How to Remove PC Optimizer Pro

How To
By published

PC Optimizer Pro is a potentially unwanted program that can be difficult to remove from your computer. Here's how to get rid of it.

PC Optimizer Pro is a registry cleaner and Windows system optimizer designed to speed up your PC. However, after the program scans your machine, often without prompting, and "finds" dozens of things wrong, it will demand $50 to "fix" those apparent problems.

Don't pay up. There's probably nothing wrong with your machine. Like other potentially unwanted programs or PUPs, PC Optimizer Pro is typically installed when you download free software from the Internet — and can be hard to get rid of.

MORE: Best PC Antivirus Software

If you do inadvertently install PC Optimizer Pro, you can remove it, and any other unwanted programs installed along with it, by using free adware-removal tools such as CCleaner or AdwCleaner. (A third adware-removal tool, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, did not detect PC Optimizer Pro.) You can also remove it using Windows' built-in uninstall tool.

How to remove PC Optimizer Pro using the Windows uninstall tool

1. Navigate to the Windows control panel. In Windows 7, XP or Vista, click the Start button at the bottom left of the screen in Windows XP, Vista or 7, and select Control Panel in the pop-up menu.

In Windows 8 / 8.1 or 10, hit the Windows key and "I" key at the same time in Windows 8 or 8.1 and select Control Panel in the resulting menu.

2. Click Uninstall a program under Programs at the bottom left of the next pop-up window.

3. Right-click PC Optimizer Pro and click Uninstall.

4. Confirm that you really do want to remove PC Optimizer Pro.

5. Ignore any Web pages that plead with you to reinstall the program.

How to remove PC Optimizer Pro using AdwCleaner

1. Download and install AdwCleaner, as detailed in our separate article.

2. Run a scan in AdwCleaner.

3. Click Clean when the scan is complete to remove PC Optimizer Pro as well as any other unwanted programs.

4. Click OK in the pop-up window that warns you AdwCleaner will close everything else.

5. Click OK in the "Informations" pop-up window.

6. Click OK to reboot your computer.

How to remove PC Optimizer Pro using CCleaner

1. Download and install CCleaner, as detailed in our separate guide.

2. Click Tools and Uninstall to list all the applications installed on the PC.

3. Select PC Optimizer Pro, then click Run Uninstaller in the top right.

4. Click Uninstall Now if PC Optimizer Pro throws up a warning box.

5. Ignore any Web pages that ask you why you've removed the program.

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Related Security Guides:
Guide to Malwarebytes
Best PC Antivirus Software
Computer Security Guide

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Linda Rosencrance

Linda Rosencrance is a freelance writer with more than a dozen years' experience covering IT. Her work has appeared on many sites, including Computerworld, TechNewsDaily, Tom's Guide, and more. She has also worked as an investigative journalist, and has written and published five true-crime books. She lives and works in Boston.

2 Comments Comment from the forums
  • HEXiT
    you guys should make this a tutorial. as its very much the same process for removing most ransom-ware.
    Reply
  • Silverbrain
    The first solution offered up is to....uninstal!? Seems rather self explanatory ..'I need to uninstall a program how do I do it...you uninstall it...ahhhh ok."
    Reply