How to Fix Windows 10 and 11 Do Not Have Sufficient Access to Uninstall

Some users reported an uninstallation issue on Microsoft’s forum with the error message “You do not have sufficient permissions to uninstall”. This error message pops up when users try to uninstall certain software in Windows 11/10. As a result, users are unable to uninstall any package that has an error.

Do Not Have Sufficient Access to Uninstall
Insufficient Privileges to Uninstall Error

The error message emphasizes that the problem is caused by insufficient access rights. However, the error may occur even if the user has administrator privileges. This is how to fix the “Insufficient Privileges to Uninstall” error in Windows 11/10.

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1. Enable the Windows Administrator Account
First, make sure you are using an Administrator account. You can activate the built-in Windows Administrator account through the Command Prompt. Then log in to that built-in Administrator account and try to uninstall the software from there.

Alternatively, you can switch your current Standard User account to an Administrator account. Check out this guide to changing your Windows account type for full instructions on how to do that.

2. Run the uninstaller file for the affected software as an administrator
Also, run the uninstaller file for the software as an administrator. The installation directory for the software will contain its uninstaller file. Right-click on that file to select a Run as administrator context menu option.

3. Troubleshoot with the Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter

Windows does not include any troubleshooters for fixing uninstall problems. However, there is a Microsoft Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter that may help fix the “You do not have sufficient permissions to uninstall” error. Here’s how to run the Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter:

Bring up the Microsoft download page for the troubleshooter.
Then click the Download troubleshooter button.
Double-click the MicrosoftProgram_Install_and_Uninstall.meta.diagcab troubleshooter file.
Click Next > Uninstalling to bring up the program list.
Then select the program you cannot uninstall and select Next.

4. Turn off User Account Control

Sometimes the “You do not have sufficient access rights to uninstall” error occurs because the User Account Control is set to High. Therefore, try to temporarily turn off UAC before uninstalling the affected software. Our guide on disabling User Account Control tells you how to turn off UAC.

5. Set full control permissions for the software installation folder

You may need to fix this error because the complete user control permission settings are not set for the software installation folder. Therefore, check the control permission settings for the software installation folder. This is how you can set full control permissions for a folder:

Open the folder containing the installation directory of the affected software.
Right-click the installation folder and select Properties.

Select your user account name.

Click Full Control checkbox to select that setting if it is not already set.

Then select Apply > OK in the folder’s permissions window.

Select OK to exit the properties window.

6. Uninstall the software using the UninstallString value

Some users have resolved this error by uninstalling the affected package using its UninstallString value. You can do this by copying the program’s UninstallString value from the registry and pasting it into the command prompt. These are the steps to uninstall software using the UninstallString value:

Open Windows Search Win + S.

Open Windows Search Win + S.
Type registry to find the registry editor.
Select Registry Editor to launch the application.

Next, enter this location into the address bar of the Registry Editor:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

Click the Uninstall button in the sub-item to view the Display Name > their string.
Select the key for the software you cannot install by Use the Display Name string.
Double click the uninstall string string.
Copy the text to Value data by selecting it and pressing Ctrl + C.
Open a command prompt as an administrator (see how to open a command prompt with administrator privileges).
Click inside the command prompt and press Ctrl + V to paste into the string.
Press Go to Run the command and remove the software.