How do I uninstall software if Smart App Control won't let me?

Question

We rebuilt the computer so we could have Windows 11. I installed my old version of AutoDesk software from my official Autodesk flash drive. Unknown to me, my old software is no longer supported by AutoDesk, so I can't activate it, alas. I want to uninstall it, but Smart App Control won't let me uninstall it. Am I stuck with unusable software on my computer forever? Very frustrating. Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello peter tolcser!

Thanks for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum.

Here’s what you can try to uninstall the AutoDesk software that's being blocked by Smart App Control:

Option 1: Temporarily turn Smart App Control off

Important note: SAC can be turned off anytime but turning it back on later requires resetting Windows. Make sure to back up important data first, just in case.

Then go to: Windows Security > App & browser control > Smart App Control settings > Off

After turning it off, retry the uninstall.

Option 2: Manual removal (advanced)

If you’re comfortable with technical steps:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc > Task Manager > End task on any Autodesk processes.
2. Check and delete the Autodesk folder under:

C:\Program Files

C:\Program Files (x86)

3. Remove its uninstall entry using Registry:

Disclaimer: Modifying the registry or workgroups is usually geared towards advanced users, administrators, and IT professionals, and it can help fix some problems, however, improper registry modifications can cause serious problems. Therefore, please make sure to follow the steps below strictly. For further protection, make a backup of the registry before modifying it. For more information on how to backup and restore the registry, please refer to: How to back up and restore the registry in Windows - Microsoft Support

• Press Win + R, type regedit, press Enter.
• Navigate to:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
• Locate the Autodesk entry and delete it.

If the above methods don’t work, consider using a third-party uninstaller like Revo Uninstaller, ...

Hope one of these methods could help!

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