If you own a Windows PC, you'll likely have a listing of go-to software that you lot use all the time, whether it's Chrome, Outlook, or Steam. Exterior of these favorites, there'll be other programs you've forgotten about or have never even used. That tin can exist problematic—forgotten software takes up disk space and can be a security run a risk.

Nosotros absolutely recommend y'all properly uninstall programs on Windows that you don't use, but that doesn't help you if you don't know what software yous have installed, peculiarly if you lot're managing multiple PCs at in one case. Here are several ways to generate a list of installed programs in Windows 10.

Using The Windows PowerShell (Go-RemoteProgram)

If you desire a list of installed programs in Windows ten that you can export, the best solution is to use a built-in tool to create it. Few tools exist to do this, but i option is to employ the Windows PowerShell (or command prompt, if you're feeling one-time school).

For those who don't know, the PowerShell has largely replaced the command prompt every bit the default last on Windows PCs. A script exists for PowerShell users to automatically listing all installed programs called Get-RemoteProgram. This queries the Windows registry for a total and complete list of installed software on your PC.

  1. Yous'll need to download the Get-RemoteProgram script for the PowerShell from the Microsoft TechNet website outset. Download this, and so place the file in your C:\Windows\System32 binder.
  1. Next, y'all'll need to open a PowerShell window. Y'all can practice that past right-clicking the Windows Start menu and pressing Windows PowerShell (Admin) to open a new PowerShell window.
  1. You'll demand to make sure that Windows can run scripts like this—blazon Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted to ensure that you can, striking enter, and then press A to confirm.
  2. If that is successful, type Go-RemoteProgram to run the script, then striking enter. If you want to export the list to a file, blazon Become-RemoteProgram > list.txt instead.

Using The Windows PowerShell (WMIC)

You can use either the PowerShell or cmd to run the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-Line Utility (WMIC) to generate a list of installed programs in Windows 10. As the PowerShell is the default command-line tool for Windows 10 users, we'll be using that here.

Using the WMIC tool to view or export a list of your installed Windows software will create a similar listing to the Get-RemoteProgram script.

  1. In an open up PowerShell window or command line terminal with administrative privileges, type wmic. Once the WMIC prompt opens, blazon /output:C:\list.txt product get proper noun, version then striking enter. Y'all tin replace C:\listing.txt with another file proper noun or output directory.
  1. Blazon exit to shut the WMIC tool once y'all're done. A list of your installed software should be available in the text file at the location you provided for the output file.

Using Print Screen (Apps & Features)

If you desire a visual list of your installed software, you lot could use the impress screen central to take a screenshot in Windows of the Apps & Features menu in Windows Settings, where Windows displays a list of your installed software for y'all to modify or remove.

  1. To access this menu, right-click the Windows Start menu and press Settings. From here, printing Apps > Apps & features. A listing of your installed software will be visible in a scrollable listing.

It's unlikely that your installed PC software volition fit in just one screenshot. You lot'll demand to press the PrtScrn button on your keyboard (or use 3rd-political party screenshot tools like Snagit), then paste your screenshots into a 3rd-party image editor to salve (or into a Word document).

You lot'll need to coil through the list and repeat this pace to brand certain y'all save the full and consummate list of installed software on your PC.

Using NirSoft UninstallView

NirSoft UninstallView is a quick, third-party culling that can help you lot generate a listing of installed programs in Windows 10. Like the Get-RemoteProgram script, it volition query the Windows registry for a complete list of installed software.

  1. To beginning, download NirSoft UninstallView and extract the Nada file (the 64-bit version is recommended). One time that'south washed, run the extracted UninstallView.exe file.
  1. UninstallView volition browse your PC for installed software. Once that process has completed, the full list of software will be available in the UninstallView window. To consign the list, printing View > HTML Report – All Items.
  1. A file chosen report.html volition be created in the same folder as the UninstallView.exe file, showing a formatted list of your installed software. Pressing HTML Written report – All Items volition open this file in your default web browser.

Using Belarc Advisor

Belarc Advisor has been a must-accept tool in the arsenal of local PC repair shops for years, and it remains a useful tool for Windows 10 users. Information technology generates a breakdown of your PC software, hardware, settings, installed updates, and more to allow you to fully inspect your Windows installation.

Similar UninstallView, this will be visible in a formatted HTML file that you lot can export elsewhere.

  1. To first, download Belarc Advisor and install it. Once it's installed, Belarc Counselor volition begin an immediate audit of your PC—this volition take a few moments to complete.
  1. Your default web browser volition open in one case Belarc has finished its audit of your PC. To view a listing of your installed software, printing the Software Versions and Usage link in the side bill of fare, or coil to that section manually. This file will be bachelor in the C:\Program Files (x86)\Belarc\BelarcAdvisor\Organisation\tmp binder, should you wish to export information technology.

Using Geek Uninstaller

Geek Uninstaller is a 3rd-party tool for uninstalling software. Like UninstallView, however, it besides allows yous to view and consign a list of your installed programs in Windows 10.

  1. Download Geek Uninstaller to begin—you tin can choose the gratis version or the paid, Pro version. It comes as a Nada file, and so unzip the contents, then run the geek.exe file to launch the tool.
  1. The Geek Uninstaller window volition evidence your installed software in an alphabetical list. To consign the list, press File > Export to HTML or press Ctrl + S on your keyboard.
  1. Geek Uninstaller volition ask you where to salve the file—choose a location and a filename, and then press Save to save the file.
  1. The generated list of your installed software will be saved, with the file automatically opened in your default web browser for you to view.

CCleaner (Concluding Resort Option)

There are enough of reasons why you shouldn't download CCleaner anymore. Once a become-to and essential piece of maintenance software for Windows users, many of its cadre features have been rendered useless or ineffective due to Windows changes, or accept been incorporated into Windows itself (or into other, better third-party apps).

CCleaner as well suffered a rather unfortunate incident back in 2017, when a malware-injected version of the CCleaner installer was uploaded and installed past millions of users. For most users, the trust is gone and the message is clear—avert CCleaner.

However, CCleaner can export a list of installed programs, but we're not going to recommend downloading it to do so. This is a terminal resort choice, but if you already accept CCleaner installed, you could use it to generate and export a list of your installed programs. That is, of course, before you rush to remove it.

  1. To do that, open CCleaner and press the Tools tab on the left, then click Uninstall. At the bottom of the window, press the Save to text file button. This will let you lot to consign a list of your installed software.
  1. Choose a location and filename for your exported listing, so printing Salve to save information technology.

This will export your installed files as a file formatted using tab delimiters. Opening the file using Microsoft Excel volition allow yous to view the list in a more manageable style.

Removing Or Updating Windows Software

If you prefer to stay organized, or if you take too many PCs to maintain, generating a list of installed programs in Windows 10 can help y'all detect the software you need to remove or update to requite you more than deejay space and better your security.

If yous don't need to remove information technology, make sure you discover ways to proceed your software updated automatically to get the latest security patches and bug fixes. Yous may cease up with software that yous just don't desire on your PC, however. If that'due south the case, be sure to remove unwanted software from your PC as soon as you observe it.