appwiz.cpl: Step-by-step guide to Windows Programs and Features

appwiz.cpl is the Control Panel file that opens Programs and Features in Windows 11 and Windows 10. Press Windows key + R, type appwiz.cpl and press Enter to open Programs and Features, the Control Panel page where you uninstall, change or repair desktop programs in Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Below: every way to open it, the uninstall and repair steps, installed updates, Windows features, how it compares with Settings > Apps, a command reference, and fixes for when it is blocked.

How to open appwiz.cpl using Run in Windows 11/10

The Run box works the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10, from the desktop or with any app in front.

1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run box.
2. Type appwiz.cpl (or control appwiz.cpl; both open the same page).
3. Press Enter or select OK. Programs and Features opens with the list of installed programs.
4. Right-click a program and select Uninstall, Change or Repair, whichever the program offers.

What is appwiz.cpl in Windows?

appwiz.cpl is the Control Panel module file behind Programs and Features. Microsoft's reference lists it as the module for the item with the canonical name Microsoft.ProgramsAndFeatures, and its old command table calls the same file Add/Remove Programs.

The page is still part of Windows 11. Microsoft's current uninstall instructions for Windows 11 send you to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features for apps the Settings app cannot remove.

What you can manage with appwiz.cpl	Where it is on the page	What it does
Installed desktop programs	The main list	Uninstall a program, or run its Change or Repair option when the installer provides one
Installed updates	View installed updates link on the left	Lists updates from Windows Update and program publishers so you can remove one
Windows features	Turn Windows features on or off link on the left	Opens the Windows Features dialog to switch built-in components on or off
Canonical name	Microsoft.ProgramsAndFeatures	Opens the same page with control /name, including from scripts
Module file	%systemroot%\system32\appwiz.cpl	The file Control Panel loads when you run control appwiz.cpl

Where is the appwiz.cpl file located?

The file sits in the Windows system folder at C:\Windows\System32\appwiz.cpl (%SystemRoot%\System32\appwiz.cpl in Microsoft’s reference). It is a Control Panel extension, not a program you double-click to install anything, and you should never replace it with a copy from a download site. If the file is damaged, run sfc /scannow from an administrator Command Prompt to restore it.

Why does appwiz.cpl still matter?

Settings has taken over most app management, but Programs and Features is still the only place that lists every classic desktop program with its publisher, install date, size and version in one sortable table, exposes each installer’s Change and Repair options, and links to Turn Windows features on or off. Microsoft’s own uninstall article still sends you here when the Settings app cannot remove an app.

If you want to add software rather than remove it, installing apps on a Windows PC is covered separately.

Other ways to open Programs and Features in Windows

Each route below lands on the same page. Pick the one that matches where your hands already are.

Route	What to do	Best when
Open appwiz.cpl from the Run dialog	Windows key + R, type control appwiz.cpl, press Enter	Your hands are on the keyboard
Open appwiz.cpl from Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Windows Terminal	Type control appwiz.cpl and press Enter	You are already at a prompt or writing a script
Open it from Windows Search and Control Panel	Type Control Panel in the taskbar search box, open it, then select Programs > Programs and Features	You prefer the mouse and Category view
Open it by canonical name	Run control /name Microsoft.ProgramsAndFeatures	You want a command that does not depend on the module file name
Open it from Task Manager	Ctrl + Shift + Esc, File > Run new task, type control appwiz.cpl	The taskbar or Start menu is not responding

Every other route into Control Panel itself is covered in 12 ways to open Control Panel.

How to run appwiz.cpl as administrator in Windows 11/10

You rarely need to: Programs and Features opens as a normal user, and each uninstaller asks for administrator approval through User Account Control when it needs it. Run it elevated when an uninstall fails with an “administrator” error on a standard account, or when you manage programs installed for all users. Be cautious while running appwiz.cpl as admin: anything you remove affects every user on the PC.

Method 1: Open appwiz.cpl as administrator using the Start menu

Select Start, type cmd, select Run as administrator and approve the prompt. Type appwiz.cpl in that elevated Command Prompt and press Enter.

Method 2: Easy way to run appwiz.cpl as admin using the Run command

Press Windows key + R, type appwiz.cpl, then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter instead of Enter. Approve the User Account Control prompt.

Method 3: Create new task to run appwiz.cpl as administrator using Task Manager

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, select Run new task, type appwiz.cpl, tick Create this task with administrative privileges and select OK.

Method 4: Always run appwiz.cpl with administrator privileges using a dedicated shortcut

This is also how to create a desktop shortcut for appwiz.cpl. Right-click the desktop, select New > Shortcut, enter %windir%\System32\control.exe appwiz.cpl, select Next, name it Programs and Features and select Finish. For an elevated version, right-click the shortcut, select Properties > Advanced, tick Run as administrator and select OK twice.

Navigating the Programs and Features interface

• Columns: Name, Publisher, Installed On, Size and Version. Select a column header to sort by it; sorting by Installed On shows what was added most recently.
• Search box: top right, filters the list as you type.
• Toolbar: selecting a program shows Uninstall, Change or Repair buttons above the list, depending on what its installer supports.
• Left pane: View installed updates and Turn Windows features on or off.
• Status bar: the total size and number of programs installed.

How to uninstall programs using appwiz.cpl

Before removing software, check two things. If the program only misbehaves, Microsoft suggests trying a repair first, and some built-in Windows apps cannot be removed at all.

1. Open Programs and Features with Windows key + R and control appwiz.cpl.
2. Find the program in the list of installed programs.
3. Right-click the program, or press and hold it on a touch screen.
4. To remove it, select Uninstall or Uninstall/Change.
5. Approve the User Account Control prompt if Windows shows one.
6. Follow the program's own on-screen instructions until it reports that it has finished.

Some installers ask you to restart before the entry disappears from the list. Restart when prompted, then reopen the page to confirm.

How to repair or change installed programs using appwiz.cpl

Not every program offers Change or Repair. The options you see come from the program’s own installer.

1. Open Programs and Features with appwiz.cpl.
2. Right-click the program you want to fix and select Repair.
3. If there is no Repair, select Change and look for a repair option in the installer.
4. Follow the directions on the screen, then restart if asked.

How to view and uninstall installed updates

The View installed updates link lists updates from Windows Update and from program publishers. On current Windows 11 builds, Microsoft documents update removal through the Settings app, so use these steps.

1. In Programs and Features, select View installed updates on the left, or go straight to Settings.
2. On Windows 11, select Start > Settings > Windows Update.
3. Under More options, select Update history.
4. Under Related settings, select Uninstall updates.
5. Find the update you want to remove and select Uninstall.
6. On Windows 10, select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View your update history > Uninstall updates, then select the update and Uninstall.

Some updates cannot be uninstalled. Microsoft advises understanding the risk before removing a security update. If Windows no longer starts, use Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Uninstall Updates in the Windows Recovery Environment.

How to turn Windows features on or off

The Windows Features dialog switches built-in components on and off, such as Virtual Machine Platform. It is separate from the program list.

1. In Programs and Features, select Turn Windows features on or off on the left. Or select Start, type Windows features and select Turn Windows features on or off.
2. Approve the User Account Control prompt if Windows shows one.
3. In the Windows Features window, select the box next to the feature you want to turn on.
4. Clear the box next to a feature you want to turn off.
5. Select OK and wait while Windows applies the change.
6. Restart the PC if Windows asks you to.

Features on Demand, such as language resources and handwriting support, live in Settings instead. On Windows 11, go to Settings > System > Optional features and select View features next to Add an optional feature. The PC must be online because Windows Update downloads them.

Appwiz.cpl vs. installed apps in Windows 11

Microsoft recommends the Settings app where possible, but it also says some apps cannot be uninstalled from Settings yet. Use this table to pick the right page for each job.

Job	Settings app	Programs and Features (appwiz.cpl)
Uninstall a desktop program	Windows 11: Settings > Apps > Installed apps, More (…) > Uninstall. Windows 10: Apps > Apps & features	Right-click the program > Uninstall
An app Settings will not remove	Not available	Microsoft's fallback: Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features
Microsoft Store app	Installed apps, or right-click it in Start > All apps and select Uninstall	Use Settings or Start if the app is not in the list
Repair a broken app	More > Advanced options > Repair, or Reset if there is no Repair	Right-click > Repair, or Change if there is no Repair
Remove an update	Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates	View installed updates link
Built-in Windows components	System > Optional features for Features on Demand	Turn Windows features on or off
Open it by command	ms-settings:appsfeatures	control appwiz.cpl
Blocked by policy	The Hide "Programs and Features" page policy also hides the Apps area of Settings	Same policy, plus Hide the Programs Control Panel

Appwiz.cpl command list for Windows 11/10

All of these work in the Run box, Command Prompt, PowerShell and Windows Terminal. The ms-settings: links open pages in the Settings app instead of Control Panel.

Command	Opens	Use it when
control appwiz.cpl	Programs and Features	The most useful way to run appwiz.cpl day to day
control /name Microsoft.ProgramsAndFeatures	Programs and Features	Scripts and shortcuts; canonical names stay in English on every language of Windows
%windir%\system32\control.exe /name Microsoft.ProgramsAndFeatures	Programs and Features	A full path for a shortcut target or Task Manager's Run new task
OptionalFeatures.exe	The Windows Features dialog	You only want to turn a Windows feature on or off
ms-settings:appsfeatures	Installed apps (Windows 11) or Apps & features (Windows 10)	You want the Settings version of the program list
ms-settings:optionalfeatures	Optional features in Settings	Adding or removing Features on Demand
ms-settings:windowsupdate-history	Update history in Settings	Removing an update
control /name Microsoft.DefaultPrograms	Default Programs	A related Control Panel shortcut for file associations
winget list	A list of installed apps in the terminal	Finding the exact name before a command-line uninstall
winget uninstall --name <app name>	Uninstalls the named app	Removing an app without opening any window

Microsoft notes that winget list shows more than apps installed with WinGet, so winget uninstall can also remove programs you installed another way. Add --source winget to skip a Microsoft Store agreement prompt.

Advanced uses for system administrators and power users

• Scripting: control /name Microsoft.ProgramsAndFeatures opens the page on any language edition of Windows.
• Command-line inventory and removal: winget list and winget uninstall cover the same programs without opening a window.
• Locking it down: the Group Policy settings under User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Programs hide the page, Windows Features or installed updates from standard users.
• Where the list comes from: Programs and Features reads the uninstall entries installers write to the registry under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall (and the per-user equivalent), which is why a broken installer can leave a stale entry.

Limitations of appwiz.cpl

• It does not list most Microsoft Store apps; use Settings > Apps > Installed apps for those.
• It works on one PC at a time and cannot remove software from other computers.
• The Change and Repair buttons depend entirely on each program’s installer.
• Uninstallers can leave folders and settings behind.

Program still showing in appwiz.cpl after uninstall

1. After an uninstall, close Programs and Features and reopen it with control appwiz.cpl. The program should no longer be in the list.
2. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps and search for the same name. It should be gone there too.
3. After a repair, start the program and repeat the action that failed before.
4. After removing an update, return to Uninstall updates. The update should no longer be listed.
5. After changing Windows features, reopen Turn Windows features on or off and confirm the box is selected or cleared as you left it.

Appwiz.cpl not working in Windows 11/10? How to fix it

Quick checks to try first: restart the PC, run control appwiz.cpl from the Run box rather than a pinned shortcut, and check whether the PC is managed by a work or school account.

appwiz.cpl does not open, or a message says restrictions are in effect

A policy hides the page. Hide the Programs Control Panel and Hide "Programs and Features" page block it, and Prohibit access to Control Panel and PC settings blocks Control Panel entirely.

1. On a work or school PC, contact your IT admin. These policies are usually set deliberately.
2. On your own PC with Group Policy Editor, press Windows key + R, type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
3. Go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Programs.
4. Set Hide the Programs Control Panel and Hide "Programs and Features" page to Not Configured, then select OK.
5. Go up one level to Control Panel and check Prohibit access to Control Panel and PC settings the same way.
6. Without Group Policy Editor, back up the registry first. The matching values are NoProgramsCPL and NoProgramsAndFeatures under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Programs, and NoControlPanel under ...\Policies\Explorer.

A program will not uninstall

Microsoft names corrupt registry keys, incomplete installs, corrupted app data and malware as common causes.

1. Restart the PC with Start > Power > Restart, then try again.
2. On Windows 11, open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select More > Advanced options, and run Repair or Reset if offered.
3. Try the uninstall from Settings instead of Programs and Features, or the other way round.
4. On Windows 10, run Microsoft's Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter from its support page. It repairs corrupt registry keys that block removal.
5. If you suspect malware, run a scan in Windows Security and remove the app only after threats are cleaned.

Why is a program not showing in appwiz.cpl?

Settings, Start and Programs and Features do not always list the same apps, and Microsoft documents all three as uninstall routes.

1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select More (…) next to the app, then Uninstall.
2. Or select Start > All apps, right-click the app and select Uninstall.
3. From a terminal, run winget list to find the exact name, then winget uninstall --name with that name.

There is no Repair or Change option

Microsoft says repair, change and modify options are not available for all apps and programs. The installer decides.

1. Check Settings > Apps > Installed apps > More > Advanced options for a Repair or Reset button.
2. If neither page offers a repair, uninstall the program, restart, and install it again from the publisher's official site.

Turn Windows features on or off or View installed updates is missing

The Hide "Windows Features" or Hide "Installed Updates" page policy is enabled.

1. Open gpedit.msc and go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Programs.
2. Set Hide "Windows Features" and Hide "Installed Updates" page to Not Configured.
3. In the meantime, run OptionalFeatures.exe or use Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates.

Before any registry edit, follow Microsoft's registry backup instructions. Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, so its troubleshooter is the last Windows 10-only fix in this list.

Is appwiz.cpl safe?

Yes. appwiz.cpl is a signed Microsoft system file that ships with Windows, and opening it changes nothing until you confirm an uninstall, repair or feature change. Be wary only of a file with the same name outside C:\Windows\System32, or of sites offering appwiz.cpl as a download; Windows never needs one.

appwiz.cpl FAQ

Is appwiz.cpl still available in Windows 11?

Yes. Programs and Features is still part of Windows 11, and Microsoft's current uninstall instructions point to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features for apps that the Settings app cannot remove. Run control appwiz.cpl from the Run box to open it.

What is the fastest way to open appwiz.cpl?

Press Windows key + R, type control appwiz.cpl and press Enter. Programs and Features opens straight away on Windows 11 and Windows 10. The same command works in Command Prompt, PowerShell, Windows Terminal and Task Manager's Run new task box.

Can I uninstall Microsoft Store apps with appwiz.cpl?

Use Settings or Start instead. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select More next to the app and choose Uninstall, or right-click the app in Start > All apps and select Uninstall. If the app is not in the Programs and Features list, those two routes remove it.

What should I do if appwiz.cpl does not open?

Check for a policy first. Hide the Programs Control Panel, Hide Programs and Features page and Prohibit access to Control Panel and PC settings all block it. On a work PC, ask IT; on your own PC, set them to Not Configured in gpedit.msc.

Why does a program appear in Settings but not in appwiz.cpl?

Settings and Programs and Features do not always list the same apps, and Microsoft documents both as uninstall routes. Uninstall the app from Settings > Apps > Installed apps or from its Start menu entry, or use winget uninstall from a terminal.

How do I open Turn Windows features on or off?

Select Start, type Windows features and select Turn Windows features on or off. You can also run OptionalFeatures.exe, or open Programs and Features and select the link on the left. Select or clear a box, select OK, and restart if asked.

How do I uninstall a Windows update?

On Windows 11, go to Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates, then select Uninstall next to the update. On Windows 10, the path is Update & Security > Windows Update > View your update history > Uninstall updates. Some updates cannot be removed.

Can I uninstall programs from the command line?

Yes. Run winget list to find the program's exact name, then winget uninstall –name followed by that name. Microsoft notes that winget can remove apps it did not install. Add –source winget to avoid a Microsoft Store agreement prompt.