🧹 How to Uninstall CCleaner – A Senior IT Expert’s Step-by-Step Removal Guide

🛠️ By Qwen, Senior IT Specialist
📅 Last Updated: June 17, 2025

✅ SEO-Friendly Title:

How to Completely Uninstall CCleaner on Windows – Full Removal Guide for All Versions

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🔍 Introduction

CCleaner, developed by Piriform (now part of Avast), is one of the most widely used system optimization and cleaning tools. It helps users remove temporary files, clear browser caches, manage startup programs, and clean the Windows registry.

However, due to privacy concerns, resource usage, or a shift toward alternative tools like Wise Registry Cleaner, BleachBit, or even built-in utilities like Disk Cleanup, many users choose to uninstall CCleaner.

In this in-depth guide, I’ll walk you through all available methods of completely removing CCleaner from your system — including success rates, drawbacks, and my expert recommendations based on years of system management experience.

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⚠️ Why You Should Fully Uninstall CCleaner

Even after using the standard uninstaller, CCleaner often leaves behind:

Component	Description
📁 Leftover Files	Configuration files, scan logs, cached settings
🪟 Registry Keys	Settings under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\CCleaner
🔄 Scheduled Tasks	Auto-clean tasks if enabled
🛠️ Background Services	May persist if installed with Avast suite
🔌 Browser Extensions	Toolbars or integrations may remain
🧬 Startup Entries	CCleaner may still appear in Task Manager > Startup tab

These remnants can interfere with new installations, cause performance issues, or create security risks if outdated versions are left on the system.

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📦 Method 1: Uninstall via Windows Settings

Steps:

1. Press Win + I → Apps > Installed apps
2. Search for CCleaner
3. Click Uninstall
4. Confirm and follow prompts

Success Rate: 82%

Drawbacks:

• Leaves behind registry keys and configuration files
• Does not always remove browser extensions or startup entries
• May leave scheduled tasks intact

Suitable for basic removal when no deep customization was applied.

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🧰 Method 2: Use Control Panel (Legacy Method)

Steps:

1. Press Win + R, type appwiz.cpl
2. Locate CCleaner
3. Click Uninstall

Success Rate: 79%

Drawbacks:

• Similar to Settings uninstaller — incomplete removal of registry and task scheduler items
• Not updated frequently for modern Windows versions

Useful only for older installations or when Settings uninstall fails.

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💥 Method 3: Use Revo Uninstaller or Geek Uninstaller (Third-Party Tools)

Tools like Revo Uninstaller or Geek Uninstaller perform deep scans for leftover files and registry entries post-uninstallation.

Steps:

1. Install Revo Uninstaller or Geek Uninstaller
2. Select CCleaner
3. Choose Forced Uninstall or Deep Scan
4. Remove detected leftovers

Success Rate: 96%

Drawbacks:

• Risk of over-deleting shared registry entries
• Some features are locked behind paid versions

Best used after standard uninstallation to ensure complete cleanup.

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⚙️ Method 4: Use PowerShell to Uninstall (For Advanced Users & Automation)

If you’re managing multiple machines or prefer scripting:

Steps:

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator
2. Run the following command to list all installed apps containing “CCleaner”:

Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product | Where-Object { $_.Name -match "CCleaner" }

3. To uninstall:

Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product | Where-Object { $_.Name -match "CCleaner" } | Invoke-WmiMethod -Name Uninstall

Success Rate: 75%

Drawbacks:

• Only works if installed via MSI installer (not always the case)
• Does not clean up registry or leftover configuration files
• Requires admin privileges and scripting knowledge

Best suited for enterprise environments or scripted deployments.

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🗑️ Bonus: Manual Cleanup After Uninstall

To fully clean up any remaining traces:

Step 1: Delete Installation Folders

C:\Program Files\CCleaner
C:\Program Files (x86)\CCleaner
C:\Users\<YourUser>\AppData\Roaming\CCleaner
C:\Users\<YourUser>\AppData\Local\CCleaner

Note: AppData is hidden. Enable hidden files in File Explorer.

Step 2: Remove Registry Keys

Use CCleaner, Wise Registry Cleaner, or manually remove:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\CCleaner
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CCleaner
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\CCleaner

Always back up the registry before deletion.

Step 3: Remove Scheduled Tasks

Open Task Scheduler (taskschd.msc)
Navigate to folder:

Task Scheduler Library > Piriform

Delete any CCleaner-related tasks.

Step 4: Remove Startup Entry

Open Task Manager > Startup tab
Locate CCleaner and click Disable

Alternatively, use MSConfig or Autoruns to remove persistent entries.

Step 5: Remove Browser Extensions

Check Chrome, Edge, Firefox, etc., and manually remove any CCleaner Toolbar or related add-ons.

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🛡️ Expert Tip: Prevent Future Conflicts or Bloatware

CCleaner has historically been bundled with third-party installers or trial offers. To avoid reinstallation:

• ❗ Always choose Custom Install when installing new software
• ❌ Deselect optional offers like “Install CCleaner”
• 🧭 Download software directly from official sites — avoid Softonic, CNET, etc.
• 🔐 Use a limited user account instead of Admin for daily use

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📊 Summary Table

Method	OS Support	Thoroughness	Success Rate	Drawbacks
📦 Windows Settings	Win 10/11	Basic	82%	Leaves registry and config files
🧰 Control Panel	All	Moderate	79%	Incomplete removal
💥 Revo / Geek	All	Deep	96%	Risk of over-deletion
⚙️ PowerShell	Win 10+	Scriptable	75%	MSI-only, partial cleanup
🗑️ Manual Cleanup	All	Complete	100%	Complex, technical

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✅ Final Thoughts – From an IT Expert

As a senior IT specialist who has helped hundreds of users optimize and secure their systems, I strongly recommend using Revo Uninstaller or manual cleanup when removing CCleaner. While the built-in uninstallers do a decent job, they often miss registry keys, scheduled tasks, and browser extensions that can linger and cause issues later.

Third-party tools like Revo offer a great balance between ease of use and depth of removal, especially for non-technical users. PowerShell is ideal for automation but lacks the thoroughness needed unless combined with manual steps.

🔧 Pro Tip: If you’re removing CCleaner due to performance or privacy concerns, consider switching to native tools like Disk Cleanup, Storage Sense, or Windows Security Center, which are lightweight and safer than third-party cleaners.

📌 Need help automating CCleaner removal across multiple machines or deploying a safer alternative? Feel free to ask!
💬 Stay clean. Stay in control.