Windows 10: Uninstall the Bloatware Windows 10 came with

Agree, but I accept others like to have a cleaner/neater HDD...
Personally, I just ignore the apps, unless MS bugs me to use them as a default app, then
I feel like wiping them out...

 

Everyone to me has the right to remove what they don't want or ever intend to use. The only issue comes into play when updates are made from MS and all of those apps are back. It's best to have an automated process so this will not become an issue.

 

As someone who has used several versions of Windows since the late 90s', I would still like to have the choice
when it comes to updates (as we used to have) of refusing an update. Critical updates I accept should now be
automatically installed, but as regards features, drivers and the like I would like to know what MS is installing,
and have the option to refuse the update...

As for apps, nagging, forcing users to use them as a default and the like is a bad idea, if MS wants users of its
other versions to install Windows 10, once its no longer a freebie. Personally speaking, the Universe will be
dust before I would ever consider using an app.

 

My "easy-to-maintain" script
Code: $to_rem = "Microsoft.3DBuilder", "Microsoft.BingFinance", "Microsoft.BingNews", "Microsoft.BingSports", "Microsoft.BingWeather", "Microsoft.CommsPhone", "Microsoft.Getstarted", "Microsoft.Messaging", "Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub", "Microsoft.MicrosoftSolitaireCollection", "Microsoft.Office.Sway", "Microsoft.OneConnect", "Microsoft.People", "Microsoft.SkypeApp", "Microsoft.StorePurchaseApp", "Microsoft.WindowsAlarms", "Microsoft.WindowsCamera", "microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps", "Microsoft.WindowsPhone", "Microsoft.WindowsSoundRecorder", "Microsoft.XboxApp", "Microsoft.XboxIdentityProvider", "Microsoft.ZuneMusic", "Microsoft.ZuneVideo", "Microsoft.XboxGameCallableUI", "Microsoft.XboxIdentityProvider" $prov_packs = Get-ProvisionedAppxPackage -online; $allusers_packs = Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers; $to_rem | Foreach-Object {$s = $_; $prov_packs | where {$_.DisplayName -eq $s}} | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -online $to_rem | Foreach-Object {$s = $_; $allusers_packs | where {$_.DisplayName -eq $s}} | Remove-AppxPackage[/quote]

 

I have been trying to uninstall some of this junk for days now. I have run the powershell and got rid of most of it but some apps are being stuborn.
I cant get rid of the Xbox Live Auth Manager, Xbox Live Game Save, and the Xbox Live Networking service. Neither can I delete the camera app, Films & TV, Groove Music, The Insider Hub, Microsoft edge, microsoft WiFi, Microsoft one drive, Phone, Photos, Skype, or store.
I do not have an Xbox, and do not one. the app is still in my list and it keeps asking me to register. It is a right PITA!!
Photos is causig a problem with my EOS software and it keeps asking me to register, and the rest is just unwanted junk.

I do tend to agree with the general concensus that it is my PC and I should have whatever applications installed that I want and require, not what an arrogant software manufacturer decides to add. If I want cloud services, (which by the way I don't, and that is for technical reasons,) I should be able to say I require it.
However some of this stuff is interfering with the way I work. So having tried the remove options in power shell and can't uninstall will the above script get rid of it? and how do i run the script?

Thanking all you gurus out there in advance. The alternative is to revert to Win7 where I have a degree of control.

 

Well I wonder how long before you discover removing these apps using unofficial methods tends to break the OS in ways you do not anticipate. Forums around the world are littered with people saying updates no longer work, cannot reinstall an app I now need etc.

If you are going to do what is basically a very stupid thing to do, make sure you create an image backup first.

 

Hi,

I don't think you'll be able to remove Edge but all the others should be removable.
Note that the Powershell script only hides the apps, they will remain present on the HD.

Furthermore it seems to me that the current install is already "messed up" going by the messages you're receiving from some apps.

I also agree with cereberus on leaving the apps alone if they can't be uninstalled in the traditional way.. They don't use that much processes and why bother if you don't use them anyhow ?

Cheers , *Wink

 

I feel there may be a few changes since the Anniversary Version arrived ..
I believe the Cmdlet "remove" is no longer available to carry out the appropriate actions ..
If so .. an alternate would be appreciated.

Anyone with greater knowledge than mine please confirm ?

 

Hi there

why not download Media creation tool and then clean install Windows - your computer is already activated so new activation won't be a problem.

Back up old system first -- suggest something like Free Macrium --don't forget system reserved partition and if it exists the OEM recovery partition too.

Cheers
jimnbo

 

To deactivate them. Personally, I like to know what's running in my system, what it's doing and whether it's useful. If I'm not satisfied what it makes a contribution, it's bloat regardless of size or required resources. Even if it's not removable, I want it dead, as in not breathing at all. The OP's post makes that possible regardless of his wording.

I, for one, know what he meant and I appreciate him taking the time to (indirectly) show me what's possible.

 

If you must remove packages it can be done manually as below but as the others said MAKE SURE you have a backup and be prepared if something breaks. There are many lists on line of supposedly safe packages to remove but there's no guarantee it won't break the system so please heed this warning. So go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Component Based Servicing\Packages and find the packages you wish to remove. right click each and copy the key name. You can either take ownership of the key the long way by right clicking click properties go to the Security tab and change owner then give permission to the Admin or download RegOwnershipEx from the Winaero site RegOwnershipEx and pasting the full path and name of the package in there then take ownership and open it in the registry (You still need to grant the admin full rights after taking ownership). Once there change Visibility DWORD value from 2 to 1, And Add a new DWORD value named DefVis and set the value to 2, finally delete the subkey Owners. Now you can remove it using PowerShell so open PowerShell as admin and use this command: dism.exe /Online /Remove-Package /PackageName= and put the package name as you copied previously after the PackageName= so for example to remove the Tablet-PC package you would run it like this: dism.exe /Online /Remove-Package /PackageName=Microsoft-Windows-TabletPC-Package~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~en-US~10.0.14393.0. Some packages seem to be doubled up so when running the command if you get an error don't worry as long as it succeeded removing it the first time. Some packages have many entries and you'll need to remove them all. PowerShell will ask you to restart but I did find it can be ignored until you finish removing a certain package but then you need to restart and then continue to remove other packages. Again this can break your system and make sure you have a back up

 

It's easier to simply remove an apps' shortcut, eh?

 

Well I did delete/disable all of the stuff that I did not want and cluttered up my system. And despite the grave warnings of a dead PC or worse it was all fine..................... Until last night................ when microsoft did an update.
My screen greyed out, I lost all control and could not save my work.
About an hour later when I was ALLOWED by MS to use my PC again I found that I had lost my evenings work, about an hours worth. There was no recovery file, which would have been the case if it had suffered a power loss. Worse than that the update reconfigured my start menu and deleted shortcuts, cause one of my apps to cease to function, deleted a couple of files, put back all of the C##P that I had previously deleted, added more unwanted apps, and changed my start-up screens for something MS thoughy I would prefer into the bargain.
If I had broken into microsoft's system and installed apps, deleted stuff, and made unauthorised changes I would be in court for hacking their system. Their arrogance in this is astounding.

It now appears that they have changed their addware, which is what it is; to make it impossible to delete as it now keeps re-seeding itself.
Spent all day trying to get rid of it, it is just filling up my start menu to the point of difficulty in finding my apps amongst their junk. Many of the shortcuts can't be removed, and more to the point, if Microsoft are doing this, what else are they doing without our knowledge or permission?

 

Make it easy on yourself. Get Classic Shell. You get your old-style start menu back, with complete control over what's in there and what's not. No clutter at all.

I just got two Win 10 laptops, and I've not found a need to remove any of the crud. I just don't use the crud items. And they don't show up in my start menu.

 

I would. There is absolutely no instance of a Windows Store app running better or providing something extra that a desktop software or web app couldn't provide. He should be commended for providing this information as it is indeed junk that our computers do not need and most users will never use. The Windows store is fairly dead with most apps barely being maintained or updated. Most of the time they cause more problems than they fix and lack features that make them beneficial.