Uninstaller

What Does Uninstaller Mean?

An uninstaller is a program or tool that is part of an application bundle used with Windows operating systems (OS). It allows a user to safely uninstall an application by running a program and following a series of prompts that warn users about the application’s removal.

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After running an uninstaller, traces of an application still requiring removal may remain, usually in the system registry. These should be removed individually or by using the control panel’s add/remove command. In most cases, the uninstall tool is the easiest way to remove an application.

Techopedia Explains Uninstaller

Unlike Windows, Mac OS X does not have a system registry, meaning that its application bundles do not require uninstallers. To remove apps, users can simply move folders or icons to the trash.

Additionally, various uninstallers may be downloaded as separate applications. They work with a wide range of other applications, and some even remove registry entries that cannot be removed by original uninstallers.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…