Keep removed apps from returning during an update

When you update a computer running Windows 10, version 1703 or 1709, you might see provisioned apps that you previously removed post-update. This can happen if the computer was offline when you removed the apps. Windows 10, version 1803 has fixed this issue.

Note

  • This issue only occurs after a feature update (from one version to the next), not monthly updates or security-related updates.
  • This only applies to first-party apps that shipped with Windows 10. This doesn't apply to third-party apps, Microsoft Store apps, or LOB apps.
  • This issue can occur whether you removed the app using Remove-appxprovisionedpackage or Get-AppxPackage -allusers | Remove-AppxPackage -Allusers.

To remove a provisioned app, you need to remove the provisioning package. The apps might reappear if you removed the packages in one of the following ways:

  • If you removed the packages while the wim file was mounted when the device was offline.
  • If you removed the packages by running a PowerShell cmdlet on the device while Windows was online. Although the apps won't appear for new users, you'll still see the apps for the user account you signed in as.

When you remove a provisioned app, we create a registry key that tells Windows not to reinstall or update that app the next time Windows is updated. If the computer isn't online when you deprovision the app, then we don't create that registry key. (This behavior is fixed in Windows 10, version 1803. If you're running Windows 10, version 1709, apply the latest security update to fix it.)

Note

If you remove a provisioned app while Windows is online, it's only removed for new users—the user that you signed in as will still have that provisioned app. That's because the registry key created when you deprovision the app only applies to new users created after the key is created. This doesn't happen if you remove the provisioned app while Windows is offline.

To prevent these apps from reappearing at the next update, manually create a registry key for each app, then update the computer.

Create registry keys for deprovisioned apps

Use the following steps to create a registry key:

  1. Identify any provisioned apps you want removed. Record the package name for each app.
  2. Create a .reg file to generate a registry key for each app. Use this list of Windows 10, version 1709 registry keys as your starting point.
    1. Paste the list of registry keys into Notepad (or a text editor).
    2. Remove the registry keys belonging to the apps you want to keep. For example, if you want to keep the Bing Weather app, delete this registry key:
      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\A ppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.BingWeather_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
      
    3. Save the file with a .txt extension, then right-click the file and change the extension to .reg.
  3. Double-click the .reg file to create the registry keys. You can see the new keys in HKLM\path-to-reg-keys.

You're now ready to update your computer. After the update, check the list of apps in the computer to confirm the removed apps are still gone.

Package names for apps provisioned in Windows 10, version 1709

Displayed app name Package name
Microsoft.3DBuilder Microsoft.3DBuilder_15.2.10821.1000_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.BingWeather Microsoft.BingWeather_4.23.10923.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_1.10.16004.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.GetHelp Microsoft.GetHelp_10.1706.1811.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.Getstarted Microsoft.Getstarted_5.12.2691.1000_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.HEVCVideoExtension Microsoft.HEVCVideoExtension_1.0.2512.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.Messaging Microsoft.Messaging_2018.124.707.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.Microsoft3DViewer Microsoft.Microsoft3DViewer_3.1803.29012.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub_2017.715.118.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.MicrosoftSolitaireCollection Microsoft.MicrosoftSolitaireCollection_3.18.12091.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_2.1.18.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.MSPaint Microsoft.MSPaint_4.1803.21027.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.Office.OneNote Microsoft.Office.OneNote_2015.9126.21251.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.OneConnect Microsoft.OneConnect_3.1708.2224.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.People Microsoft.People_2017.1006.1846.1000_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.Print3D Microsoft.Print3D_1.0.2422.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.SkypeApp Microsoft.SkypeApp_12.1811.248.1000_neutral_~_kzf8qxf38zg5c
Microsoft.StorePurchaseApp Microsoft.StorePurchaseApp_11802.1802.23014.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.Wallet Microsoft.Wallet_1.0.16328.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.Windows.Photos Microsoft.Windows.Photos_2018.18022.15810.1000_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.WindowsAlarms Microsoft.WindowsAlarms_2017.920.157.1000_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.WindowsCalculator Microsoft.WindowsCalculator_2017.928.0.1000_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.WindowsCamera Microsoft.WindowsCamera_2017.1117.10.1000_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_2015.9126.21425.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.WindowsFeedbackHub Microsoft.WindowsFeedbackHub_2018.323.50.1000_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.WindowsMaps Microsoft.WindowsMaps_2017.1003.1829.1000_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.WindowsSoundRecorder Microsoft.WindowsSoundRecorder_2017.928.5.1000_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.WindowsStore Microsoft.WindowsStore_11803.1001.613.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.Xbox.TCUI Microsoft.Xbox.TCUI_1.8.24001.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.XboxApp Microsoft.XboxApp_39.39.21002.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.XboxGameOverlay Microsoft.XboxGameOverlay_1.24.5001.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.XboxIdentityProvider Microsoft.XboxIdentityProvider_2017.605.1240.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.XboxSpeechToTextOverlay Microsoft.XboxSpeechToTextOverlay_1.21.13002.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.ZuneMusic Microsoft.ZuneMusic_2019.18011.13411.1000_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
Microsoft.ZuneVideo Microsoft.ZuneVideo_2019.17122.16211.1000_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Registry keys for provisioned apps

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
;1709 Registry Keys

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.BingWeather_8wekyb3d8bbwe]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_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.MSPaint_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.StorePurchaseApp_8wekyb3d8bbwe]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.Wallet_8wekyb3d8bbwe]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.Windows.Photos_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.WindowsCalculator_8wekyb3d8bbwe]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.WindowsCamera_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.WindowsStore_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]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.3DBuilder_8wekyb3d8bbwe]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.HEVCVideoExtension_8wekyb3d8bbwe]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.Messaging_8wekyb3d8bbwe]

Get-AppxPackage Get-AppxPackage -allusers Remove-AppxPackage