How to Find Programs Installed on Windows

By the Revo Cleaner editorial team · Last updated August 30, 2026 · Written for Windows 10 and Windows 11

Whether you're auditing your PC for unused software, checking for something suspicious, or preparing to clean up before an uninstall session, Windows offers several ways to view exactly what's installed.

Method 1: Settings App

Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps for the most complete and up-to-date list Windows maintains, covering both desktop programs and Microsoft Store apps. You can sort by name, size, or install date, which is useful for spotting large or old software you may want to remove.

Method 2: Control Panel

Open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features for a similar list focused on traditional desktop applications. Some older or specialized software only appears here rather than in the Settings app.

Method 3: PowerShell

For a text-based list you can copy or export, open PowerShell and run Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product for standard installers, or Get-AppxPackage to list Microsoft Store apps. This is especially useful for scripting or documentation purposes.

Method 4: Registry Editor

Advanced users can browse HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall in regedit to see raw uninstall entries, including some hidden from the Settings list.

Using This List to Clean Up Your PC

Once you know what's installed, it's much easier to decide what to remove. Sort by size to spot large programs eating disk space, per our guide on how to free up space by removing unused programs, or check install dates to find apps you forgot you had, as covered in cleaning up old software on Windows.

Reviewing With a Dedicated Uninstaller

Tools built for uninstalling software often present a more detailed inventory than Windows does natively, including install size and last-used dates. See our Revo Uninstaller overview for how this expanded view works, and if something looks unwanted, our guide on removing unwanted programs from Windows covers next steps.

Exporting the List to a File

If you need a saved record of installed software, for documentation, troubleshooting, or migrating to a new PC, PowerShell can export the list directly to a file. Run Get-ItemProperty HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\* | Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion, Publisher | Export-Csv installed-programs.csv -NoTypeInformation to save a spreadsheet-ready CSV to your current folder. This captures more detail than a screenshot of Settings would, and is easy to compare against a list taken later.

Finding When a Program Was Installed

The Settings app shows an install date for most desktop apps if you click into an individual entry, but for a full timeline, check Event Viewer (search "Event Viewer" in Start), then look under Windows Logs > Application filtered by Event ID 11707 (MsiInstaller success events), which logs installer activity going back as far as your log retention allows.

Differences Between the Methods

Settings and Control Panel generally show the same desktop applications but differ in extra detail: Settings includes Microsoft Store apps and a rough install size, while Control Panel sometimes lists legacy software that Settings filters out. PowerShell's Get-WmiObject Win32_Product is thorough but noticeably slower to run and can trigger reconfiguration of MSI-based installs as a side effect, so it's best used occasionally rather than as a routine check.

Spotting Software You Don't Recognize

If you see an unfamiliar publisher name in the list, search for it before deciding whether to remove it; some are legitimate background components bundled with hardware drivers or other software you do use. If you're unsure whether an unrecognized entry is safe, sorting by install date can help since bundled extras are often installed at the same time as the software you intentionally set up.

Keeping the List Manageable Over Time

The longer a PC has been in use, the more installed software accumulates, including trial versions, old drivers, and one-off utilities. Reviewing this list every few months, rather than only when troubleshooting a problem, makes it far easier to spot and remove software you no longer need before it piles up.

One More Quick Tip

If you switch between the Settings list and Control Panel often, pin whichever you use most: right-click Programs and Features in Control Panel and choose Pin to Start, or search for it once in the Settings app and pin the result, so you can jump straight to the installed-software list next time without retyping the path.

Part of our Windows software removal series. Start with the Windows uninstaller guide or read the overview of Revo Uninstaller.

Revo Cleaner is an independent information resource. Revo Uninstaller is developed by VS Revo Group Ltd.; download the software from the developer's official website.