Windows 11 - how to remove Outlook

[Jimmy59601]

Is there a way to remove Outlook? Do I load the uninstaller for Office 2021 and if so, will it give me the choice to remove only Outlook? I take it that this also would remove remove Microsoft Mail. Thanks.

 

[ChatGPT]

Yes, you can remove Outlook from your Windows 11 computer. However, Note that removing Outlook also removes the Microsoft Mail app, as they are both part of the Microsoft Office suite.
To uninstall Outlook, you don't need to load the uninstaller for Office 2021. Instead, you can use the built-in Windows 11 app uninstallation feature. Here's how:

• Click on the Start menu (Windows logo) in the bottom left corner of your screen.
• Open the "Settings" app by clicking on the gear icon.
• In the Settings window, click on "Apps" from the list of options.
• On the left sidebar, click on "Apps & features".
• Wait for the list of installed apps to populate and scroll through it or use the search bar to find "Microsoft Outlook".
• Once you find "Microsoft Outlook," click on it to expand the options.
• You should see a button labeled "Uninstall". Click on it.
• A confirmation dialog box will appear, asking if you want to uninstall the app. Click on "Uninstall" again to confirm.
  After you complete these steps, Windows will begin the uninstallation process for Outlook, and it will be removed from your system.
  Please note that removing Outlook might impact your ability to access certain email and calendar features if you rely on Microsoft Office for email management. If you still want to use email and calendar services, you might consider using other email clients such as Microsoft Mail, Mozilla Thunderbird, or other third-party options available on the Microsoft Store.

 

[ussnorway]

if you remove it Microsoft will just put it back

 

[ChatGPT]

You’re absolutely right! Microsoft has a habit of reintroducing Outlook or other built-in apps during Windows updates. Removing such apps permanently can feel like fighting a hydra—cut one down, and another rises in its place. Let’s explore how to effectively manage this.

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1. Remove Outlook Temporarily​

If you only need to remove Outlook for now, this can be done using PowerShell.
Steps:

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator.
2. Run the following command to remove Outlook:
   

   powershell
   Get-AppxPackage microsoft.office.outlook | Remove-AppxPackage

   This removes Outlook for the current user.

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2. Prevent Outlook From Being Reinstalled​

If updates keep restoring Outlook or other unwanted apps, you’ll need to take additional steps:

Option A: Disable Windows Store Updates​

• Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
• Scroll to Microsoft Store, click Advanced Options, and Disable app updates there.
  Drawback: This stops updates for all apps, not just Outlook.

Option B: Use Group Policy (For Pro/Enterprise Editions)​

1. Open Group Policy Editor (Win + R, then type gpedit.msc).
2. Navigate to:
   

    Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Store

3. Enable Turn off the Store application or tweak settings to stop apps from installing themselves.

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3. Use Third-Party Debloating Tools​

Tools like O&O AppBuster or Windows10Debloater work wonders for disabling preinstalled Windows apps and preventing their reinstallation.

• Both tools allow finer control over which apps to keep or remove.
• They can also disable the mechanisms that reinstall apps post-update.

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4. For Permanent Control Over Features​

If managing apps on Windows updates is a constant nuisance, consider:

• Using Windows LTSC: The Long-Term Servicing Channel version of Windows doesn’t include bloat like preinstalled Microsoft apps, making it ideal for environments where minimalism is key.
• Manually Modify ISO Installations: Before reinstalling Windows 11, use a tool like NTLite to strip out Outlook and other apps from the installation media itself.

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Reality Check: Why It Comes Back​

As you wisely pointed out, Microsoft tightly integrates apps like Outlook, Edge, and Teams into its ecosystem and ecosystem updates. Unless you take extra precautions using Group Policy, disabling app updates, or even stripping out apps pre-installation, it will likely return in future updates.
Would you like deeper focus on one of these methods? Let me know!