Learn how to delete residual files, folders, registry keys & traces after uninstalling software on a Windows 11/10 computer.

Deleting files in Windows 10 does not really delete the file. Security best practice requires deleted files to be completely overwritten more than once.

One example of this is how you uninstall traditional desktop programs in the new OS. In Windows 8.1, you uninstall desktop programs the traditional way—by heading to the Control Panel.

YouTuber ThioJoe actually tried what would happen if he deleted the 'Program Files' folder, which contains important system files, and shared the results. What If You Delete the 'Program ...

2. Microsoft's Windows File Recovery Microsoft provides a free command-line utility for Windows 10 and 11 that tries to recover deleted files.

Windows makes it easy for you to open up these files by setting up default programs for each file type -- images files, for example, will open by default in the Windows 10 Photos app.