How to Uninstall a Program on Ubuntu: A Beginner-Friendly Guide

If you're new to Ubuntu or Linux in general, you may be wondering how to uninstall software or applications from your system. Unlike Windows or macOS, Ubuntu uses a package management system that makes installing, updating, and removing applications simple and efficient.

This guide will walk you through the different methods of uninstalling a program on Ubuntu. Whether you prefer using the command line or the graphical user interface (GUI), we’ve got you covered.

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1. Uninstalling a Program via the Command Line (Terminal)

The terminal is one of the most efficient ways to uninstall software on Ubuntu. Here are a few methods to do so:

Method 1: Using apt-get remove

If you installed the software using apt-get, you can easily remove it with this command:

sudo apt-get remove program-name

Explanation:

• sudo: Grants administrative (root) privileges.
• apt-get remove: Uninstalls the program but keeps its configuration files.
• program-name: Replace this with the name of the program you want to remove (e.g., firefox).

Example:

sudo apt-get remove firefox

Note: This command only removes the program itself. Configuration files and user data are not deleted.

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Method 2: Using apt-get purge

If you also want to remove configuration files associated with the program, use the purge command:

sudo apt-get purge program-name

Example:

sudo apt-get purge firefox

This command removes the program and all of its associated configuration files. Use this if you want a completely clean removal.

Tip: If you want to remove multiple programs at once, separate their names with spaces:

sudo apt-get purge firefox vlc gimp

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Method 3: Using apt remove

Ubuntu's apt command is a modern, more user-friendly version of apt-get. The command to remove software is as follows:

sudo apt remove program-name

This method works the same as apt-get remove, but it’s shorter and more modern.

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Method 4: Remove Unused Dependencies (autoremove)

When you uninstall software, some libraries and dependencies may no longer be required. To clean up unnecessary files, use:

sudo apt-get autoremove

This command removes unused dependencies and files that are no longer necessary for your system. It’s a good idea to run this after uninstalling software.

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2. Uninstalling a Program via the Ubuntu Software Center (GUI Method)

If you’re uncomfortable with the command line, Ubuntu offers a graphical way to uninstall software via the Ubuntu Software Center.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Open the Ubuntu Software Center: Click on the orange "A" icon on the dock or search for "Software" in the Activities menu.
2. Navigate to 'Installed': Click on the "Installed" tab at the top to see all the applications installed on your system.
3. Find the Program: Scroll through the list or use the search bar to locate the program you want to uninstall.
4. Uninstall the Program: Click the "Remove" button next to the program. You may be prompted to enter your password.
5. Wait for the Process to Complete: The system will uninstall the software and remove it from your system.

Note: This method is ideal for beginners or users who prefer visual, step-by-step processes over command-line methods.

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3. Uninstalling Snap Packages

Ubuntu also supports Snap packages, which are self-contained applications that work across different Linux distributions. Snap apps are managed differently from traditional apt packages.

How to Remove a Snap Package

To remove a Snap package, use the following command:

sudo snap remove package-name

Example:

sudo snap remove spotify

This command will completely remove the Snap application and its data.

Tip: To see a list of installed Snap packages, use:

snap list

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4. Uninstalling Flatpak Packages

If you installed software using Flatpak, you’ll need to uninstall it differently. Here’s how:

How to Remove a Flatpak Package

To uninstall a Flatpak application, run:

flatpak uninstall package-name

Example:

flatpak uninstall com.spotify.Client

To see all installed Flatpak packages, use:

flatpak list

Note: Flatpak packages are sandboxed and have less impact on the rest of your system. This makes them safer, but you’ll need to use the Flatpak-specific commands to uninstall them.

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5. How to Check If a Program is Completely Removed

Sometimes, you may want to ensure that a program has been fully removed from your system, especially if you've used the remove command instead of purge.

Here’s how you can check for leftover files:

1. List Installed Packages: dpkg -l | grep program-name If the program is still listed, it may not have been fully removed.
2. Search for Configuration Files: find /etc/ -name "*program-name*" This command searches for any remaining configuration files.
3. Check for Residual Files: locate program-name This will list any files or directories related to the program.

Tip: You can delete residual files manually, but use caution, as you may delete important system files if you're not sure what you're doing.

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6. Summary of Uninstall Commands

Method	Command	Removes Program?	Removes Config Files?
apt-get remove	sudo apt-get remove firefox	✅ Yes	❌ No
apt-get purge	sudo apt-get purge firefox	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
apt autoremove	sudo apt-get autoremove	✅ (Dependencies)	✅ (Unnecessary files)
Snap	sudo snap remove spotify	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Flatpak	flatpak uninstall spotify	✅ Yes	✅ Yes

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