Windows 10: Removal of Extra, Non-Essential Applications and Services
With the management of Windows images, we all would like to get our install listing down to only those apps needed as well as the services that are needed. It helps with image storage, transfer, and deployment. What resources have you used or are currently using for the setup and maintenance of Windows images that include only the essential Windows installation and services? I admit that the listing of applications that are not part of Windows Core will vary on need of the area i.e. higher education, medical, small business, enterprise. I am looking for any lists, articles, workflows, scripts, or best practices that would help with
the minimizing of the Windows footprint on the hard drive, essential applications, and enabling
only the services that are needed. Thanks for looking at my question.
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We use Windows 10 Enterprise. With version 1709, I cleaned up the all of the apps and the provisioned apps via PowerShell. We also have the Microsoft Store disabled via GPO. I will build the next image with the updated OS download when they release it. Any ideas of which services to turn off or reconfigure? - AAnschutz 5 years ago
Answers (4)
Hello.
It's always easier if it's a Win10 Enterprise, but this is a very very good a detailed guide:
https://blog.danic.net/provisioned-app-packages-in-windows-10-enterprise-windows-10-pro/
Unfortunately, this will not prevent new users from getting new Provisioned Apps installed. (Provisioned Apps are not the same as Apps). For that Microsoft recommends using GPO.
They may return during an Upgrade Step, see:
You could use the PS commands posted here, they will not remove any core app, I tested it with 1803, and it's still working:
https://www.itninja.com/question/removing-bloatware-default-add-ins-windows-10-pro
Comments:
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Thank you. I am looking at those links. Some of the appx removes via PS scripts I have done in the last build. One of the good things is the next base image build I will base on the next version to avoid the Upgrade/SysPrep craziness. - AAnschutz 5 years ago
Top Answer
We leave some apps in for use at the college.
We do set the policy to disable consumer features to stop the constant updates of Apps
:rem kill store app updates
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CloudContent" /v DisableWindowsConsumerFeatures /d 00000001 /t REG_DWORD /f
I also run this powershell script just prior to sysprep to remove the unwanted apps for us
get-appxpackage *BingWeather* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage *Xbox* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage *Messaging* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage *OneNote* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage *People* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage *Photos* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage *Alarms* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage *Camera* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage *Maps* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage *Feedback* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage *Zune* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage *news* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage *get* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage *skype* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage *oneconnect* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage *office* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage Microsoft.XboxGameCallableUI_1000.17134.1.0_neutral_neutral_cw5n1h2txyewy | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage *EclipseManager* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage *ActiproSoftwareLLC* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage *Duolingo* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage *3DViewer* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage *Print3D* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage *Wallet* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage *CBSPreview* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage -allusers *get* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage -allusers *skype* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage -allusers *oneconnect* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage -allusers *office* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage -allusers *camera* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage -allusers *Bingnews* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage -allusers *Xbox* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage -allusers *Messaging* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage -allusers *OneNote* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage -allusers *People* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage -allusers *Photos* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage -allusers *Alarms* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage -allusers *Maps* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage -allusers *Feedback* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage -allusers *Zune* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage -allusers Microsoft.XboxGameCallableUI_1000.17134.1.0_neutral_neutral_cw5n1h2txyewy | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage -allusers *EclipseManager* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage -allusers *ActiproSoftwareLLC* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage -allusers *Duolingo* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage -allusers *3DViewer* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage -allusers *Print3D* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage -allusers *Wallet* | remove-appxpackage
get-appxpackage -allusers *CBSPreview* | remove-appxpackage
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.BingWeather_4.24.11294.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.GetHelp_10.1706.10952.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.Getstarted_6.10.10872.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.Messaging_2018.222.2231.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.Microsoft3DViewer_4.1804.19012.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub_2018.428.1013.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.Office.OneNote_2015.9330.20531.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.OneConnect_4.1805.1291.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.People_2018.516.2011.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.Print3D_2.0.10611.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.SkypeApp_12.1815.209.0_neutral_~_kzf8qxf38zg5c
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.Wallet_2.1.18009.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.WebMediaExtensions_1.0.10671.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.Windows.Photos_2018.18041.15210.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.WindowsAlarms_2018.516.2059.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.WindowsCamera_2018.227.30.1000_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.WindowsFeedbackHub_2018.425.657.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.WindowsMaps_2018.216.2133.1000_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.Xbox.TCUI_1.11.29001.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.XboxApp_41.41.18005.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.XboxGameOverlay_1.28.25001.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay_1.15.1001.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.XboxIdentityProvider_12.41.24002.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.XboxSpeechToTextOverlay_1.21.13002.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.ZuneMusic_2019.18041.14611.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -online -packagename Microsoft.ZuneVideo_2019.17122.16211.1000_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Comments:
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Thank you for the consumer features registry hack. I haven't seen or heard of that one yet. Also, thanks for the full Appx PowerShell script. I wonder what the next version will have us removing as well. - AAnschutz 5 years ago
We just used LTSB version and GPOs with CIS configurations for additional security etc.
Thanks for the listing of the application packages and provisioned packages that I should remove. Does anyone have any insight into cleaning up Windows files and/or a listing of services that should be changed (disabled, enabled, start later) from what they are initially installed as?