When you download an application from the Microsoft Store on Windows, every device connected to the account can see the list of added applications through My Libraries. Not only that, but the worst part is that even when the application is uninstalled, you can still see its name in the list. While it appears to be a minor issue, it is quite a huge flaw that bothers a lot of users.
Do you know the reason behind it? Microsoft’s App Store does not allow removing applications from the My Libraries section. Yes, it is pretty irritating to see that you can install an application from the store and check out the list of installed applications, but you can’t remove them from the library then and there.
If this flaw bothers you and you want a quick workaround, this is just the post you were looking for. By the end of this one, you can find a workaround for this error and hide or remove apps from My Libraries in the Windows store without any hassle.
Let’s get started!
Why Does Microsoft Store Keep Uninstalled Apps in My Libraries
The reason behind keeping a list of removed applications in the My Libraries section is to offer convenience to the user. This means the user can re-install an application when required. The feature is a common one among almost every application store, including the Apple AppStore and Google PlayStore. However, the way of display is what bothers a user.
Ideally, an App Store should be able to both install and uninstall applications. However, the Windows store’s flaw is that it cannot remove applications. The My Libraries section in the Microsoft store keeps a complete record of what applications you have installed or had on your system. The applications you removed from the PC are still listed by default.
For users for whom MS Store is the go-to place to sort applications, this flaw becomes a headache as they cannot identify which application is still on the system and which is not. Sure, it is visible if an application is installed or not, but the anxiety that a listed application may trigger is surreal.
How to Remove Apps from My Libraries in the Windows Store
There are multiple effective ways to resolve the issue discussed above. Some workarounds will help sort the applications, and the advanced ones will help handle the situation. We need to address two flaws here. The first is that the Microsoft Store cannot remove the application, and the other is that the Library section keeps showing the uninstalled apps in the app list.
Below, we have listed effective methods for addressing both issues: removing apps from the device and accessing the Microsoft App Store’s My Libraries.
Method 1 – Uninstall the Application Without Traces
Usually, the application data or the history that this application was installed allows the information to be accessed in the first place. Uninstalling is, unfortunately not an integrated option available in the Library section of Windows. However, that does not mean you can not uninstall the application from your device.
You have two ways to uninstall the application. The first one is the traditional method that involves the following steps –
Step 1 – Press Windows + I to open the System settings.
Step 2 – Look for Apps in the left panel of the opened Window.
Step 3 – Go to Apps, and click on Installed Apps.
Step 4 – You may find all the apps in the opened list. Click on the options (dots) parallel to the app information to find the option to uninstall.
Step 5 – Remove the app from the PC by following the directions on the screen after you have clicked on uninstall.
This is a basic method so that chances of leaving traces of uninstalled applications are more. Therefore, to remove the application completely from the device, we recommend using the Uninstall Manager module available in Advanced System Optimizer. Here’s how that works –
Step 1 – Download and Install Advanced System Optimizer
Step 2 – Click on Regular Maintenance from the left panel in the Advanced System Optimizer.
Step 3 – In the Regular Maintenance, you may find Uninstall Manager and other important tools.
Step 4 – Open the Uninstall Manager, which will gather all the information about the installed applications on your PC. Click on the Software List to find out what apps are available on your PC.
Step 5 – Select the application you want to delete from the list and click on Uninstall button in the right-hand corner.
Once you click the Uninstall, the process will begin.
This method effectively removes the application and gives you a better user experience. Not to mention, the tool can uninstall an app more efficiently, leaving no residue whatsoever.
Method 2 – Set the View to Show Installed Products Only
This is more than a fix; it is a workaround for removing apps from My Libraries. While the store tends to keep all the installed and uninstalled applications listed together, an option allows you to sort the list differently.
Here’s how you can set a view that only shows installed applications in the library –
Step 1- Go to the start menu and open Microsoft Store
Step 2 – In the Microsoft Store, go to the Library using the button in the bottom left corner.
Step 3 – In the opened list of products, you may find a sort button with a drop-down in the top right corner for your Window. Click on it to find the Show Installed Apps Only option.
Step 4 – Mark the option by clicking on it, and you will have a sorted list of apps that only show the currently installed applications.
This will sort the shown list and show only the installed products on your device. This can help increase the visibility of all your applications on your PC.
Limitations of Microsoft Store Rectified
If you plan to uninstall the applications only and are not bothered by the list, you can use Apps and Features from system settings to get rid of them. You can also use the Control Panel to remove/uninstall an application. However, all the apps removed from the PC will still appear in your Library unless you switch the view to installed apps only.
The inability to uninstall an application from the Windows store is indeed a lack of must-have feature for many users. Also, creating a cluttered view of both installed and uninstalled applications is a UX flaw that must be fixed to give the users a better experience.
Unfortunately, even after several complaints, the issue is still not resolved, and there are hardly any ways to get rid of the app kist from My Libraries. The concern is not limited to a few of us, as there is a complete thread that you can follow. We hope this post gives you a solution until the Microsoft experts resolve these errors.
Both these methods might have solved the problem you were facing with the My Libraries section of the Windows Store. If you have any other queries, feel free to reach out via the comments section, and we will be more than happy to assist.
That’ll be all for this one. Good luck!
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