Uninstall Microsoft Security Essentials Completely From Windows
Can’t uninstall Microsoft Security Essentials from your Windows computer? Always get “You don’t need to install Microsoft Security Essentials” error when trying to remove MSE from Windows 10? Usually, MSE can be removed from Windows Control Panel easily. If you upgrade to Windows 10 and find MSE can’t be uninstalled, follow the guide in this post and your problem will be fixed soon.
What is Microsoft Security Essentials?
Microsoft Security Essentials is a free product you can download to help defend computers running Windows Vista and Windows 7 against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. In Windows 8 and later versions, Windows Defender replaces Microsoft Security Essentials.MSE runs quietly and efficiently in the background so you’re free to use your Windows-based PC the way you want—without interruptions or long computer wait times.
How to uninstall Microsoft Security Essentials from your Windows?
Method1: Uninstall MSE from Windows Control Panel
Windows XP
Click Start, select Control Panel.
Double click on Add/Remove Programs.
Select Microsoft Security Essentials, and then click Uninstall.
Windows Vista or Windows 7
Click Collapse the Start button and in the Search programs and files text box, type Appwiz.cpl, and then press ENTER.
Right-click Microsoft Security Essentials, and then click Uninstall.
If you upgrade to Windows 10 but MSE still exists on the PC, follow the guide below to uninstall it completely:
Open File Explorer (Win-E).
Navigate to: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client
Right-click the file Setup.exe, and choose Properties.
Click the Change settings for all users box.
Change the Compatibility mode settings as shown (use compatibility mode for Windows 7), and then click OK.
Go ahead and close File Explorer, since you won’t need it any more.
Next, right-click the Start button, and choose Command Prompt (Admin).
Paste the following line into the Command Prompt window, and press Enter:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\setup.exe” /x /disableoslimit
If a generic box pops up with a question about uninstalling, just click OK. That will launch the MS Security Essentials Uninstaller, like so:
Just click the Uninstall button, and you’re almost done!
Method2: Use the Registry Editor to delete the MSE relevant keys from the Registry.
For Windows XP, go to Start, then Run, and type: Regedit.exe and press Enter
For Vista/Windows 7, in the Search box above the Start "orb" type: Regedit - don't press enter.
Right click regedit.exe in the results list above and select, "Run as Administrator"
In the Windows registry editor,
Navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Microsoft Security Essentials
by expanding the branches in the left pane until the branch for Microsoft Security Essentials is displayed.
Right click "Microsoft Security Essentials" in the left hand pane and select Delete.
Close the registry editor.
Then:
Windows XP:
Click on the Start Menu, go to All Programs, Accessories, Command Prompt
A “DOS” window opens
Assuming that your system drive is C: -
At the prompt, type:
CD C:\program files\Microsoft security client\backup\x86
Press Enter
Type:
setup.exe /u
Press Enter
Setup will launch and will uninstall MSE
Windows Vista and Windows 7:
Type command in the search box (above the Start “orb”), do not press enter
In the results list above, under Programs, right click Command.exe and select "Run as Administrator"
Approve the action via the UAC prompt, if it appears.
A “DOS” window opens.
Assuming that your system drive is C: -
At the prompt, type:
CD C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Essentials\Backup\x86 (for 32 bit Windows)
CD C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Essentials\Backup\amd64 (for 64 bit Windows)
Press Enter
At the prompt (c:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Essentials\Backup\x86> [or amd64>]), type:
Setup.exe /u
Press Enter
Setup will launch and will uninstall MSE
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