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General Questions

Bulk Crap Uninstaller (BCU) is a free, open-source program uninstaller that excels at removing large amounts of applications with minimal user input. It can:
  • Clean up leftover files and registry entries
  • Detect orphaned applications
  • Run uninstallers according to premade lists
  • Handle Windows Store Apps, Steam games, and Windows Features
  • Support multiple uninstalling systems (NSIS, InnoSetup, Msiexec, etc.)
BCU is licensed under Apache 2.0 and can be used in both private and commercial settings for free.
Yes, BCU is completely safe. It is:
  • Open source - The code is publicly available on GitHub
  • Well-established - Trusted by IT professionals and home users worldwide
  • Non-destructive - Shows you what will be removed before taking action
  • Apache 2.0 licensed - Professional open-source license
However, as with any uninstaller, you should always review what you’re removing to avoid accidentally uninstalling important software.
Always create a system restore point before performing bulk uninstalls, especially on production systems.
Yes, absolutely! BCU is:
  • Free as in speech - Open-source software
  • Free as in beer - No cost for personal or commercial use
  • No hidden fees - No premium features or paid upgrades
  • No ads - Clean, professional interface
You can use BCU in any setting without obligations, as long as you comply with the Apache 2.0 license conditions.
BCU was made with IT professionals in mind, but can be used by anyone with a basic understanding of how applications are installed and uninstalled in Windows.Ideal for:
  • IT administrators managing multiple machines
  • System cleaners removing bloatware
  • Power users optimizing their systems
  • Anyone who needs to uninstall many programs at once
If you’re comfortable with standard Windows uninstall procedures, you’ll be comfortable with BCU.

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Installation & Requirements

Requirements vary by BCU version:BCUninstaller v6 (Latest):
  • Windows 10 or later (may work on Windows 7)
  • .NET 8 desktop runtime (not needed for portable version)
BCUninstaller v5:
  • Windows 7 SP1 with Platform Updates (KB2670838, KB2533623)
  • .NET 6 desktop runtime (not needed for portable version)
BCUninstaller v1-v4 (Legacy):
  • Windows XP or later
  • .NET Framework 4.5 with updates
The Portable version includes the required runtime, making it ideal for systems where you can’t or don’t want to install .NET separately.
BCU offers three variants:Setup - Recommended for most users
  • Installs BCU as a normal application
  • Automatically installs .NET runtime if missing
  • Creates Start Menu shortcuts
  • Smaller download size
Portable - For advanced users or USB drives
  • Self-contained, includes .NET runtime
  • No installation required
  • Can run from USB or network drives
  • Larger file size due to bundled runtime
net - For systems with .NET already installed
  • Stand-alone portable version
  • Requires .NET runtime pre-installed
  • Much smaller file size
  • No installation needed
Only older versions (v1-v4) support Windows XP, though support may be limited in later 4.x releases.To use BCU on Windows XP:
  1. Download BCU v4.16
  2. Ensure .NET Framework 4.5 is installed
  3. Install all available Windows updates
Windows XP is no longer supported by Microsoft. Consider upgrading to a modern operating system for security and compatibility.
You can download BCU from several trusted sources:For the latest features and fixes, you can also download nightly builds from GitHub Actions.

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Features & Functionality

BCU supports a wide variety of application types:
  • Standard Windows applications - Programs installed via traditional installers
  • Windows Store Apps - Modern UWP applications
  • Steam games - Games and software from Steam
  • Windows Features - Built-in Windows components
  • NSIS installers - Nullsoft Scriptable Install System
  • InnoSetup installers - Popular installer framework
  • MSI packages - Windows Installer packages
  • And many more - Special support for various installer systems
Yes! This is one of BCU’s key features. BCU can:
  • Detect and remove leftover files after uninstallation
  • Clean up orphaned registry entries
  • Find and remove traces of previously uninstalled programs
  • Identify incomplete or failed uninstallations
You can configure how aggressively BCU searches for and removes leftovers in the settings.
Orphaned applications are entries in your system that reference programs that:
  • Were incompletely uninstalled
  • Had their files manually deleted
  • Were removed improperly
  • No longer exist on your system
BCU can detect these orphaned entries and help you clean them up, freeing up space and decluttering your system.
Absolutely! Bulk uninstallation is BCU’s specialty. You can:
  • Select multiple applications and uninstall them all at once
  • Create and save lists of programs to uninstall
  • Run uninstallers according to premade lists
  • Minimize user input during bulk operations
  • Set up automated uninstall procedures
This makes BCU ideal for cleaning up bloatware or managing multiple machines.
Yes, BCU is fully compatible with Windows Store Apps (UWP applications).To uninstall Windows Store apps:
  1. Ensure you’re running BCU as Administrator
  2. Windows Store apps will appear in the main application list
  3. Select and uninstall them like any other application
Some system-critical Windows Store apps may be protected from removal.

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Privacy & Data

BCU collects limited, anonymous data to improve the application:
  • Anonymous usage statistics
  • Anonymous error reports
  • User-selected application ratings
All collected information is not personally identifiable and does not include sensitive information. See the Privacy Policy for full details.
During first start, BCU generates a user ID to help track application ratings and usage statistics. This ID:
  • Can be freely changed
  • Is not guaranteed to be unique
  • Does not contain personal information
Check the application settings for options to control data collection preferences.
According to the privacy policy:Marcin Szeniak (BCU developer) shares this information with:
  • No one
The only publicly visible data is the overall application ratings, which are aggregated from all users and shown to help others make informed decisions about software quality.

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Troubleshooting

Try these steps:
  1. Check .NET runtime - Ensure the required runtime is installed for your BCU version
  2. Run Windows Update - Install all available system updates
  3. Try portable version - Download the portable version which includes the runtime
  4. Run as Administrator - Right-click and select “Run as administrator”
  5. Check antivirus - Ensure your security software isn’t blocking BCU
For more detailed troubleshooting, see the Troubleshooting guide.
If an uninstall operation fails:
  1. Close the application - Ensure the program you’re uninstalling isn’t running
  2. Run as Administrator - BCU may need elevated permissions
  3. Try force uninstall - Use BCU’s force uninstall option for stubborn programs
  4. Check the logs - Review error messages in BCU’s detailed logs
  5. Manual removal - As a last resort, you may need to manually remove files and registry entries
Force uninstall may leave some files or registry entries behind.
If you need assistance:

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Contributing

There are many ways to help:
  • Report bugs - Open an issue with details
  • Suggest features - Share your ideas in GitHub Discussions
  • Contribute code - Submit pull requests (see CONTRIBUTING.md)
  • Improve documentation - Help make the docs clearer
  • Spread the word - Tell others about BCU
Check the contribution notes for detailed guidelines.
Yes! BCU is open source. To compile from source:
  1. Install Visual Studio 2022 with necessary features
  2. Clone the GitHub repository
  3. Open the solution and build
  4. For installer builds, install InnoSetup v6.4 and run publish.bat
The solution should load and build without additional setup.
Yes! The project is actively looking for maintainers.If you’re interested in helping maintain BCU, check the discussion thread for details on how to get involved.

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