Windows 11 - Autopilot - remove Consumer Shortcuts

Question

Windows 11 - Autopilot - remove Consumer Shortcuts

Matt Dillon 437

Is there a configuration setting in Intune that would remove the shortcuts for Spotify,TikTok, WhatsApp, Disney+, etc that seem to appear on a fresh install of Windows 11?

I have successfully used Proactive Remediation to get rid of the Consumer version of Teams, and was able to successfully remove the Teams Chat icon using a configuration profile. Is there a configuration profile that will help remove the consumer shortcuts?

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7 answers

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Answer 1

BunnyTub 0

Unless you have Windows 11 hooked up to a domain, probably not.

I'm not an employee or expert, but Microsoft kind of sucks when it comes to stuff like this.

Matt Dillon 437 Reputation points

2023-01-19T21:20:48.5066667+00:00

Running Intune kind of assumes this is for a domain. Whether they suck at it or not, I simply want to know if there is an Intune Configuration policy that can get rid of them. Your opinion on Microsoft is noted though. Have a nice day.

Answer 2

Crystal-MSFT 54,326 Microsoft External Staff

@Matt Dillon, Thanks for the reply. After researching, I didn't find the configuration profile to remove Spotify,TikTok, WhatsApp, Disney+ shortcut,. But it seems we can use Proactive Remediation feature to do this. Here is a link I find for your reference:

https://scloud.work/en/proactively-remove-unwanted-shortcuts/?amp=1

Note: Non-Microsoft link. Just for the reference.

You can try and see if it can work.

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Matt Dillon 437 Reputation points

2023-01-20T13:43:40.8833333+00:00

I have seen that article, but the shortcuts are indeed present in the Start Menu when I install Windows 11 Professional @Rahul Jindal

I'll keep digging. I'm sure there is a scriptable solution to remove these shortcuts. The apps themselves are not installed - just shortcuts.
Crystal-MSFT 54,326 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2023-01-23T05:45:41.6933333+00:00

@Matt Dillon, Thanks for the reply. For the shorcut on the command you can try to delete the .ink under the following location to see if it works:

Per-user menu: C:\Users[username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

All user's menu: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/29554616/remove-an-item-from-the-start-menu-using-batch-file

Note: Non-Microsoft link, just for the reference.

Hope it can help.
Matt Dillon 437 Reputation points

2023-01-23T14:21:24.5166667+00:00

Tried both of those locations and no shortcut listed. :(
Rudy Ooms 726 Reputation points MVP

2023-01-23T15:20:26.23+00:00

Hehe I guess my comment and yours are the same :)... Also posted the same to remote those "promotional apps"

Matt Dillon 437

Success!!

The only way to remove those faux-shortcuts is to apply a custom start menu layout using a JSON file and following the instructions here:

[https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/configuration/customize-start-menu-layout-windows-11

Here is the JSON I used which is the default minus the consumer applications:

(I was able to customize (add and subtract and group) icons as normal)

{"pinnedList":[{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Microsoft Edge.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Word.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Excel.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\PowerPoint.lnk"},{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.WindowsStore_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"},{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.Windows.Photos_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"},{"packagedAppId":"windows.immersivecontrolpanel_cw5n1h2txyewy!microsoft.windows.immersivecontrolpanel"},{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.Todos_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"},{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.WindowsCalculator_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"},{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.WindowsAlarms_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"},{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"},{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.Paint_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"},{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.ZuneVideo_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.ZuneVideo"},{"desktopAppLink":"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\OneNote.lnk"},{"desktopAppLink":"%APPDATA%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\File Explorer.lnk"}]}

Answer 3

Rahul Jindal 11,721

The apps will show up when you are using Pro SKU. Or are you noticing it on Ent as well? No built-in profile to address these apps, but you can use a script or perhaps sync the apps from the store and push them as uninstall.

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Answer 4

Rudy Ooms 726 MVP

Multiple options you got.. As those apps you mentioned are Store Apps and are installed in the c:\windows\systemapps if I am not mistaken. It also depends if the user is admin or not.... but this is one example to remove it with PowerShell

One example to remove spotify

$RunningApp =Get-Process -Name "spotify*"

If ($RunningApp){Stop-Process -InputObject $RunningApp -Force}

Get-AppPackage -NAMESpotifyAB.SpotifyMusic | Remove-AppPackage

In the past I used the Microsoft store for business (I know... ) so I could add the apps in there and just select the uninstall when the app was synced to Intune. (the new Microsoft store app functionality doesn't have those apps if I am not mistaken).

So maybe you could use the agentexecutor from the device to uninstall the apps, just like I am mentioning in this blog below

[https://call4cloud.nl/2022/12/hotel-microsoft-store-apps-transformania/

Feel free to reach out to me on social media if you have any additional questions about it

Matt Dillon 437 Reputation points

2023-01-23T14:22:24.81+00:00

Thanks, but these apps are not installed. There is just a shortcut shown that if you click on it - the app then installs. Will keep trying.
Rudy Ooms 726 Reputation points MVP

2023-01-23T15:18:51.3866667+00:00

Ahhh wait the "promotional apps"you are refering to :) . I guess you need to change the start layout with a json as that registry fix doesn't work (if I am correct)

[https://www.elevenforum.com/t/how-to-disable-windows-11-promotional-apps-for-all-users.1552/
Matt Dillon 437 Reputation points

2023-01-23T15:22:10.04+00:00

Posted at almost the same time. LOL. Great minds.....

Answer 5

Pavel yannara Mirochnitchenko 13,456 MVP

With Windows 11 Ent, I don't see any crapware, just MAIL and Teams Consumer which icon can be removed with Settings Catalog.

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