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Add the ability to remove Windows Backup & Get Started apps (crapware integrated inside the system packages)

Open raphm4044 opened this issue 11 months ago • 0 comments

⚙️ Issue Checklist

  • [x] I have read the guidelines.
  • [x] I checked for duplicate issues.
  • [x] I searched for existing discussions.
  • [x] I checked for an existing pull request that addresses this request.

❓ Is your feature request related to a problem?

I like to keep my start menu tidy, and i hate seeing apps i have no use for. Most of the time, i would uninstall bloatware by using CTT's WinUtil (what i always do after a clean install of vanilla Windows 11), the Uninstall button, or PowerShell if the app isn't uninstallable.

But for Get Started (the Win11 one that does literally nothing), and the brand-new crapware called Windows Backup, Microsoft decided to put them inside the system components (more specifically, MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS, a.k.a. Windows Feature Experience Pack).

💡 Describe the solution you'd like

Give a script which "patches" the Windows Feature Experience Pack's AppX manifest, to remove the app entries for Windows Backup (WindowsBackup) and Get Started (WebExperienceHost), by firstly modifying the StateRepository database to make Client.CBS uninstallable, then modify the appxmanifest.xml, and finally, register again the app. I have a doubt about this since it doesn't work on my end.

Alternatively, a script disabling the ability to use a MS account can be possible, as it disables Windows Backup, but not Get Started. This is kinda lame since Visual Studio Community relies on a MSA account, and now tells Windows to handle the login, and same for Microsoft 365.

Finally, as a last resort, a script that uninstall Client.CBS from the PC (by using the StateRepository trick, or by removing the UserExperience.Desktop component) can be provided, but uninstalling Client.CBS will result in features being removed, such as the Win-Shift-S shortcut, the Emoji/Clipboard History applet

🔄 Describe alternatives you've considered

Unfortunately, a search on Google only provides results to remove the UserExperience component using dism, but won't work for Windows 11, since Windows Backup is now bundled with the system (on 23H2 and 24H2)

🖼️ Additional context

Image Showcase of the Windows Backup crapware (Source: MS)

Image Showcase of the Get Started brickware (= software that does nothing, and isn't uninstallable (my definition), Source: MS)

I find it absolutely disgusting how Microsoft bundles crapware inside system components, so that they can't be uninstalled.

raphm4044 avatar Mar 23 '25 13:03 raphm4044