Registry Uninstall Key Locations in Windows

Windows stores configuration data and metadata for installed desktop programs across several specific Uninstall registry keys. Depending on whether an application is installed per-user, machine-wide, or as a 32-bit application on a 64-bit operating system, the Windows Registry Editor (regedit.exe) records this information in different locations. This guide outlines the exact registry paths used to populate the list of installed software found in the Windows Control Panel and Settings app.

1. 64-bit and System-Wide 32-bit Applications

For standard 64-bit programs (on a 64-bit OS) or all standard 32-bit programs (on a 32-bit OS) installed for all users on the machine, the information is stored here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

2. 32-bit Applications on 64-bit Windows

When running a 32-bit application on a 64-bit version of Windows, the system redirects the installation data through the WOW64 (Windows-on-Windows 64-bit) emulation layer:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

3. Current User (Per-User) Applications

Applications that do not require administrative privileges and install strictly for the currently logged-in user store their uninstall registry keys in:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

(Note: If a 32-bit application is installed per-user on a 64-bit system, it can also occasionally be found under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall.)

Key Values Inside the Uninstall Subkeys

Inside each individual program’s subkey, Windows references specific string and DWORD values to display and manage the program in the “Installed Apps” or “Programs and Features” list: