Feature Overview
This page summarises everything O&O AppBuster can do, so you can see at a glance whether the program covers what you need.
What O&O AppBuster manages
O&O AppBuster does not limit itself to a single kind of software. It enumerates the app registrations of Windows itself and presents them as one list.
| Kind of app | Examples | Can be removed |
|---|---|---|
| Windows apps (Store / UWP) | Weather, News, Clipchamp, Copilot, Solitaire Collection | Yes |
| Desktop apps (Win32 / MSI) | Classic programs installed by a setup file | Yes, via their own uninstaller |
| Hidden apps | Windows apps that are on the PC but not registered for your account | Yes — or install them for your account |
| System apps | Components Windows needs in order to run | No, shown for information only |
| Framework apps | Runtimes other apps depend on (e.g. VCLibs, .NET Native) | No, shown for information only |
| Orphaned apps | Leftovers of software that was already uninstalled | Yes, cleaned up |
| Defect apps | MSI apps whose installer package is missing, so Windows cannot uninstall them | Yes, cleaned up |
Each category is described in detail in the App Categories section.
Core features
Removal
- Remove one app or a whole selection in a single operation.
- Choose the removal scope: only your account, every account on the PC, or the entire PC including the app's files on disk.
- Desktop apps are removed by their own uninstaller, so nothing is bypassed.
- Files that are locked by a running program can be released, scheduled for removal on the next restart, or skipped.
- Apps that could not be removed are listed separately and can be retried.
- A removal report can be saved to a file.
Installation
Windows apps that are available on the computer but not registered for your account can be installed for your account from within O&O AppBuster. This is also how you get an app back that you removed earlier.
Recommendations
Every app is assigned one of three recommendations:
| Recommendation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| keep | Leave this app alone. This is the default for anything not explicitly classified. |
| optional | Removing it is safe; whether you want it is a matter of taste. |
| remove | Typical bloatware — nothing depends on it. |
Smart Views
A row of filter chips above the list jumps straight to the apps you care about: All, Updates available, Recommended removal, Recently installed, Newly discovered, Hidden, Orphaned, Defect, System and Framework. Chips whose category is empty are hidden automatically.
➡️ Smart Views
Two views of the same list
- Cards — a roomy layout with icon, name, subline and the most important facts per app.
- Details — the classic sortable table with configurable columns.
Your choice is remembered between sessions.
➡️ The app list
Updates via winget
If the Windows Package Manager (winget) is available on your PC, O&O AppBuster checks in the background whether newer versions of your desktop apps exist and can install them for you.
➡️ Updates
Change tracking
O&O AppBuster remembers which apps were present the last time you used it. Apps that appeared since then show up in the Newly discovered Smart View, which is a quick way to spot software that arrived with a Windows update or was bundled with another installation.
Safety net
A system restore point can be created before you make any changes — either on demand or when O&O AppBuster offers it before your first change of a session.
Details and properties
For every app you can view all collected information, copy it to the clipboard, and open the app's install folder in Windows Explorer.
➡️ The app list
What O&O AppBuster deliberately does not do
Being clear about the limits is part of the picture:
- It does not change Windows privacy or telemetry settings. O&O ShutUp10 is available separately; see More O&O products.
- It does not defragment, optimise or "tune" your PC.
- It does not run in the background. O&O AppBuster does its work while it is open and leaves nothing running behind.
- It cannot uninstall system and framework apps. Windows depends on them; they are shown for information only.
- It does not undo a removal by itself. Windows apps can be reinstalled, and a system restore point can bring the system back — but there is no per-app "undo" button.
Available languages
The program interface is available in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese and Chinese. The language can be changed at any time in the settings.
This documentation is available in English, German, and French.