Removing Built-in Applications from Windows 8
Update - This script will not work with Windows 8.1 a script for Windows 8.1 can be found here - https://blogs.technet.com/b/deploymentguys/archive/2013/10/21/removing-windows-8-1-built-in-applications.aspx.
Update - An updated and simpler version of this script is now available here - https://blogs.technet.com/b/deploymentguys/archive/2013/06/07/update-removing-built-in-applications-from-windows-8.aspx.
When creating a Windows 8 Image for the Enterprise you may not want to include all of the default Windows Store Applications. These applications are easy enough to remove by right clicking on the app tile in the Start Screen, but as you most likely know I am lazy and like to automate everything, so I prefer to use PowerShell.
To remove an application with PowerShell you need to remove it in two places:
- Remove the provisioned package
- Remove the “installed” package from the administrator account
To remove the provisioned package you use the command Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage and to remove the installed package you use the command Remove-AppxPackage.
If you want to remove all of the built-in applications then you can use the following simple PowerShell commands:
Get-AppXProvisionedPackage -online | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage –online
Get-AppXPackage | Remove-AppxPackage
However I often want to leave some of the applications in the image, I need granular control. In this case you need to find the PackageFullName value for each application and then remove each app individually. Getting this information can be a tedious process so I have created a script that you can use to remove the applications. This script works for both X86 and X64 versions of the Windows 8. I usually comment out the lines for the apps that I want to keep and then add the script to the MDT task sequence that I use to create my master image. The script is included below:
if([IntPtr]::Size -eq 4)
{
# This is an X86 OS - Remove provisioned package for all users
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.Bing_1.2.0.137_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.BingFinance_1.2.0.135_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.BingMaps_1.2.0.136_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.BingNews_1.2.0.135_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.BingSports_1.2.0.135_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.BingTravel_1.2.0.145_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.BingWeather_1.2.0.135_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.Camera_6.2.8514.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package microsoft.microsoftskydrive_16.4.4204.712_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.Reader_6.2.8516.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_16.4.4206.722_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package microsoft.windowsphotos_16.4.4204.712_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.XboxLIVEGames_1.0.927.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.ZuneMusic_1.0.927.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.ZuneVideo_1.0.927.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.Media.PlayReadyClient_2.3.1662.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
# Remove installed apps for Local Administrator
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.Bing_1.2.0.137_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.BingFinance_1.2.0.135_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.BingMaps_1.2.0.136_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.BingNews_1.2.0.135_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.BingSports_1.2.0.135_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.BingTravel_1.2.0.145_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.BingWeather_1.2.0.135_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.Camera_6.2.8514.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package microsoft.microsoftskydrive_16.4.4204.712_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.Reader_6.2.8516.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_16.4.4206.722_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package microsoft.windowsphotos_16.4.4204.712_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.XboxLIVEGames_1.0.927.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.ZuneMusic_1.0.927.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.ZuneVideo_1.0.927.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.Media.PlayReadyClient_2.3.1662.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
}
Else
{
# This is an X64 OS – Remove provisioned package for all users
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage –package Microsoft.Bing_1.2.0.137_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.BingFinance_1.2.0.135_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.BingMaps_1.2.0.136_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.BingNews_1.2.0.135_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.BingSports_1.2.0.135_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.BingTravel_1.2.0.145_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.BingWeather_1.2.0.135_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.Camera_6.2.8514.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package microsoft.microsoftskydrive_16.4.4204.712_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.Reader_6.2.8516.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_16.4.4206.722_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package microsoft.windowsphotos_16.4.4204.712_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.XboxLIVEGames_1.0.927.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.ZuneMusic_1.0.927.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.ZuneVideo_1.0.927.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.Media.PlayReadyClient_2.3.1662.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -package Microsoft.Media.PlayReadyClient_2.3.1662.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe -online
# Remove installed apps for Local Administrator
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.Bing_1.2.0.137_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.BingFinance_1.2.0.135_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.BingMaps_1.2.0.136_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.BingNews_1.2.0.135_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.BingSports_1.2.0.135_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.BingTravel_1.2.0.145_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.BingWeather_1.2.0.135_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.Camera_6.2.8514.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package microsoft.microsoftskydrive_16.4.4204.712_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.Reader_6.2.8516.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_16.4.4206.722_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package microsoft.windowsphotos_16.4.4204.712_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.XboxLIVEGames_1.0.927.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.ZuneMusic_1.0.927.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.ZuneVideo_1.0.927.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.Media.PlayReadyClient_2.3.1662.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-AppxPackage -package Microsoft.Media.PlayReadyClient_2.3.1662.0_x86__8wekyb3d8bbwe
}
For more information on adding and removing apps please refer to this TechNet article.
This post was contributed by Ben Hunter, a Solution Architect with Microsoft Consulting Services.
Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, confers no rights, and is not supported by the authors or Microsoft Corporation. Use of included script samples are subject to the terms specified in the Terms of Use .
Comments
Anonymous
January 01, 2003
need to be as adminsitrator but when run in administrator, function doesn't workAnonymous
January 01, 2003
Last year I published a PowerShell script that is designed to remove the built-in Windows 8 applicationsAnonymous
January 01, 2003
Thanks for the tip Agressiv2, this is something I have also been doing recently :).Anonymous
January 01, 2003
This script will not work with Windows 8.1 I have created another script for 8.1 here - http://blogs.technet.com/b/deploymentguys/archive/2013/10/21/removing-windows-8-1-built-in-applications.aspxAre you using 8.1?Thanks,BenAnonymous
January 01, 2003
Thanks Joe, That is a very good point. Fixed now. Ben.Anonymous
January 01, 2003
Hi Gokh, They should not come back again. Thanks, BenAnonymous
January 01, 2003
Hi DJ, The only way to reinstall these apps is to manually install them from the Windows Store. Thanks, BenAnonymous
January 01, 2003
Hi MDTUser7, There is currently no way to update the built-in apps in the image. Thanks, BenAnonymous
January 01, 2003
Hi Joey, The only way to add these applications back in is via the Windows Store. You need to go to the store and search for the application (for example mail) and install it manually. Thanks, BenAnonymous
January 01, 2003
This is great, my quesiton is not about removing apps rather updating them in the image. I can not find an option to update these apps in the image for example Update-AppxPackage, is there a way to update these apps in Windows 8 image created in MDT 2012 U1. Almost 15 apps already have updates avilable first time you log on on freshly created Windows 8 image, thanksAnonymous
January 01, 2003
The PackageFullName Property has version information in it. If you've upgraded any of the packages, this will probably be different. Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.ZuneMusic | Select-Object -Expand PackageFullName | Remove-AppxPackage This will work even if the apps have been upgraded.Anonymous
November 14, 2012
The comment has been removedAnonymous
January 08, 2013
There is a nice PowerShell script to remove the Windows Store apps in Windows 8 gallery.technet.microsoft.com/.../Remove-Windows-Store-Apps-a00ef4a4Anonymous
April 05, 2013
Excellent, thank you. Out of interest is there any way to reinstall these Apps at a later date? Add-AppxProvisionedPackage only seems to add appx files or unpacked app files, neither of which seem to be available.Anonymous
May 10, 2013
This doesn't seem to affect the domain users, am I missing something here?Anonymous
May 10, 2013
Never mind that last comment it doesn't remove the tiles from users that previously logged on, but new ones it does.Anonymous
July 23, 2013
ı run sysprerp and that icon come back again???Anonymous
September 03, 2013
My question is, once you remove them, how do you re-add? I've been looking and can't find anything. I know you use Add-AppXPackage but can't find exactly how to do it.Anonymous
September 17, 2013
Thank you for this. Very useful, as we are getting started with deploying Win 8 company wide to 50% virtual employees. Tom infotechgospel.blogspot.comAnonymous
December 19, 2013
Last year I published a PowerShell script that is designed to remove the built-in Windows 8 applicationsAnonymous
March 16, 2015
In October last year I published a script that is designed to remove the built-in Windows 8 applicationsAnonymous
June 27, 2015
My question is once I enter Get-AppxPackage | Remove-AppxPackage it asks for the package name... I've entered everything I can think of as the name but to no avail. I realize I'm doing something wrong but can't find an answer. Any thoughts on where I'm going wrong?Anonymous
August 10, 2015
wouldn't it be nice if you just unlock the uninstall buttonAnonymous
August 11, 2015
You do not need the full name of the package, you can use globbing.
get-appxpackage match | remove-appxpackage