Control Panel Programs and Features does not list an installed program. The program is Google Chrome

Question

Control Panel Programs and Features does not list an installed program. The program is Google Chrome

janeintoronto 0

I am considering uninstalling Google Chrome. It uses a lot of memory and I rarely use it. It is listed in Programs x86. However, when I go to Control Panel Programs and Features, where users can uninstall programs, I do not see either the name "Google" or "Chrome". So how can I safely uninstall it?

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2 answers

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Answer 1

Uninstall Chrome through Windows Settings rather than deleting its folder from Program Files (x86); Programs and Features is only one of several Windows uninstall locations.

Uninstall through Settings

Close Chrome first, then use the path matching your Windows version:

Windows 11: Start → Settings → Apps → Installed apps
Windows 10: Start → Settings → Apps → Apps & features

Search for Google Chrome, select it, and choose Uninstall. Confirm the prompt and follow the on-screen instructions. This is the uninstall method documented by both Microsoft and Google.^1^^2^

If Chrome is absent there:

Open Start → All apps.
Find and right-click Google Chrome.
Select Uninstall.^1^

Afterward, restart Windows and check that Chrome no longer opens and no longer appears under Installed apps.

If Chrome is missing from every uninstall list

Do not simply delete the Chrome directory. That can leave shortcuts, update components, and uninstall-registration data behind.

On Windows 10: Run Microsoft’s Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter. Choose Uninstalling, then select Chrome if offered. The tool is designed to repair corrupted registry keys and incomplete uninstall information that can prevent a desktop program from appearing or being removed through Programs and Features.^3^ If Chrome is not listed, the troubleshooter may request its MSI product code. Obtaining that code requires an MSI-reading tool and is generally an IT-level procedure.^3^
On Windows 11: Microsoft’s current recovery guidance is to try uninstalling from Settings → Apps → Installed apps and follow any Windows troubleshooter offered after a removal failure.^3^ If Chrome remains absent, use Google Chrome support rather than a third-party “force uninstaller”; Google’s official uninstall page does not document a separate manual-removal procedure for this situation.^2^

Removing Chrome is reasonable if it is rarely used; it is not a protected Windows component and can be uninstalled like other third-party browsers.^4^

References

Answer 2

Ramesh 183.5K Volunteer Moderator

Looks like you have Google Chrome (32-bit version) installed.

Please reinstall it by downloading the setup program from the Google link below.

ChromeSetup.exe

Once installed, it should create an entry in Settings → Apps from where you can uninstall it cleanly.

janeintoronto 0 Reputation points

2026-11-05T16:22:16.33+00:00

This stupid site gives me the option of accepting the answer as a solution or saying No, it does not solve the problem and deleting it. Since your answer may be useful for those with Windows 10 or Windows 11 I do not wish to delete it. Your answer does not solve my problem because the computer is running Windows 8.1 and I cannot find the menu options you describe under the Start button. Everything about programs and apps directs me to the Control Panel Programs and Features. There was one different screen that said "Search and Apps>App Sizes". This list also omitted Chrome (and omitted many other apps as well).

Do you have a procedure for Windows 8.1 for uninstalling an installed app that is not listed in Programs and Features?
Postscript: I gave up and deleted Google in the programs x 86 folder. I had to stop Google update in Task Manager because it was running all the time so I could not delete it before I stopped it.
But I am still interested if you have a better way of uninstalling from Windows 8.1 because not all users would know to go to Task Manager.
Ramesh 183.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-11-05T16:25:54.5266667+00:00

Do you have a procedure for Windows 8.1 for uninstalling an installed app that is not listed in Programs and Features?

If Chrome isn't listed in Programs and Features, install it as described in my previous post. Then uninstall it. That should remove the Google Chrome files from the C:\Program Files (x86) directory.
Ramesh 183.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-11-05T17:23:08.2333333+00:00

There are three Google services.

They can be deleted using Autoruns. Autoruns - Sysinternals | Microsoft Learn

However, I suggest installing Google Chrome x86 and then uninstalling it cleanly.