Uninstalled programs in Windows 11: what can be recovered and how to do it
Recovering uninstalled programs in Windows 11 This almost always means reinstalling the application from the Microsoft Store, WinGet, or the developer's official website. System Restore can revert programs and settings to a previous state, but it affects other system changes and shouldn't be the first option for recovering a single application.
Quick response
If you know the program's name, reinstall it from an official source. If you don't remember, check the Microsoft Store and the Event Viewer. 1034 of MsiInstaller It can show removals processed by Windows Installer, but it doesn't provide a complete list of all uninstalled applications. Use System Restore only if a suitable previous restore point exists and the uninstallation is part of a larger problem.
Do you want to recover the application?
Reinstall it from the Microsoft Store, WinGet, or the manufacturer's official website.
Do you want to restore settings?
Check backups, cloud synchronization, and user data folders.
You lost documents
Check the Trash, OneDrive, File History, or a file recovery tool.
The system became unstable.
Evaluate System Restore after reviewing which programs and drivers will be affected.
How to view uninstalled programs in Windows 11
Windows 11 does not offer a single screen with a complete history of all uninstalled programs. The available method depends on how the application was installed: the Microsoft Store maintains a library linked to the account, while the Event Viewer may log certain uninstallations of MSI packages.
Event 1034 does not show all deleted programs
This event belongs to Windows InstallerIt may include programs installed using MSI packages, but not necessarily Microsoft Store apps, portable programs, custom installers, scripts, package managers, or apps whose registry has already been overwritten or cleaned.
Check MSI uninstallations in the Event Viewer
1. Open the Event Viewer
Writes Event display In Windows 11, type "search" and open the app. You can also press Windows + R, write eventvwr.msc and press Enter.
2. Open the application log
On the left panel, enter Windows Logs > Application.
3. Filter the current record
In the actions panel on the right, select Filter current record.
4. Select MsiInstaller and event 1034
In Origins of the eventselect MsiInstallerIn the identifiers field, write 1034 and confirm with Accept.
5. Review the event details
Open each result to check the product name, version, language, manufacturer, date, and final deletion status. The status code helps you determine if the operation completed successfully.
View event 1034 using PowerShell
The same search can be performed from PowerShell without modifying the system:
Get-WinEvent -FilterHashtable @{ LogName = 'Application' ProviderName = 'MsiInstaller' Id = 1034 } | Select-Object TimeCreated, Id, MessageIf no results appear, you cannot conclude that the program was never installed. It may have used a different installer, belonged to the Microsoft Store, or fallen outside the period retained by the registry.
How to recover uninstalled programs in Windows 11
The appropriate method depends on the application's origin and what was actually lost. Reinstalling the program is usually straightforward; recovering its settings, license, or working files may require a prior backup or synchronization.
| Situation | Recommended method | What can you recover? |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Store app | Microsoft Store Library | The application and the license linked to the account |
| Desktop program | Official WinGet installer | The application files and their components |
| Preferences or profiles | Backup, synchronization, or user folders | Compatible configuration, profiles, and data |
| Several programs and settings affected | Restore system | System file status, Registry, and installed programs |
| Deleted documents | Recycle bin, backup or file recovery | Personal files, not a fully functional installation |
1. Reinstall an app from the Microsoft Store
- Open Microsoft Store.
- Select Library.
- Find the application you want to recover.
- Credit install.
Sign in with the same Microsoft account you used to get or buy the app. The library can help you find apps associated with the account, even if they're no longer installed on your computer.
The application can retain synchronized data
If the program used a custom account or cloud synchronization, your preferences and documents may reappear after logging in. This depends on the developer and should not be confused with automatic Windows recovery.
2. Download the official installer again
For traditional applications, go to the manufacturer's official website and download a version compatible with Windows 11. Avoid websites that repackage installers or add advertising, extensions, and unsolicited programs.
Before installing, look for these items:
- license key, serial number, or subscription account;
- email or purchase invoice;
- original installer saved in Downloads or in a backup;
- configuration file exported by the program;
- projects and documents created with the application.
Copying the Program Files folder usually doesn't work
An application may depend on the Registry, services, drivers, shared libraries, scheduled tasks, and components installed in other locations. Recovering only its root folder rarely rebuilds a working installation.
3. Reinstall the program using WinGet
WinGet is the Windows package manager. It allows you to search for applications and run their installers from Terminal, PowerShell, or Command Prompt.
First, find the program:
winget search "program name"Then install the package using its exact identifier:
winget install --id Identificador.DelPrograma --exactCheck the name, publisher, identifier, and source before confirming. WinGet makes reinstallation easy, but it doesn't maintain a comprehensive history of all removed applications.
4. Recover programs with System Restore
System Restore returns system files, the Registry, settings, and installed programs to the state they were in when the selected restore point was created. It does not modify personal files, but it may remove programs, drivers, and updates installed after that point.
It's not the first choice for a single application
If you can reinstall the program normally, do so. System Restore makes more sense when the removal coincides with crashes, driver changes, registry modifications, or the loss of multiple applications and settings.
1. Open Recovery
Search Recovery In Windows, open the Control Panel results. You can also press Windows + R, write rstrui.exe and press Enter.
2. Select Open System Restore
Windows will open the wizard to restore system files and settings.
3. Choose another restore point
When the option appears, select Choose another restore point and press Following.
4. Select a previous point and examine the affected programs
Choose a restore point created before uninstallation. Activate Show more restore points If necessary, select Detect affected programs to review which applications and drivers will change.
5. Confirm the restoration
If the spot is right, press Following and then FinishWindows will restart to apply the changes.
If no restore point appears
System protection may be disabled. Search Create a restore pointopens Configure and check the system drive's status. Enabling it now will help with future problems, but it doesn't retroactively create a point before the uninstallation.
5. Recover application settings and data
Reinstalling a program does not guarantee that your settings, profiles, or projects will return. Some uninstallers leave this data on your computer; others offer an option to delete it.
After reinstalling, check these locations:
%AppData%%LocalAppData%%ProgramData%- Documents, Images, Videos or Music;
- OneDrive or another synchronization service;
- custom folders created by the program.
Do not overwrite a new configuration with old files without verifying compatibility. A corrupted profile or one from a different version may prevent the application from opening.
6. Use data recovery only for lost files
A recovery program can attempt to recover deleted documents, databases, projects, or configuration files. It typically does not recover a ready-to-run application because an installation also relies on the Registry, services, shared components, and other system-wide files.
To increase the chances of recovering files
- Stop using the affected unit as much as possible;
- Do not install the recovery tool on that same drive;
- store the result in another physical unit;
- Check the recovered files before overwriting other copies.
Microsoft offers Windows File RecoveryA command-line tool available in the Microsoft Store. The source and destination drives must be different.
winfr C: E: /regular /n \Users\TuUsuario\Documents\How to avoid losing your program list and its data
No single integrated tool maintains a complete and universal view of all applications, licenses, settings, and data. The most secure strategy combines inventory, backups, and license storage.
Export a WinGet compatible list
WinGet can export to JSON the installed applications that it manages to associate with its available sources:
winget export --output "$env:USERPROFILE\Documents\aplicaciones-winget.json"To reinstall the recognized packages:
winget import --import-file "$env:USERPROFILE\Documents\aplicaciones-winget.json"During export, WinGet displays a warning when it cannot associate an installed application with an available package. Therefore, the JSON file is a useful inventory, but not a complete copy of the system.
Activate Windows Backup
Windows Backup can remember many installed applications, system preferences, Wi-Fi networks, and folders synced with OneDrive when you use a personal Microsoft account. It doesn't necessarily save the binary files of all programs: Store apps may be reinstalled from their shortcuts, while others may redirect to the developer's website.
Open Settings > Accounts > Windows Backup and check the options for remembering apps, preferences, and folders.
Restore points do not replace a backup
System Restore protects your Windows settings and installed programs, but it doesn't work as a document backup. For personal files, use OneDrive, an external drive, or File history in Windows 11.
Recommended preventative list
- Store license keys in a secure password manager;
- It preserves installers for old or hard-to-find programs;
- periodically exports the WinGet inventory;
- synchronize important projects or create external copies;
- Create a restore point before major changes.
Frequently asked questions about uninstalling programs in Windows 11
Does Windows 11 keep a complete list of uninstalled programs?
No. The Event Viewer may show certain deletions performed through Windows Installer, and the Microsoft Store maintains its own library. Neither of these sources alone represents a comprehensive history.
Can I recover a program without a restore point?
Yes. Most apps can be reinstalled from the Microsoft Store, WinGet, or the official website. A system restore point is an alternative for returning your entire system to a previous state.
Will system restore delete my personal files?
The classic System Restore function is designed to revert system files, registry entries, settings, and installed programs without affecting personal files. Even so, it's advisable to maintain a backup before performing any recovery operation.
Why does a program not appear in event 1034?
It may have used a different MSI installer, come from the Microsoft Store, be a portable application, or be outside the period retained in the registry.
Can a data recovery tool restore the program?
Normally not. It can recover some files, but it doesn't reliably rebuild the Registry, services, dependencies, and other components of an installation. The correct course of action is to reinstall the application.
Does WinGet export all installed programs?
WinGet attempts to associate installed applications with packages from its sources. When it doesn't find a match, it displays a warning, and that application may be left out of the exported file.
Conclusion
The safest way to recover uninstalled programs in Windows 11 is to identify the application and reinstall it from an official source. The Microsoft Store and WinGet simplify the process; the Event Viewer can help identify some MSI uninstallations, but it doesn't provide a complete list.
System Restore should be reserved for situations where you also need to revert system changes. Data recovery tools are for attempting to recover deleted files, not for reconstructing installed applications. Maintaining an inventory of WinGet, backups, and saved licenses significantly reduces the workload when a program is accidentally deleted.
