As the anticipation grows for the next major release of Windows 11, a wave of excitement and cautious optimism is sweeping through the IT community and enterprise sector. Windows 11 version 25H2, expected by many to arrive this October, promises not just incremental improvements but a groundbreaking change that directly responds to years of user outcry: a new group policy tool enabling administrators to remove a swath of default Microsoft apps in a single, streamlined operation. This seemingly technical shift marks a pivotal turning point in the relationship between Microsoft and its user base, signaling a renewed focus on flexibility, system cleanliness, and the evolving expectations of both individual users and enterprise scale deployments.
One of the perennial frustrations among Windows users—particularly power users, system administrators, and businesses—has long been the proliferation of default Microsoft Store apps bundled with each fresh installation of the operating system. Apps like Feedback Hub, Xbox Game Bar, and Solitaire Collection often land on systems where their utility is questionable at best, and unnecessary bloat at worst. While Microsoft’s vision may be to provide a comprehensive out-of-the-box experience, critics argue this approach results in cluttered menus, wasted disk space, and an administrative headache, especially in environments where minimalism, speed, and control are paramount.
Manual removal of these apps is possible, but laborious, and certain packages are resistant to typical uninstall methods. PowerShell scripts have offered a workaround, albeit one that is daunting to less experienced users and sometimes delivers spotty results. The absence of a unified, official tool has been a sore point for IT teams eager for an efficient “debloating” solution that doesn’t involve scripting, third-party utilities, or time-consuming manual effort.
This policy move, while technical in nature, has practical and symbolic ramifications. For the enterprise, it simplifies system imaging, supports leaner deployments, and aligns with the need for secure, distraction-free work environments. For Microsoft, it is an acknowledgement that user choice and administrative control should not be mutually exclusive in modern operating systems.
Moreover, while the list of removable apps is extensive, it is not exhaustive. Core system components or deeply embedded utilities remain protected by design, reflecting Microsoft’s balancing act between user control and system integrity.
With the Remove Default Microsoft Store Packages setting, the process is both centralized and supported. Administrators can configure the policy through Group Policy or its corresponding settings in Microsoft Endpoint Manager (Intune), specifying which default apps to purge based on organizational requirements. Early reports, including testing by Patch My PC and independent IT consultants, suggest a dramatic reduction in setup time and post-deployment troubleshooting.
Community and enterprise testers have highlighted these minor artifacts, and Microsoft appears responsive to the critique. Expect continued refinement over the coming months as feedback is digested and implementation is hardened for broader release.
Critically, the implementation of the Group Policy approach ensures that the feature remains firmly within the domain of managed IT environments. There is no evidence yet that Microsoft intends to expose similar capabilities to Home users, suggesting an ongoing tension between security, user autonomy, and the company’s business model.
However, criticisms remain. Some users are disappointed the feature is not available to Home edition users, for whom unwanted apps can be just as irritating. Others warn that incomplete removals and lingering artifacts, while less impactful in enterprise scenarios, diminish the polish of what could otherwise be a transformative feature. Some tech bloggers and Windows power users have already begun lobbying for parity across all Windows editions and for increased flexibility in customizing what counts as “removable.”
Still, because some default apps are not affected, and the policy does not touch on third-party bloatware, administrators will need to maintain a multi-layered approach. Microsoft is making progress here but has not fully solved the “Windows bloat” issue in its entirety.
While there are limitations—no support for Home users or third-party app removals and minor kinks with incomplete cleanup—the policy marks a significant victory for administrator simplicity, enterprise security, and the broader movement towards user empowerment in Windows. It offers a glimpse of a future where Windows might finally shed its bloated reputation in favor of a leaner, more customizable operating system suitable for every environment.
As 25H2 approaches general availability, all eyes will be on Microsoft’s continued refinements and whether this initial policy becomes a foundation for even deeper user and admin customization in the years ahead. In the interim, organizations preparing for widespread Windows 11 rollouts should take note and start planning how to leverage this long-requested capability—another step toward making Windows, on every device, truly their own.
Source: BetaNews Windows 11 25H2 has a new option to remove all unwanted Microsoft apps
One of the perennial frustrations among Windows users—particularly power users, system administrators, and businesses—has long been the proliferation of default Microsoft Store apps bundled with each fresh installation of the operating system. Apps like Feedback Hub, Xbox Game Bar, and Solitaire Collection often land on systems where their utility is questionable at best, and unnecessary bloat at worst. While Microsoft’s vision may be to provide a comprehensive out-of-the-box experience, critics argue this approach results in cluttered menus, wasted disk space, and an administrative headache, especially in environments where minimalism, speed, and control are paramount.Manual removal of these apps is possible, but laborious, and certain packages are resistant to typical uninstall methods. PowerShell scripts have offered a workaround, albeit one that is daunting to less experienced users and sometimes delivers spotty results. The absence of a unified, official tool has been a sore point for IT teams eager for an efficient “debloating” solution that doesn’t involve scripting, third-party utilities, or time-consuming manual effort.
The 25H2 Solution: Remove Default Microsoft Store Packages Policy
With Windows 11 25H2, Microsoft is offering a significant concession to these demands. The new “Remove Default Microsoft Store Packages” policy—currently available for preview within the Dev Channel—enables system administrators to mass-remove pre-installed Microsoft apps via Group Policy. Navigating to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > App Package Deployment exposes the new option: "Remove Default Microsoft Store packages from the system."This policy move, while technical in nature, has practical and symbolic ramifications. For the enterprise, it simplifies system imaging, supports leaner deployments, and aligns with the need for secure, distraction-free work environments. For Microsoft, it is an acknowledgement that user choice and administrative control should not be mutually exclusive in modern operating systems.
What’s on the Chopping Block
The policy supports a notably broad list of default apps, including:- Feedback Hub
- Microsoft 365 Copilot
- Microsoft Clipchamp
- Microsoft News
- Microsoft Photos
- Microsoft Solitaire Collection
- Microsoft Sticky Notes
- Microsoft Teams
- Microsoft To Do
- MSN Weather
- Outlook for Windows
- Paint
- Quick Assist
- Snipping Tool
- Windows Calculator
- Windows Camera
- Windows Media Player
- Windows Notepad
- Windows Sound Recorder
- Windows Terminal
- Xbox Gaming App
- Xbox Gaming Overlay
- Xbox Identity Provider
- Xbox Speech To Text Overlay
- Xbox TCUI
Limits and Caveats: Not All Bloat Is Banished
It’s worth noting that this policy only applies to official Microsoft Store apps and not to third-party applications which may come bundled through OEM deals or other distribution channels. Those still require separate management. Additionally, the Group Policy method is not available to Windows 11 Home users, limiting the benefit to Pro, Enterprise, and Education SKUs. For home users, the dream of a single-click de-bloat remains elusive—though this move may yet pressure Microsoft to consider a more democratized solution in the future.Moreover, while the list of removable apps is extensive, it is not exhaustive. Core system components or deeply embedded utilities remain protected by design, reflecting Microsoft’s balancing act between user control and system integrity.
The Technical Implementation: A Fresh Approach
Prior to this policy, mass removal of built-in apps was generally accomplished via less official means—either writing and running custom PowerShell scripts or relying on third-party debloater tools that automate command-line removals. These solutions, while effective for certain use cases, carry risks: PowerShell scripts can be error-prone and may inadvertently remove critical dependencies, while third-party tools introduce security and trust concerns in managed environments.With the Remove Default Microsoft Store Packages setting, the process is both centralized and supported. Administrators can configure the policy through Group Policy or its corresponding settings in Microsoft Endpoint Manager (Intune), specifying which default apps to purge based on organizational requirements. Early reports, including testing by Patch My PC and independent IT consultants, suggest a dramatic reduction in setup time and post-deployment troubleshooting.
Remaining Issues: Orphaned Shortcuts and Incomplete Cleanups
No preview feature is ever perfect, and initial testing of this new policy reveals some imperfections. Specifically, while the removal targets user-facing apps, remnants such as orphaned shortcuts in the Start menu may persist post-uninstallation. This is a minor, but not insignificant, flaw for those pursuing a perfectly clean deployment. Such issues are precisely why the feature remains tied to the Dev Channel as of this writing: Microsoft is seeking feedback before general rollout, fine-tuning uninstall routines to ensure both completeness and system stability.Community and enterprise testers have highlighted these minor artifacts, and Microsoft appears responsive to the critique. Expect continued refinement over the coming months as feedback is digested and implementation is hardened for broader release.
Enterprise and System Admin Perspective: A Dream Realized
For enterprise and education IT departments—responsible for deploying and managing tens, hundreds, or thousands of Windows endpoints—the difference is more than cosmetic. The historical inability to quickly customize the default state of new installations has been a thorn in the side of sysadmins for years. The new policy means:- Faster, leaner provisioning: Less time spent uninstalling apps post-deployment.
- Reduced attack surface: Every unnecessary app is one less potential vulnerability.
- Lowered support overhead: Fewer user complaints about unwanted pre-installed software.
- More predictable images: Better alignment between what is tested in the lab and delivered in the field.
Broader Implications: Shifting Attitudes at Microsoft
It’s significant that Microsoft is offering this granular control at all. Historically, the company has been reluctant to give users—particularly IT admins—the power to remove built-in features, arguing it undermines the intended Windows experience or risks support complexity. The policy shift likely reflects a maturing attitude to customer feedback and a recognition that “Windows as a service” also means Windows as the customer wants it.Critically, the implementation of the Group Policy approach ensures that the feature remains firmly within the domain of managed IT environments. There is no evidence yet that Microsoft intends to expose similar capabilities to Home users, suggesting an ongoing tension between security, user autonomy, and the company’s business model.
The User Response: Applause With Reservations
Early feedback from the Windows community and industry experts has been overwhelmingly positive, especially among those managing large deployments. Many sysadmins have not been shy in expressing their enthusiasm online, hailing the change as long overdue and a clear win for productivity and control.However, criticisms remain. Some users are disappointed the feature is not available to Home edition users, for whom unwanted apps can be just as irritating. Others warn that incomplete removals and lingering artifacts, while less impactful in enterprise scenarios, diminish the polish of what could otherwise be a transformative feature. Some tech bloggers and Windows power users have already begun lobbying for parity across all Windows editions and for increased flexibility in customizing what counts as “removable.”
Security and Compliance: Positive, But Room for Improvement
From a security perspective, the potential to pare back Windows 11 to its essentials is a win. Unused apps can, however infrequently, be targets or vectors for exploits; their removal shrinks the attack surface and lessens the likelihood of future vulnerabilities. Compliance-driven sectors—finance, healthcare, education—stand to benefit most, as do organizations striving for regulatory or internal certification on the minimalism and customizability of their environments.Still, because some default apps are not affected, and the policy does not touch on third-party bloatware, administrators will need to maintain a multi-layered approach. Microsoft is making progress here but has not fully solved the “Windows bloat” issue in its entirety.
Looking Forward: What Remains to Be Done
As the feature matures and feedback accumulates, the community’s wishlist is already coalescing:- Extend to Home users: While Group Policy is a logical fit for enterprise, a simplified interface for Home users would be widely welcomed.
- Expand customization: More granularness, including semi-built-in features, and potentially the removal of certain OEM-installed components.
- Orphaned items clean-up: Ensure complete erasure of short cuts and references to uninstalled apps.
- Third-party bloatware support: Cooperation with OEMs or new policy tools to extinguish common non-Microsoft bloatware.
Conclusion: A Step Forward—But Not the End of the Road
The arrival of the Remove Default Microsoft Store Packages policy in the Windows 11 25H2 update is a welcomed and, in many ways, overdue change. It reflects Microsoft’s willingness to adapt and respond to user needs, particularly those of enterprise administrators and power users who have long clamored for more control over what resides on their systems.While there are limitations—no support for Home users or third-party app removals and minor kinks with incomplete cleanup—the policy marks a significant victory for administrator simplicity, enterprise security, and the broader movement towards user empowerment in Windows. It offers a glimpse of a future where Windows might finally shed its bloated reputation in favor of a leaner, more customizable operating system suitable for every environment.
As 25H2 approaches general availability, all eyes will be on Microsoft’s continued refinements and whether this initial policy becomes a foundation for even deeper user and admin customization in the years ahead. In the interim, organizations preparing for widespread Windows 11 rollouts should take note and start planning how to leverage this long-requested capability—another step toward making Windows, on every device, truly their own.
Source: BetaNews Windows 11 25H2 has a new option to remove all unwanted Microsoft apps