use Control Panel for games that came with their own installer

Some apps can’t be uninstalled from the Settings app. That usually applies to classic desktop programs, which some games are. If a game has no working Uninstall option in Settings, try Control Panel:

1. In search on the taskbar, type Control Panel and select it from the results.
2. Select Programs > Programs and Features.
3. Right-click the game and select Uninstall or Uninstall/Change, then follow the directions on the screen.

If the game isn’t in Programs and Features, it is most likely a Microsoft Store app, so go back to Installed apps in Settings.

Find games that take up the most space

If you are uninstalling games to free up storage, Windows can point you to apps you no longer use. Select Start > Settings > System > Storage > Cleanup recommendations, and review the Unused apps category along with the others, such as Temporary files and Large or unused files. Another way to reclaim space is to delete temporary files in Windows 11.

Check that the game is gone, or install it again

To confirm the uninstall, open Start > All apps or Settings > Apps > Installed apps and make sure the game no longer appears.

To get the game back:

1. Select Start, then select Microsoft Store from the apps list. Make sure you are signed in with the Microsoft account that owns the game.
2. Select Library.
3. Find the game and select Install. A game you bought can be downloaded again at no extra cost.

While you are in Library, you can also select Get updates to update your other Store apps and games.

Fix problems when a game won’t uninstall

Uninstall is grayed out or missing

Some apps and programs are built into Windows and can’t be uninstalled, so a missing Uninstall option on a game that came with Windows may be expected. For a game you installed yourself, try the other method in this guide: if Settings doesn’t offer Uninstall, try the Start menu, and for desktop-style games, try Control Panel.

The uninstall fails or shows an error

Go through these one at a time, and try the uninstall again after each one:

1. Close the game completely, including any launcher window, then restart your PC.
2. Select Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates, and select Install now if updates are available.
3. Open Microsoft Store, select Library > Get updates, and let the Store finish updating. When the real problem is a game like Minecraft that won’t update, try the steps in forcing a Minecraft update before you uninstall anything.
4. Repair the game: go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select More next to the game, then select Advanced options (some apps don’t have this option). Select Repair, or Reset if Repair isn’t available or doesn’t help. It isn’t clear what Reset keeps, so treat it as you would a reinstall if the game stores saves only on this PC.

Write down the exact wording of any error message. It is the most useful detail if you need to search Microsoft Support or ask for help. For games installed from a desktop installer rather than the Store, Microsoft’s Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter is designed for problems that block programs from being removed.

You deleted the game folder by hand

Deleting a game’s folder in File Explorer does not uninstall it properly and can leave a broken entry behind. If the game still appears in Installed apps, try uninstalling it there first. If that fails, reinstalling it from Library in Microsoft Store and then uninstalling it with one of the methods above is usually the cleanest way to remove the leftover entry.

You don’t have permission

If Windows asks for an administrator’s permission, sign in with an administrator account or ask the person who manages the PC. On a PC managed by a work or school organization, policies may block you from removing apps; in that case, ask your IT administrator.

Frequently asked questions

Can I uninstall a game directly from Microsoft Store?

No. The Store’s Library is for installing games again. Use Start > All apps or Settings > Apps > Installed apps to remove a game.

Will I lose my saved games?

It depends on the game. Games that sync saves to the cloud restore your progress after you reinstall and sign in. Games that keep saves only on the PC can lose them, so check before you uninstall.

Do I have to pay again to reinstall a game?

No. A game you bought stays linked to your Microsoft account. Open Microsoft Store, select Library, and select Install next to the game.

Does uninstalling a game free up disk space right away?

Yes. The game’s files are removed as part of the uninstall, and you can check the result in Settings > System > Storage.

How is this different from uninstalling a regular program?

The steps are the same for most apps, but desktop programs may also appear in Control Panel. Every option, including desktop software, is in uninstalling a program in Windows 11. Still on Windows 10? Use uninstalling games on Windows 10.

Microsoft’s reference page, Uninstall or remove apps and programs in Windows, lists the same Start menu, Settings and Control Panel routes. If a Store game misbehaves rather than refusing to uninstall, Microsoft’s Fix problems with apps from Microsoft Store page is the next place to look.

Related: how to uninstall Roblox on Windows 11.