Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
The term "Windows Messenger" can actually mean several different programs, each of which is uninstalled differently.
How do I uninstall Windows Messenger?
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NOTE: if you're here to uninstall the more recent versions of Windows Live Messenger please
see this article: How do I uninstall Windows Live Messenger? |
Well, first, let's make sure we're talking about the right thing: Windows Messenger, MSN Messenger, or the Windows Messenger Service? As outlined in a prior article, those three Messengers are all different beasts.
And of course uninstalling them is handled quite differently for each.
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Windows Messenger: Windows Messenger is considered a part of the Windows operating system, so to uninstall it:
- Go to Control Panel
- Click on Add/Remove Programs
- Click on Add/Remove Windows Components
- And at the bottom of the list, uncheck Windows Messenger
Now OK your way back out, and Windows Setup will run and uninstall Windows Messenger.
MSN Messenger: MSN Messenger is a separately installed application. To uninstall it:
- Go to Control Panel
- Click on Add/Remove Programs
- Scroll down to find and then click on MSN Messenger
- Click on Remove
Follow the resulting prompts, and MSN Instant Messenger will be uninstalled.
Windows Messenger Service: The Windows Messenger Service is an unfortunately named component of Windows that cannot be uninstalled. It has nothing to do with Instant Messaging, really, and can almost always be safely turned off. Here's how:
- Right Click on My Computer
- Click on Manage
- Expand the Services & Applications node
- Click on Services
- Scroll down to find, and then double click on Messenger
- In the resulting dialog box, set the Startup Type to Disabled.
- Click on Stop to stop the service immediately.
Now OK your way back out, and the Windows Messenger Service will no longer run.
Article C2311 - March 21, 2005
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
hey i deleted the file so i cannot uninstall it and cannot daownload it again......wat shall i do????????
Posted by: parth at December 9, 2009 9:35 PMI went to my control panel and uninstalled the latest MSN messenger I had on there. It left the earlier version. It will not let me sign in. I would like to uninstall all msn messengers but can't figure out how.
Posted by: June at December 21, 2009 8:58 AMby unistalling msn messenger will i loose all my contacts in outlook express also
Posted by: jane at December 26, 2009 12:17 AMI've built this tool that should remove any version of WLM. If you try it, I would appreciate a little feedback.
http://blog.eddsn.com/2009/12/windows-live-messenger-uninstaller-v0-01/
Posted by: eddsn at December 26, 2009 5:59 AM@dan
In that case you should really try this Windows Live Messenger Uninstaller that I have posted above:
http://blog.eddsn.com/2009/12/windows-live-messenger-uninstaller-v0-01/
@Leo
I would recommend covering this tool as an alternative because it helped a lot of people already.
02-Jan-2010