How to remove Windows Backup 'app'?

WillingMost7 said:

Lovely! Here is your code in one line without the hassle of doing all the searching after the package etc etc manually.

Code:

dism /online /get-packages | Select-String "UserExperience" | ForEach-Object { $_ -match 'Package Identity : (.+)$' | Out-Null; $matches[1] } | ForEach-Object { Remove-WindowsPackage -Online -PackageName $_ }

Thank you WillingMost7 for your code in one line. This works great!

Callender said:

Sure you can remove it but it might break something in future like a cumulative update that targets Windows Backup.

I suspect that rather than breaking anything, each month's cumulative update will just reinstall Windows Backup and you'll need to go through the process of removing it every month.

Same goes for the stupid "System" labels which some genius at MS thought would be a great idea when all it does is clutter up the Start Menu. Sounds like another one of those "I need to do something to justify my job" and "keeping myself gainfully employed" scenarios (a lot of Windows 11 with it's "who moved my cheese?" changes comes under that scenario, in my opinion).

I found a way to remove those "System" labels (from someone posting it here and the Windows 11 Forum) but I also strongly suspect the monthly cumulative updates will bring that back as well. At least I don't have to see a "System" label until I get down near the bottom of the Start Menu (Settings) which I don't do very often so now I just ignore it.

Callender said:

Sure you can remove it but it might break something in future like a cumulative update that targets Windows Backup.

Regarding the post previous to this one and the quote, I have found out it breaks only the Win+Shift+S screenshot feature (that feature is not dependent on the new snipping application, as I had it removed and it still worked). Nothing else so far, so for those who liked that feature I would suggest not to remove it.

WillingMost7 said:

Lovely! Here is your code in one line without the hassle of doing all the searching after the package etc etc manually.

Code:

dism /online /get-packages | Select-String "UserExperience" | ForEach-Object { $_ -match 'Package Identity : (.+)$' | Out-Null; $matches[1] } | ForEach-Object { Remove-WindowsPackage -Online -PackageName $_ }

Thanks for one line code, but unfortunatly it doesn't work for me in powershell as admin: error:
Indexation impossible dans un tableau Null.
Au caractère Ligne:1 : 129

Impossible indexing in a Null array.
To character Line:1: 129

Hello.

I was looking for a solution, and Google bring me here. With the information I got here, I found an alternative.

Be aware: uninstalling the 'userexeperience' package can lead you to problems, like System force closing the Settings app. Maybe others. I suggest you to check if you have two 'userexperience' BEFORE uninstalling all packages:

Code:

Get-WindowsPackage -online | Where 'Packagename' -like '*userexperience*' | Out-GridView -PassThru | Remove-WindowsPackage -online -norestart

Take the newest one (not the 'deprecated'), and click OK. The package with Windows Backup will be uninstalled. This duplicate can happens if Windows didn't make automatic maintenace yet, or if you don't consolidate the WinSXS folder after an update. This way, some packages get 'deprecated' to new ones. To manually consolidate, use:

Code:

dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup /resetbase

Unfortunately, this may not remove the start menu icon, but maybe cCleaner or similar can get rid for you. I didn't test this.

So, my way to get rid of Windows Backup is based on a new installation:
Installed a fresh 22H2, and enter Sysprep mode
Copied the 'MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy' to the desktop
Did all modifications, updates, installations, etc
Before go out from Sysprep, I used a live DVD (Hirens) to delete the 'ClientCBS' folder, and moved the copied folder back to SystemApps
Capture the image, create a ISO, and install.

Boooommm!! No Windows Backup. I found some registry keys left, but I don't mind. So, is something INSIDE this folder. But I don't know what. Yet.

What you can try if you already got the Backup is get a clean 'ClientCBS' folder from somewhere (maybe mounting an original install.esd), uninstall the update with Windows Backup, and then install this updte again. But, before Windows starts after the update, use a live DVD to delete the folder, and then copy the original one back to SystemApps.

My English is so bad... hope you can understand. Good luck!

romulocarlos said:

Be aware: uninstalling the 'userexeperience' package can lead you to problems, like System force closing the Settings app. Maybe others. I suggest you to check if you have two 'userexperience' BEFORE uninstalling all packages

Are you sure it will leads me to problems ?
My "Settings app" still works fine.
Yes I had removed two 'userexperience', but none were tagged as 'deprecated'

Code:

Remove-WindowsPackage -Online -PackageName "Microsoft-Windows-UserExperience-Desktop-Package~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.0.19041.3636"
Remove-WindowsPackage -Online -PackageName "Microsoft-Windows-UserExperience-Desktop-Package~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.0.19041.4046"

Thanks for the tip but really don't want to reinstall Windows just to properly remove an icon from the start menu

Still don't understand why the 'one line code' gave me error (-> null array)

redscreen said:

Are you sure it will leads me to problems ?
My "Settings app" still works fine.
Yes I had removed two 'userexperience', but none were tagged as 'deprecated'

Code:

Remove-WindowsPackage -Online -PackageName "Microsoft-Windows-UserExperience-Desktop-Package~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.0.19041.3636"
Remove-WindowsPackage -Online -PackageName "Microsoft-Windows-UserExperience-Desktop-Package~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.0.19041.4046"

Thanks for the tip but really don't want to reinstall Windows just to properly remove an icon from the start menu

Still don't understand why the 'one line code' gave me error (-> null array)

I've tested it in a virtual machine, and Settings self-close when I open System. You don't need to reinstall, just create a restore point, or better, use a backup software like AOMEI.

WillingMost7 said:

Lovely! Here is your code in one line without the hassle of doing all the searching after the package etc etc manually.

Thanks for that, and here's another even simpler one that has worked well for me so far:

PowerShell (amin):

Code:

Get-WindowsPackage -Online -PackageName *UserExperience* | Remove-WindowsPackage -Online

Quexos said:

Thanks for that, and here's another even simpler one that has worked well for me so far:

PowerShell (amin):

Code:

Get-WindowsPackage -Online -PackageName *UserExperience* | Remove-WindowsPackage -Online

They broke the Clipboard (Ctrl + V) feature on my end.

antonyang1110 said:

They broke the Clipboard (Ctrl + V) feature on my end.

Has anyone found a way to fix this? It's broken Clipboard History and Snipping Tool. I'm not sure what else if anything is also broken...