How To Uninstall Ccleaner From Windows 10
Jump to Windows 10/ Windows 8 users - Open Windows start menu and press the Power button. At the same time, press and hold the Shift key on your. Jul 29, 2016 - CCleaner can help remove the Windows 10 default apps which are missing an uninstall option.
Some Windows software has become so ingrained into PC users’ minds that we don’t think twice to recommend them. Unfortunately, this leads to major issues when a popular tool goes rogue.
That’s exactly what’s happened with CCleaner. Once everyone’s favorite Windows maintenance utility, its increasingly shady behavior means that you should now leave it in the dust.
Here’s why you can’t trust CCleaner anymore, and what to replace it with.
Why Is CCleaner No Longer Safe?
CCleaner, once a tidy app with no history of issues, has had several major problems in less than a year. This is unfortunately not surprising after Avast purchased CCleaner developer Piriform in July 2017.
CCleaner Silently Forces Updates
The latest CCleaner controversy comes from ignoring user preferences about checking for updates. A user on Piriform’s forums noticed that CCleaner had automatically updated on his system without his permission. As it turned out, that’s exactly what happened.
A Piriform staff member responded with the following:
“Since the release of v5.46 we have updated some users to this version to meet legal requirements and give users more autonomy and transparency over their privacy settings.”
It’s a bit ironic to claim that going into a user’s system without their permission and making changes is a move based on privacy and transparency. This is especially the case when that latest version of CCleaner has data collection options enabled by default (see the section below).
Check out the below video to see the forced update happen when installing an old version of CCleaner:
If a user says they don’t want to get automatic software updates, the app should respect this.
CCleaner’s Monitoring
CCleaner’s biggest recent controversy came in version 5.45. This included a feature called “Active Monitoring,” a fairly standard feature that collects anonymized information about your system. You could disable it to turn the feature off—or could you?
As it turns out, if you disabled Active Monitoring in CCleaner, the software automatically re-enabled it after you rebooted or reopened CCleaner. This is extremely suspicious behavior. Though Piriform has backpedaled on it by pulling version 5.45 from the main download page for a time, upset users fled in droves.
Additionally, that version of CCleaner was much harder to quit. When you clicked the X to close the software, it instead minimized to your System Tray. If you right-clicked its icon, there was no option to exit CCleaner. This means you had to close it using the Task Manager, which novice users might not know how to do.
Thus, CCleaner now ran constantly in the background, collecting data for Avast. This is despite most people only opening CCleaner when needed, and requesting to not have this information collected.
CCleaner Distributed Malware
Prior to this, Piriform discovered that CCleaner was hacked and distributed malwareCCleaner Was Distributing Malware for a MonthCCleaner Was Distributing Malware for a MonthCCleaner, a popular piece of security software with a squeaky clean reputation, was distributing malware for the best part of a month. Which means you need to update ASAP.Read More. The 32-bit version was infected with a Trojan that collected information about systems it was installed on. It also had the capability to run code on affected systems.
Thankfully, the company caught it before a widespread attack could happen. But it’s pretty embarrassing that a top-tier security company like Avast had such an embarrassing slip-up.
Since its acquisition by Avast, CCleaner also shows pop-ups harassing you to upgrade to the paid version (which has an automatic cleaning feature). And installing CCleaner sometimes shows an offer to install Avast, which you must uncheck to avoid.
With all this combined, enough is enough. If you’ve had your fill of this obnoxious and shady behavior, it’s time to say goodbye to CCleaner.
How to Uninstall CCleaner
The first step is removing CCleaner from your computer. Doing so is easy. Head to Settings > Apps > Apps & features. Scroll through the list or use the search box to look for CCleaner. Click its name, then choose Uninstall.
What to Replace CCleaner With
The good news is that you actually don’t need CCleaner—Windows 10 has most of its functionality built-in, and you can install other tools for the rest.
Cleaning Junk Files
The longtime Disk Cleanup tool makes cleaning junk files off your system easy. Launch it by typing its name in the Start Menu, then choose the disk you want to scan. Check the boxes for various types of files to clean, and you’re all set.
For a newer interface, you can also access the Storage Sense feature in Windows 10 at Settings > System > Storage. Click Free up space now under Storage sense to remove various types of unnecessary files.
Clearing Caches
Aside from clearing unnecessary files, CCleaner also cleans the cache of your browser and other programs. However, you can clear your browser history, cache, and other informationHow to Manually & Automatically Clear Your Browser HistoryHow to Manually & Automatically Clear Your Browser HistoryThe websites you visit leave tracks on your computer. We show you how to delete your browsing history in Firefox, Chrome, Edge, and Internet Explorer.Read More right inside it. Plus, incognito or private modes allow you to browse without saving any information in the first place.
Clearing cache to save space isn’t a long-term solution because your browser will recreate it when needed. The cache helps your browser run more efficiently, so you normally don’t need to clear it unless you run into an issue.
Uninstall Programs and Remove Startup Items
CCleaner’s Tools section includes several functions that duplicate built-in Windows options. To uninstall software, visit the same page you did above to remove CCleaner at Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
Managing startup programsHow to Use the Windows 10 Startup Folder: Everything You Need to KnowHow to Use the Windows 10 Startup Folder: Everything You Need to KnowThe Windows 10 startup folder lets you manage which programs run at startup. Here's how to find the startup folder and manage its programs.Read More is easy with the Task Manager. Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc shortcut, or right-click the Taskbar and choose Task Manager, to open it. Switch to the Startup tab and you’ll see everything that runs when you log in. Right-click an option and hit Disable to remove it from startup.
If you prefer, you can also manage these at Settings > Apps > Startup.
Find What’s Taking Up Space
CCleaner has a basic disk analyzer tool that shows you the biggest space hogs on your system. Unsurprisingly, you have better options for disk analysisNeed A Disk Cleanup? Visualize What Takes Up Space On Your Windows PCNeed A Disk Cleanup? Visualize What Takes Up Space On Your Windows PCOh the pressure when you run out of disk space. What to delete? The fastest way to locate junk files is to use a tool that helps you visualize your system's file structure.Read More.
Other CCleaner Features
The above are CCleaner’s major features, but you might want replacements for the other minor functions too. In each case, you have options that aren’t obnoxious like CCleaner.
Don’t worry about the Browser Plugins tool—you can manage your browser extensionsHow to Clean Up Your Browser Extensions (The Easy Way)How to Clean Up Your Browser Extensions (The Easy Way)If you regularly check out cool extensions, then it is probably time to clean up those add-ons that you no longer want, like, or need. Here's how to do it easily.Read More manually. And there are other duplicate file findersDelete Duplicate Files Quickly With These ToolsDelete Duplicate Files Quickly With These ToolsOne of the fastest ways to clog up your hard drive is to store duplicate files. Most of the time, you probably aren’t even aware that you have duplicate files. They come from a variety..Read More with more features too.
The System Restore is a duplicate of Windows’ built-in functionality, while you can use other tools to completely wipe a disk4 Ways to Completely Delete Your HDD4 Ways to Completely Delete Your HDDWhen selling an old computer, or HDD, or even if you're just looking to dispose of it, securely erasing everything on your hard drive is very important. But how do you do that?Read More.
Lastly, don’t worry about losing the Registry cleaner. Registry cleaners are useless, as even removing thousands of invalid entries won’t have the smallest effect on performance. There’s a better chance you’ll break something by cleaning the Registry than fixing it, so leave them alone.
Full Replacements for CCleaner
The above Windows tools and apps should take care of everything you used CCleaner for. But in case you just can’t live without a dedicated cleaning app, we recommend alternatives like atomiccleaner or BleachBit.
Have You Dropped CCleaner Yet?
How To Uninstall Something On Windows 10
It’s a shame to see a once-revered Windows tool go so far down the drain. It once was focused on helping you clean up crap, but has turned into a crappy software itself. While Piriform has made changes to the monitoring, these are too little, too late. And the forced updates are yet another annoying behavior that’s more like malware than a helpful utility.
You should use a tool that respects your privacy and preferences and isn’t susceptible to malware. Have a look at other popular security apps you should replace5 Popular Security and Privacy Apps You Should Uninstall and Replace5 Popular Security and Privacy Apps You Should Uninstall and ReplaceNot all security and privacy apps are made equal. Here are five security and privacy apps that you should uninstall and what to replace them with.Read More for more like this.
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I have had cc/cleaner for a long time, and was shocked to find what you have said about it.I can live without it but when you talk about replacing it you speak of Windows 10,I have Windows 7 and I won’t part with it .So what you recommended for W 10 ,can I use for w7 ?I’ve tried free upgrade to Windows 10 but found it absolutely awful wishy washy and a complete nightmare .Thank you
If you know how to unzip and use only the exe, and also block the program in the firewall, you should't have any problem.
While this article is interesting, as a support specialist I still use this tool for its convenience of doing most things in one place, however I would never recommend installing this or any other similar tool. Using the stand alone program when necessary and not having it installed, negates most if not all the issues mentioned.
Getting the stand alone program(s) is as easy as downloading the latest installer, opening it with 7-zip or similar and dragging out the 32bit and 64bit exe files which will run quite happily by themselves and not run anything in the background. If you have an older version it will ask if you want to download the latest version and you can say no if you don't want it.
While this article is OK, I wouldn't follow it to the dot. Go into Task Scheduler ( taskschd.msc ) and modify the tasks you don't want the CCleaner to run. Also, I always tell people, if you installed a new piece of software, just go in and check every single option to make sure you're not advertising your favorite porn sites.
Tnx u i unistalled right after readin article
If you run the portable version, will that cause any issues? Since it's not installed, it couldn't make itself available to the system unless there's a chance that it runs something in the background for a silent install.
I've stayed up on the who's who in the ccleaner world,but I have noticed a couple of years back already that cleaner has become shady. I used to recommend it ALL the time and now I've stopped using it a couple of years ago and strongly urge people to NOT use it. And that goes for any software that forces an update when the preferences are set to 'NO'
Your article didn't mention ccleaner's registry fix capabilities. I find this tool indispensable, of course I have a bit of time in the chair so I know better than to just say fix all. Also a registry backup before running is a must.
But those of us who got Windows 7 can't use Windows 10 features, obviously !
To be fair the forced update is most likely the EU's fault. We all know that the EU is a joke when it comes to technology. And they've done it again by trying to destroy the economy of the world; how, you might ask. Simple, they've threatened every company online to adhere to their long, useless, criminal aiding law to help criminals hide all their tracks of illegal activity more easily. And if you don't comply you have to worry about paying billions of dollars for every user you can't comply for. So even if you are a small 1 man company you now have to have a couple billion dollar insurance policy, hire a law firm, or triple your developers working on your project or you might as well not be a company at all. So I don't blame CCleaner for this however it is a bummer they were bought by the crappy Avast company. Seriously first it was the joke of the law about the cookies and now the terrible GDPR laws.. The EU needs to get rid of all it's members and start over with those that are literate in today's world standards of the internet.
Try this to eliminate CCleaners automatic update: Click START; type Task Scheduler in SEARCH BOX; Click Task Scheduler at top of list; then double click(Important) on TASK SCHEDULER LIBRARY; this should bring up a list of all the programs you elected to load and run and their triggers; scroll down to CCleaner Update, right click it; menu: Disable, Export, Properties, Delete will appear. Click either Disable or Delete--I prefer Delete.
Cara menjalankannya. Kemudian klik SYSTEM - BOOT CDVD (FULL) atau SYSTEM - BOOT CDVD (FAST). Pilih lokasi file ps2tersebut yg Anda punya lalu klik open atau double klik file tersebut.Setelah itu klik SYSTEM - BOOT CDVD (FULL) atau SYSTEM - BOOT CDVD (FAST) caralain untuk membuka file iso: klik menu CDVD - klik plugin -klik plugin menu - plugin settings - klik select iso dan pilih.iso / file image game yang ada setelah itu klik ok. Jika Anda mempunyai file-file game ps2 dengan format.iso.rngatau format image lainnya, maka klik menu CDVD - klik Iso - klikmenu CDVD lagi - ISO SELECTOR - BROWSE. Jika Anda menggunakan dvd PS2, pertama sekali klik menu Config -Plugin/BIOS Selector - pada baris CDVD ubah jd cdvdgigaherz -OK kemudian klik menu CDVD - klik Plugin - klik menu CDVD lagi- Plugin Menu - Plugin Setting, lalu anda ganti lokasinya sesuaidengan direktory dvd rom anda.Hey, you go to great lengths to describe each evil procedure that CCleaner does, yet *on the very same page of your site*, you have a link to a '6 CCleaner tips and tricks to effectively clean your computer'!!! Talk about stepping on your own toe!
MORE: On this same page, again, you write: 'Lastly, don’t worry about losing the Registry cleaner. Registry cleaners are useless, as even removing thousands of invalid entries won’t have the smallest effect on performance. There’s a better chance you’ll break something by cleaning the Registry than fixing it, so leave them alone.', and yet you have a link on the same page, right above the link mentioned above pointing to 'top 5 registry cleaners that improve PC perfomance'. What is this about? Ridiculous!Most likely the site has an automated 'related posts' feature that displays relevant posts to the article, hence any post tagged with 'CCleaner' or registry cleaner might show up. Just saying it may not be intentional.
Or use CCleaner's startup functions to remove all instances that startup CCleaner or anything else that minimized or silent or in the background. And keep on using it.
I did, almost every program seems to want to be in the startup so I always use CCleaner to remove them.
Greg
This is very depressing indeed. I am a very long time user of CCleaner and was not even aware that Avast had purchased it. I despise that company and I really did not need to read past that in this article to know it was going to be wiped off my computer and never installed again! Now I have to consider the mass of people I have told in the past to purchase it and told them what a fantastic tool it was. Hopefully they wont be to mad at me but I will NEVER be telling anyone else about CCleaner. Although I thank you for the info on what to replace it with I feel there is the need for someone else to enter this space with a utility like CCleaner. I am not convinced anything Microsoft has created is worth a damn, much like my feelings towards Avast I honestly would not even use Windows if my business and software did not demand it. Anyone that thinks Windows can even remotely do what CCleaner does is a fool and needs to be educated!
Hear! Hear! Well said Kevin, I totally agree.
I have been looking for a replacement that has ccleaner's ability to print out the installed apps. Any help appreciated.
Why not just block all comms CC makes at the firewall. Anonymous data collection my foot . Not without this here internet cord plugged in you won't. Same difference.
Nothing you say makes sence!
Sence? That's a river in Leicestershire, England