1803 - default apps not removing

[Sheridan]

As part of a test build of 1803, we run the 'dism /online /remove-provisionedappxpackage /packagename:windows10crap' commands for all the built in rubbish using a batch file - and we've done this for every version since we tested 1607

 

However, with the latest build, these apps still appear after a user logs in - including Mail, Mobile plans, Messaging, Skype, Xbox(FFS!) - has 1803 now removed the ability to remove this rubbish for all users? The dism commands seem to complete without error though.

[Arthur]

these apps still appear after a user logs in

Does that happen even on a computer the user hasn't logged into before?

[Sheridan]

Does that happen even on a computer the user hasn't logged into before?

 

Yes - first login, so it looks like the default apps are still there for all users! Including the usual stuff we all remove. This is the usual method we do for testing - build a base image, remove the crap and then test it.

[Primus]

We're having the exact same issue - haven't found a solution yet

[stgoodyeara]

If you look at this script it seems to run Get-AppxPackage & Get-AppxProvisionedPackage to remove the apps. This seemed to work for me on 1803

 

https://github.com/Sycnex/Windows10Debloater/blob/master/Windows10Debloater.ps1

[Primus]

Follow up - got it working - following this:

https://www.vacuumbreather.com/index.php/blog/item/69-windows-10-1803-built-in-apps-what-to-keep

 

Use Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage and not Remove-AppxPackage

 

Any existing local profile will need removing before this then takes effect for those users.

[gmonks]

I've got it working on 1803 using this:

https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/Removing-Built-in-apps-65dc387b

 

One of the options is to mount the image and it asks for every app whether you want to include that app in the image or not.

[mullet_man]

I use this one.

 

I have it part of my OSD for students

 

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/mniehaus/2015/11/11/removing-windows-10-in-box-apps-during-a-task-sequence/

 

Worked on all versions of Windows I've deployed so 1703. 1709 and now 1803.

 

If you run it once and let it populate the XML file it will pull out all apps, then for future deployments you can adjust the XML file if you want to keep any apps.

 

We pull everything out but have had issues with photos not opening so I've tried to get the old photo viewer back working.

[Sheridan]

We used the Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage method and it used to work as recently as 1709. Looks like we'll have to do it at the pre-deployment stage as this method was ideal for a test bed to see what the new update broke/fixed!

[Arthur]

We pull everything out but have had issues with photos not opening

That's what happens when you remove apps like the 'XboxIdentityProvider' or Windows Store apps since they are classed as core apps.

 

[mark100]

Just working on my reference image for next year, this powershell script worked for me

 

$AppsList = "Microsoft.BingWeather","Microsoft.XboxApp","Microsoft.SkypeApp","Microsoft.MicrosoftSolitaireCollection","Microsoft.BingSports","Microsoft.ZuneMusic","Microsoft.ZuneVideo","Microsoft.Windowsalarms","Microsoft.People","Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub","Microsoft.WindowsMaps","microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps","Microsoft.Getstarted","Microsoft.3DBuilder","Microsoft.GetHelp","Microsoft.oneconnect","Microsoft.wallet","Microsoft.xbox.TCUI","Microsoft.Xboxgameoverlay","Microsoft.GamingOverlay","Microsoft.xboxidentityProvider"
ForEach ($App in $AppsList)
{
$PackageFullName = (Get-AppxPackage $App).PackageFullName
$ProPackageFullName = (Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -online | where {$_.Displayname -eq $App}).PackageName
write-host $PackageFullName
Write-Host $ProPackageFullName
if ($PackageFullName)
{
Write-Host "Removing Package: $App"
remove-AppxPackage -package $PackageFullName
}
else
{
Write-Host "Unable to find package: $App"
}
if ($ProPackageFullName)
{
Write-Host "Removing Provisioned Package: $ProPackageFullName"
Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -online -packagename $ProPackageFullName
}
else
{
Write-Host "Unable to find provisioned package: $App"
}
}

[ColinP]

Also in you refrence image change the reg key to diable windows consumer features

[newpersn]

That's what happens when you remove apps like the 'XboxIdentityProvider' or Windows Store apps since they are classed as core apps.

 

 

What app is that?

[Arthur]

What app is that?

NTLite.

 

Since it doesn't use DISM to remove apps I found NTLite can remove all of the Xbox apps (except XboxIdentitityProvider) without breaking the Photos and Windows Store apps.

[DCUK6]

Havnt used Nlite in years, prob windows xp days.

Is it still safe to use today? See it costs now.

 

I used the "Windows 10 Decrapifier" script.

https://community.spiceworks.com/scripts/show/3977-windows-10-decrapifier-version-2

Edited June 27, 2018 by DCUK6

[ColinP]

yup i use ntlite for my image, cant see why i didnt use it from the start, would have saved a lot of headaches

[Arthur]

Haven't used NT lite in years, prob windows xp days.

NTLite is fairly new. You must be thinking of nLite (by the same developer)?

 

Is it still safe to use today?

I haven't had any issues NTLite myself. It works really well.

Edited June 27, 2018 by Arthur

[Tefters]

NTLite is fairly new. You must be thinking of nLite (by the same developer)?

 

 

I haven't had any issues NTLite myself. It works really well.

@Arthur So what's your general approach to removing apps from images now?

About to create a new 1803 image as 3 years have now passed since my 1507 build and back then i ripped it all out by deploying an image, remove-appxprov and remove-appxpackage and then wrapping it all back up again but heard this now doesn't create to correct keys when deployed again and in-place upgrading will bring the apps back?

Do I need to create a simple script for remove-appxprov and package and just have SCCM run it after deployment?

How is this tool any different to my first approach?

[gmonks]

@Arthur So what's your general approach to removing apps from images now?

About to create a new 1803 image as 3 years have now passed since my 1507 build and back then i ripped it all out by deploying an image, remove-appxprov and remove-appxpackage and then wrapping it all back up again but heard this now doesn't create to correct keys when deployed again and in-place upgrading will bring the apps back?

Do I need to create a simple script for remove-appxprov and package and just have SCCM run it after deployment?

How is this tool any different to my first approach?

 

I used this https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/Removing-Built-in-apps-65dc387b and when running this command (.\removeapps.ps1 -pathtowim c:\10\install.wim -selectapps $true) it asks you one by one whether to remove x app.

[Tefters]

Does it ensure that the apps don't come back after in-place upgrade to say 1811?

 

I was under the belief that you had to remove the apps after deployment in order for reg keys to be made to stop apps coming back after an in-place upgrade?

[gmonks]

Does it ensure that the apps don't come back after in-place upgrade to say 1811?

 

I was under the belief that you had to remove the apps after deployment in order for reg keys to be made to stop apps coming back after an in-place upgrade?

 

I think if you remove the Windows Store app, that is the case, but not 100% sure.

[Sheridan]

Resurrecting an old thread but I still can't get apps to uninstall on 1803 images

 

Running a powershell for each app:Get-AppxPackage -name "Microsoft.BingSports" | Remove-AppxPackage and then also Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online -PackageName "Microsoft.BingSports"

 

Repeated for each unwanted app - this runs without error, and then running Get-ProvisionedAppxPackage -online shows they have gone, yet every new user login gets this crap again!

 

I'm about to ditch all versions of this for LTSC now, as I can't find a way to remove this stuff reliably once 1803 has gone on.

Edited December 17, 2018 by Sheridan

[Arthur]

I can't find a way to remove this stuff reliably once 1803 has gone on.

You could try the method that @free780 suggested here to keep apps deprovisioned.

 

Add the following registry entries on a test PC (edit as needed) and then log on as a new user. Do the apps stay uninstalled?

 

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.BingWeather_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.GetHelp_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.Getstarted_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.Microsoft3DViewer_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.MicrosoftSolitaireCollection_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.Office.OneNote_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.OneConnect_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.People_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.Print3D_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.SkypeApp_kzf8qxf38zg5c]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.Wallet_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.WindowsAlarms_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.WindowsFeedbackHub_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.WindowsMaps_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.WindowsSoundRecorder_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.Xbox.TCUI_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.XboxApp_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.XboxGameOverlay_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.XboxIdentityProvider_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.XboxSpeechToTextOverlay_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.ZuneMusic_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.ZuneVideo_8wekyb3d8bbwe]

[Sheridan]

Yeah - I ran the scripts to remove the apps, and the registry similar to what you've shown above and a new user still gets the apps (solitaire, gethelp etc etc)

 

We manually updated about 20 PCs to 1803, from a clean working 1703, wish I'd never bothered now as reimaging to LTSC is the only way forward

[ollyyllo]

I'm not having any problems with 1803, doing it the way you describe.

Are you testing with a customised startlayout applied? If its loading the default StartLayout.xml it'll reinstall any app that referenced in that file.