How To Get Rid Of Windows 10 Version 1803 Photos App With Powershell

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Hi all,

I've been struggling with this for over a week now. I'm working on building a golden image for windows 10 1803 Enterprise for a VMware linked clone pool. I have attempted removal using the powershell script below. It seems like it does the job for the most part, however the Start Menu stuff keeps coming back for new users etc.

                    $AppsList = "*SpotifyAB.SpotifyMusic*", "*AutodeskSketchBook*", "*MarchofEmpires*", "*DolbyAccess*", "*CandyCrushSodaSaga*", "*CandyCrushSaga*", "*HiddenCityMysteryofShadows*", "*Minecraft*", "*DisneyMagicKingdoms*", "*Plex*", "*BubbleWitch3Saga*", "Microsoft.WindowsFeedbackHub", "Microsoft.XboxIdentityProvider", "Microsoft.OneConnect", "Microsoft.BingWeather", "Microsoft.People", "Microsoft.WindowsAlarms", "Microsoft.WindowsMaps", "Microsoft.XboxSpeechToTextOverlay", "Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay", "Microsoft.XboxGameOverlay", "Microsoft.SkypeApp", "Microsoft.MicrosoftSolitaireCollection", "Microsoft.Whiteboard", "Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub", "Microsoft.GetHelp", "Microsoft.Getstarted", "Microsoft.Messaging", "Microsoft.Todos", "Microsoft.OfficeLens", "Microsoft.NetworkSpeedTest", "Microsoft.Microsoft3DViewer", "Microsoft.Office.OneNote", "Microsoft.Print3D", "Microsoft.Wallet", "microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps", "Microsoft.Xbox.TCUI", "Microsoft.XboxApp", "Microsoft.ZuneMusic", "Microsoft.ZuneVideo" ForEach ($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?   } }

Apps such as network speed test and many others that were removed appear to redownload themselves, even for the current user that the script was executed on.

I've also tried targetting the -AllUsers command in the removal but they still come back.

After executing the script and checking the apps using

Get-AppxPackage | select package, packagefullname along with Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Select package name... it appears all the apps from above are removed, but they're still somehow finding a way to reinstall themselves. Is there a local GPO/Registry tweak that would prevent these apps from reinstalling automatically?

I know this has been asked many times, but there's so many different ways people are doing this and none of them seem to fully work. I don't want to break the store functionality and I want to keep apps like Calculator/Photos etc.

joseespitia

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Feb 25, 2019 at 15:25 UTC

Did you use the Turn off Microsoft Consumer Experiences GPO? This will stop a lot of things from coming back.

Group Policy Path: Computer / Admin Templates / Windows Components / Cloud Content / Turn off Microsoft consumer experiences

13 Replies

Try ntlite. I used that one to modify the boot.wim and install.wim from my installer

Brandon8146

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Feb 22, 2019 at 13:29 UTC

We use MDT for our deployments and remove unwanted apps with a PS Script. The script is called "RemoveApps" by Michael Niehaus. You can list all the apps you want to remove in an XML file. Then when you run the script it removes all the apps listed in the XML file. The apps do not come back for us.

Also, I think you might possibly have to make sure the unwanted apps are not pinned on the start menu because I think Windows will download and reinstall them for new users. We just replace the LayoutModification.xml file with our custom one.

Here is a link to the RemoveApps guide: https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/mniehaus/2015/11/11/removing-windows-10-in-box-apps-during-a-tas...

stephensmith

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Feb 22, 2019 at 14:13 UTC

There is a good script out there that does exactly what you want and has a version specific to 1803 and 1809. It's called windows 10 decrappifier. It is customizable as well which is nice. I have used it several times and been happy with the results.

SteveSpayde

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Feb 22, 2019 at 15:25 UTC

I use decrapifier also and add a custom .xml file to the script to lockdown my start menu.

Hi,

I will second stephensmith. The DeCrapifier group has a great script and good discussion on this. More info at Windows Decrapifier Group.

Paul

Ok, i'll just executed it on a clean win 10 install with the variables -AppsOnly -ClearStart -Cortana

I'm trying to run sysprep from a customization specification in vsphere client and it keeps getting hung up on random apps and won't fully sysprep the image.

I go through Windows fresh install, create a temp user

Once completed, i enable Administrator with a password, login as administrator, delete the temp user > reboot

Log back in, run the decrapifier script with those switches, reset the restrictedmode, reboot

Install vmware tools with typical settings > reboot

Power off the machine and try to clone the virtual machine with the customization specification and boom... it fails due to MicrosoftOfficeHub_17etc. app. The app is not listed with Get-AppxPackage | select package, packagefullname (current user), but if i use Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | select package, packagefull name... it shows up.

There's no other user outside of the default Administrator account...

Software Deployment & Patching expert

Do not worry about trying to run the script before capture. Instead run the script at deployment.....or.... mount the iso file and rip it out and save the changes. No script needed then.

i run vdi as well, both citrix and vmware rec'd ltsb/c due to its stability and no extra crap

Im really close to going with LTSB. However, i'm going to sysprep the install in audit mode and create a template from it with the decrap script executed and the vmware optimization (editted template) run. Crossing fingers.

I'll report back.

joseespitia

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Feb 25, 2019 at 15:25 UTC

Did you use the Turn off Microsoft Consumer Experiences GPO? This will stop a lot of things from coming back.

Group Policy Path: Computer / Admin Templates / Windows Components / Cloud Content / Turn off Microsoft consumer experiences

Hi Jose,

I used a registry addition. Hopefully this accomplishes the same thing as the gpo.
Hklm\software\policies\microsoft\windows\cloudcontent
Dword DisableWindowsConsumerFeatures 1

joseespitia

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Feb 26, 2019 at 20:16 UTC

jasonsmith3 wrote:

Hi Jose,

I used a registry addition. Hopefully this accomplishes the same thing as the gpo.
Hklm\software\policies\microsoft\windows\cloudcontent
Dword DisableWindowsConsumerFeatures 1

Yes that would work too. GPO essentially uses this key to configure the setting.

Excellent. It appears i'm finally able to run sysprep on the parent image. Thank you everyone for your help. It appears the cloudcontent registry key has stopped its attempt at reinstalling.

Hope others find this helpful.

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