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How to Check Installed Apps on Your Windows Device

Use Settings to browse installed apps, Start or Search to find one by name, and Control Panel’s Programs and Features as an additional check for desktop software.
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On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps. On Windows 10, go to Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features. To find one app quickly, search for its name from Start or Windows Search; to check for desktop software missing from Settings, look in Control Panel’s Programs and Features.

See installed apps in Windows 11

  1. Open Start, then select Settings.
  2. Choose Apps > Installed apps.
  3. Browse the list or search for the app by name. Microsoft’s instructions use this path: Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.

You can also open Start and browse the alphabetical app list; frequently used apps appear first. This is useful when you want to launch or check one app rather than review the full inventory.

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See installed apps in Windows 10

  1. Select Start > Settings.
  2. Open Apps > Apps & features and browse or search the list.

For another view of desktop programs, open Control Panel, then select Programs > Programs and Features. Microsoft documents both the Settings route and the Control Panel option in its Windows 10 program management instructions.

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Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Microsoft says devices continue to work, but standard free Windows Update updates, technical assistance, and security fixes ended on that date. See Microsoft’s Windows 10 support notice.

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Check whether one specific app is installed

Open Start and browse the alphabetical list, or type the app’s name into Windows Search. If a matching result appears, you can open it from there. If you need a more complete inventory, use the Settings list for your Windows version and, for desktop programs, check Programs and Features as well. Microsoft explains how to find apps and programs from Start.

Why an app may not appear in the list

A missing entry in Settings does not always mean the program is absent. Some desktop apps, including programs installed from the internet or physical media, may not show up in particular Windows app lists. Microsoft describes this distinction between desktop apps and Store-style apps in its explanation of Windows app privacy settings.

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  1. Check Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features for a desktop program that is missing from Settings.
  2. If it is not listed there, look for its shortcut or program folder, or check the installer you used.

Also make sure you are looking at the right Settings page: Installed apps lists apps, Default apps sets which apps open particular file types and links, and Startup apps controls which apps launch when you sign in. These pages serve different purposes; Microsoft outlines the distinction in its Windows apps and programs guide.

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