Turn Off Automatic Installation of Suggested Apps in Windows 10  

In case anyone is interested, I had a spare harddrive laying around so I did some verifying with an image I stripped down using MSMG in preparation of upgrading my desktop next week. And I'm glad to report the single setting in post one does work.

Thanks Brink, sorry I doubted (questioned) you...

Here is my list just after the fresh install...

Code:

Name                                        PackageFullName                                                            
----                                        ---------------                                                            
Microsoft.Windows.CloudExperienceHost       Microsoft.Windows.CloudExperienceHost_10.0.17763.1_neutral_neutral_cw5n1...
Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost       Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost_10.0.17763.1_neutral_neutral_cw5n1...
windows.immersivecontrolpanel               windows.immersivecontrolpanel_10.0.2.1000_neutral_neutral_cw5n1h2txyewy    
Microsoft.Windows.OOBENetworkConnectionFlow Microsoft.Windows.OOBENetworkConnectionFlow_10.0.17763.1_neutral__cw5n1h...
InputApp                                    InputApp_1000.17763.1.0_neutral_neutral_cw5n1h2txyewy

This is the list after connecting it to the internet and allowing it to install all the updates... I did this same test last night without this setting and many of the metro apps came back.

Code:

Name                                        PackageFullName                                                            
----                                        ---------------                                                            
Microsoft.Windows.CloudExperienceHost       Microsoft.Windows.CloudExperienceHost_10.0.17763.1_neutral_neutral_cw5n1...
Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost       Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost_10.0.17763.1_neutral_neutral_cw5n1...
windows.immersivecontrolpanel               windows.immersivecontrolpanel_10.0.2.1000_neutral_neutral_cw5n1h2txyewy    
InputApp                                    InputApp_1000.17763.1.0_neutral_neutral_cw5n1h2txyewy                      
Microsoft.Windows.OOBENetworkConnectionFlow Microsoft.Windows.OOBENetworkConnectionFlow_10.0.17763.1_neutral__cw5n1h...

PS... I applied the setting in post one while in "audit mode" as I was moving the profiles to my P:\ drive. It stayed through the remainder of the install and my hopes is that it automatically applies to all profiles created on the machine (fingers crossed). I guess I should have installed a couple of more profiles to see if the setting transfers over???

Now to figure out why my laptop has all this bloatware back on it. Looks like it'll get a fresh install with my stripped down image!

Brink said:

I hope it goes smoothly.

Brink said:

If this for apps included with Windows 10, then they could sometimes get reinstalled after a new build updated.

I'll keep in mind that you said this, the problem is they don't remove as cleanly after install as they do using MSMG.

Thank you Brink, very handy

TairikuOkami said:

Try this (run CMD and copy/paste):

Code:

reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ContentDeliveryManager" /v "ContentDeliveryAllowed" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ContentDeliveryManager" /v "OemPreInstalledAppsEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ContentDeliveryManager" /v "PreInstalledAppsEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ContentDeliveryManager" /v "PreInstalledAppsEverEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ContentDeliveryManager" /v "SilentInstalledAppsEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ContentDeliveryManager" /v "SoftLandingEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ContentDeliveryManager" /v "SubscribedContentEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ContentDeliveryManager\Subscriptions" /f
reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ContentDeliveryManager\SuggestedApps" /f

@TairikuOkami - Many thanks for this suggestion. Two questions:

1. Are there any side-effects to deleting the SuggestedApps and Subscriptions keys?
2. Do you know what the significance is of all the numeric keys under the Subscriptions key? The number of keys doesn't correspond to the number of application entries under the SuggestedApps key.

Just wanted to say that the OP setting did not help. Or maybe it did, but only for a while, then the apps came back.
I even tried with a couple of extra settings, like OemPreinstalledAppsEnabled and PreinstalledAppsEnabled.
And before that, with the GP setting turning off consumer experiences (this is on a PC with Education, so it should work).

However, in my case the apps reinstalling might have to do with some hardware or BIOS changes, because I noticed that the activation status changed as well. But in any case, it should not happen and there has to be a more permanent solution.