Windows Registry Uninstall Key Locations

In Windows, the list of installed software components displayed in the Control Panel and Settings app is stored within specific Uninstall registry keys in the Windows Registry (Regedit). Depending on the application’s architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) and installation scope (per-machine or per-user), Windows organizes these entries across three primary registry paths.

1. 64-Bit Applications (Machine-Wide)

For 64-bit software installed for all users on a 64-bit Windows operating system (or 32-bit software on a 32-bit OS), the registry entries are stored under:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

2. 32-Bit Applications on 64-Bit Windows

When 32-bit applications are installed on a 64-bit version of Windows, the operating system uses the WOW64 (Windows 32-bit on Windows 64-bit) emulation layer. These entries are isolated in the following registry path:

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

3. Per-User Applications

Software installed exclusively for the currently logged-in user (often seen with modern tools like Chrome, VS Code user installers, or Zoom) does not require administrator privileges and is stored under the current user hive:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

Common Registry Values Inside Uninstall Keys

Each installed program typically has its own subkey (identified either by the application name or a GUID). Inside each subkey, Windows references specific string values to manage and display the software: