How to Uninstall a Stubborn Microsoft Store App via PowerShell

Quick fix: Open PowerShell as Admin. Run: Get-AppxPackage *AppName* | Remove-AppxPackage. Replace *AppName* with the app’s package family name. For all users: add -AllUsers. For built-in apps that can’t uninstall via Settings: Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers *AppName* | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers.

Some Microsoft Store apps refuse to uninstall via Settings → Apps. Common stubborn cases: corrupted apps, system-tied apps (Xbox, Cortana), apps with broken Settings entries. PowerShell’s Appx cmdlets bypass the Settings UI and remove apps directly.

What causes this need

Settings → Apps may not offer Uninstall for: built-in system apps (Edge, Photos, Calculator), corrupted apps with broken metadata, apps tied to system processes, apps installed by Microsoft for management (Cortana, Bing apps). PowerShell’s Get-AppxPackage works at the package level, bypassing Settings.

Method 1: Find and remove the app

The standard route.

1. Open PowerShell (Admin). Right-click Start → Terminal (Admin) → ensure PowerShell tab.
2. Find the app’s package name. Search by partial name:

   Get-AppxPackage *xbox*

   Returns matching packages with Name, Publisher, Version, PackageFullName.

3. Note the Name field of the app you want to remove.
4. Remove for current user:

   Get-AppxPackage *xbox.tcui* | Remove-AppxPackage

5. Remove for all users on PC (Admin):

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

6. Verify removed: re-run Get-AppxPackage. App should not appear.
7. Note: PowerShell removes the app from this user. To prevent reinstall during reset, also remove the provisioned package (Method 2).

This is the basic remove.

Method 2: Remove provisioned package to prevent reinstall

For permanent removal.

1. Provisioned packages reinstall apps for new users created on the PC. To stop that:

   Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like "*xbox*" }

   Lists provisioned packages matching xbox.

2. Remove:

   Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like "*xbox.tcui*" } | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online

3. Now the app won’t reinstall for new users.
4. For users already on the PC: combine Method 1 + Method 2.
5. For Sysprep / image preparation: remove provisioned packages before sysprep to keep apps out of new images.
6. To reinstall later: Add-AppxPackage -Register "$Path\AppXManifest.xml" or install from Store.

This makes removal permanent.

Method 3: Common stubborn apps and their package names

For quick removal of frequently-stuck apps.

1. Common stubborn apps and their PowerShell commands:
   • Xbox app: Get-AppxPackage *xbox* | Remove-AppxPackage
   • Cortana: Get-AppxPackage *Cortana* | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers
   • Mail and Calendar: Get-AppxPackage *communicationsapps* | Remove-AppxPackage
   • People app: Get-AppxPackage *People* | Remove-AppxPackage
   • OneNote: Get-AppxPackage *OneNote* | Remove-AppxPackage
   • Get Help: Get-AppxPackage *GetHelp* | Remove-AppxPackage
   • Maps: Get-AppxPackage *Maps* | Remove-AppxPackage
2. For Cortana specifically: Win11 marks it as a system component. PowerShell still removes per-user.
3. For Edge: cannot fully remove via this method on Win11; Microsoft restricts. Use specific Edge uninstaller from %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft\Edge\Application\xxx\Installer\setup.exe --uninstall --system-level.
4. For Microsoft Store itself: dangerous to remove. May break Windows update mechanism. Don’t unless sure.
5. For OneDrive: separate uninstall path (it’s a Win32 app, not Appx). Settings → Apps → Microsoft OneDrive → Uninstall.
6. For Game Pass: install via Xbox app or remove Xbox app first.

This is the targeted removal.

How to verify the fix worked

• Get-AppxPackage *AppName* returns nothing (or only system-level entries you can’t remove).
• App icon removed from Start menu.
• Settings → Apps no longer shows the app.
• Disk space increases slightly (less for small apps, more for games).

If none of these work

If Remove-AppxPackage fails: Permission denied: ensure PowerShell as Admin. For -AllUsers, must be Admin. System app protection: some apps (Edge) are protected. Microsoft won’t allow uninstall. Dependency conflict: app needed by other apps. Remove dependent first. Group Policy enforcing: corporate policy may auto-restore apps. Check Group Policy. For Insider builds: app names change. Use partial match. For complete fresh state: Reset This PC → clean install. For preventing all bloatware: use Windows 11 Pro Education or Windows 11 Education editions; have fewer apps preinstalled. For monitoring auto-reinstall: Windows Update + Microsoft account sync may reinstall apps. Disable in Settings → Apps → Advanced settings (some options).

Bottom line: Get-AppxPackage *AppName* | Remove-AppxPackage in Admin PowerShell. Add -AllUsers for system-wide. Also remove provisioned package via Get-AppxProvisionedPackage to prevent reinstall for new users.