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Removing Metro Apps for all users with Powershell

Question

Tuesday, September 5, 2017 4:16 PM

Hi all,

I am trying to find a way to remove specific metro apps (like XBOX) from my Windows 10 1703 Enterprise image. I tried using several powershell commands like 

Get-AppxPackage *xbox* -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage

That worked - but unfortunately only for the current user account. As soon as on other user logs on all the apps are loaded back again.

I was able to remove ALL metro apps (including Calculator and Photos) with a command line in my SCCM Task Sequence:

cmd /c PowerShell.exe -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command "Get-AppxPackage | Remove-AppxPackage"& cmd /c PowerShell.exe -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command "Get-AppXProvisionedPackage -online | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -online"

But that - as mentioned - removed required apps like calculator, it's not able to restore it afterwards. 

I disabled the Store application via GPO - for testing I also enabled it and tried to restore specific apps - also without success...

Hopefully some of you have a solution for the Windows 10 metro app mess :) 

Thanks 

Edwin

All replies (4)

Wednesday, September 6, 2017 6:12 AM ✅Answered

Hi Edwin,

Yes, if we want to remove built-in apps for all users, we need to remove "Provisioned" apps, which are different from "Installed" apps, after we do this, removed apps are deleted from WIM, until system install a feature upgrade, previous built-in apps will come back.

Since you are using SCCM, this blog should be helpful.

Removing Windows 10 in-box apps during a task sequence

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

Also, for reference, script workaround.

Updated Remove Apps Script, and a Workaround

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/mniehaus/2015/12/31/updated-remove-apps-script-and-a-workaround/

Regards

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Thursday, September 7, 2017 1:23 PM ✅Answered

Hey,

it worked! I tested in during SCCM Task Sequence. 

I just wanted to quickly share what I've done. 

In the last few tasks of my sequence I created a command line, that sets the ExecutionPolicy to Bypass:

powershell.exe -command "Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass"

I then took the script from Michael Niehaus (https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/mniehaus/2015/11/11/removing-windows-10-in-box-apps-during-a-task-sequence/) and saved it on a netshare. 

The next step in my command line is again a "Run command line step" that executes the ps1:



The script needs a .xml file that contains a list of all metro apps that should be removed - otherwise it removes ALL apps - including Photos and even the Calculator. Simply store the XML in the same folder as the script - it references to $PSScriptRoot. My XML contains these apps:

Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller
Microsoft.Microsoft3DViewer
Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes
Microsoft.MSPaint
Microsoft.StorePurchaseApp
Microsoft.Wallet
Microsoft.XboxGameOverlay
Microsoft.XboxGameCallableUI
Microsoft.XboxIdentityProvider
Microsoft.XboxSpeechToTextOverlay
Microsoft.Windows.Cortana
Microsoft.3DBuilder
Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub
Microsoft.Office.OneNote
Microsoft.OneConnect
Microsoft.People
Microsoft.WindowsMaps
Microsoft.ZuneVideo
Microsoft.SkypeApp
Microsoft.ZuneMusic
Microsoft.WindowsAlarms
Microsoft.XboxApp
Microsoft.WindowsFeedbackHub
Microsoft.BingWeather
microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps
34791E63.CanonOfficePrinterUtility
Microsoft.WindowsStore
Microsoft.MicrosoftSolitaireCollection

As said it worked like a charm.

Best

Edwin


Tuesday, September 5, 2017 8:40 PM | 1 vote

I always use this script:
remove-default-apps.ps1
commenting out the apps I want to keep (not many).


Friday, December 29, 2017 4:18 PM

Will the provisioned script remove apps that are already installed for a user in additional to stopping it being installed in future for new users during an upgrade from 1607 to 1709?

Having a problem where it seemed to uninstall the apps but leave the tile there which does nothing when clicked on. We need  to get the tiles removed as well.