What are PUPs

Any app that’s installed without your explicit consent is a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP).

These programs consume system resources and space while serving no real purpose, and they frequently behave like malware. Looking to learn more? I’ll explain where PUPs come from, the different forms they take, and how to remove Potentially Unwanted Programs entirely.

What are Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs)?

Potentially Unwanted Programs (or Potentially Unwanted Applications) are apps with little practical use that most people wouldn’t choose to install. They may be pre-installed on a new device (bloatware) or bundled alongside legitimate software.

These apps aren’t technically malware, but they share a playbook. PUPs are usually designed to make their creators money, whether by harvesting information or displaying ads. They frequently monitor your activities, slow down your device, and make unauthorized changes to your system. These Potentially Unwanted Modifications may include registry or file association changes, changing your browser homepage, or installing additional toolbars.

Here’s a rundown of the most common types of Potentially Unwanted Applications:

  • Adware: Refers to both ad-supported software and software in which advertising is the main purpose. Adware displays intrusive ads and popups, may track your activity to serve tailored advertising, and makes everyday browsing miserable.
  • Trackware: A form of spyware or stalkerware that’s designed to gather information. May record which apps you use, which sites you visit, and where you go (if installed on a portable device).
  • Browser hijackers: Apps that change your homepage, default search engine, or browser settings without permission. Browser hijackers can redirect you to sites you never intended to visit and waste system resources by opening lots of unwanted tabs.
  • Unwanted extensions: Malicious browser extensions may inject ads into the sites you visit, track user activity, or modify settings.
  • System optimizers: Apps claiming to speed up your device, optimize settings, fix broken registry entries, or update drivers. They usually just install other PUPs with no noticeable performance increase. Their “fixes” will likely cause more problems than they solve.
  • Fake VPNs and antiviruses: Often claim to be free but restrict basic functionality behind a paywall. May make money by selling details of your usage habits.

How to identify and remove Potentially Unwanted Programs

Potentially Unwanted Programs are not a minor issue. At the time of writing, AV-Atlas claims that 2.7 new malware/PUA variants are discovered every second, with Malwarebytes identifying more than 433 million different types last year alone.

It’s usually pretty obvious if you have a Potentially Unwanted Application installed. You may see programs you don’t remember downloading, notice sudden drops in system performance, or realize your browser settings are changing automatically. Other symptoms can include repeated warnings from your antivirus app or a constant barrage of advertising pop-ups.

Even if you’re not experiencing these issues, it’s a good idea to remove any apps that you don’t actually want. That’s because you have no way of telling what kind of information they collect or who they share it with. Besides, every unwanted installed app consumes disk space that could be better used for something else. Here’s how to tell which apps you can safely delete.

How to spot a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP)

If you’re worried about potentially unwanted programs, start by reviewing your installed applications. Here’s how to view all of your apps on various platforms:

  • Windows: Press the Windows key, type “installed apps”, and hit Enter.
  • Android: Open Settings, tap Apps, then See all apps.
  • MacOS: Open Finder, then click Applications
  • iOS: Swipe left on the homescreen until your App Library appears

Remember: we’re looking for unwanted apps that serve no legitimate purpose. The image below shows a .NET framework, which is required for some apps to run properly, so that’s not a PUP. I didn’t choose to install Bing or Clipchamp, but these apps have a legitimate purpose, so they’re not PUPs either. You could argue that Microsoft Edge for Game Bar is, though, since it came preinstalled, it isn’t something I use, and it reinstalls itself whenever Edge updates.

Screenshot of Window's installed apps screen
Microsoft Edge for Game Bar is a fairly benign example of a Potentially Unwanted Program

What if you see something you don’t recognize but aren’t sure it’s a PUP? In that case, simply Google the application’s name and check. If you don’t need it, or the consensus is that it’s a nuisance, just note the name and delete it. You can always get it back later if it turns out to be important.

How to get rid of Potentially Unwanted Programs

Unfortunately, deleting potentially unwanted programs isn’t always straightforward. Here’s how to remove more stubborn PUAs:

  1. Delete anything suspicious from your installed apps list.
    hwo to remove Potentially Unwanted Programs in Windows 11
  2. Check which apps are allowed to run at startup. PUPs often launch automatically, so verifying which have startup permissions is a good idea.
    Screenshot of Window's Startup apps window

    • To disable startup programs on Windows: Hit the Windows key, type “Startup apps”, then hit Enter. Click the button on the right to grant or restrict startup permissions.
    • To disable startup programs on MacOS: Navigate to System Settings > General > Login Items. Select the app to remove, then hit the minus icon.
  3. Delete any browser extensions you don’t recognize.Check every browser you have installed, not just the one you use most often.
  4. Remove any unusual scheduled tasks. Sometimes, PUPs run scripts periodically that won’t show up in the installed apps list.
    Screenshot showing Window's Task Scheduler

    • Viewing scheduled tasks on Windows: Press the Windows key, search for “task scheduler”, then hit Enter. Click Task Scheduler Library and search for unwanted tasks in the center panel. You can see which files each task opens by checking the Details field under the Actions tab. Simply right-click anything suspicious and choose Disable from the context menu.
    • Viewing scheduled tasks on MacOS: Open Finder and choose your disk. Click  Library and look for .plist files linked to apps that you don’t recognize. Search online to see if they’re related to PUPs and remove if so. Don’t delete .plist files from the LaunchAgents or LaunchDaemons folders since these are required for MacOS to work.
  5. Windows users can enable unwanted application blocking. Press the Windows key, search for “reputation-based blocking”, then hit Enter. Scroll down and enable Potentially unwanted app blocking.
    Screenshot showing Window's unwanted app blocking
  6. Finally, clear your browser’s cache and delete saved cookies. This ensures any leftover data or tracking cookies the PUP may have saved are removed.

What if I can’t uninstall a PUP?

If you’re having trouble finding or removing an unwanted app, don’t worry. Most reputable antivirus apps will flag Potentially Unwanted Programs automatically, allowing you to easily quarantine or delete them. Be aware, though, that false positives can happen, particularly if you have game mods, hacking tools, or performance-monitoring utilities installed. That’s why it’s important to manually review any flagged items before deleting them.

In more severe cases, you may want to take a more drastic approach. You could either use System Restore to return your computer to a time before the PUP was installed or delete everything and start over with a fresh operating system installation. These options should be your last resort since they’re time consuming, quite involved, and a lot of the time, overkill.

Where do Potentially Unwanted Programs come from?

Sometimes, while installing legitimate software, the wizard will ask if you’d like to install a different app as well. Throughout my professional career, I can count on one hand the number of times this has actually been helpful. More often than not, it’s a shallow attempt to clutter up your PC with resource-hogging, data-stealing nonsense. Worse, they often won’t reveal they’re installing other software unless you pick a custom installation and specifically opt out.

Downloading apps from unofficial sources is another main contributor. The first issue is that these sites are often littered with fake download buttons, making them inherently unsafe. Additionally, even “respectable” hosts like Softonic, Download.com, and FileHippo use installers that bundle PUAs along with your chosen file.

Conclusion

Nobody wants their PC slowed down by data-hungry, resource-intensive apps with no benefit. Potentially Unwanted Programs are extremely common but that doesn’t mean you can (or should) put up with them. By following the steps above and only downloading apps from official sources, you’ll dramatically limit your exposure to PUPs. This isn’t just better for your privacy, it also has a measurable impact on system performance and the quality of your experience.

Frequently asked questions

Are PUPs viruses?

PUPs are not viruses in the strict sense, since they usually do not self-replicate or spread without user action. They install through bundled downloads or consent screens and focus on ads, tracking, or system changes rather than direct damage.

Are PUPs malware?

Not all PUPs are malware, but some can behave like it—whether it’s because they were installed without you knowing or collect your data, inject ads, and change your settings. Still, most PUPs aren’t as destructive as classic malware.