Windows 10 Store Apps
Several Windows 10 Apps can be removed from your computer via the Settings App, but many can not. Microsoft, in its infinite wisdom once again forces the computer user to bend to its wishes by deciding what you need regardless of whether you actually need something, or not.
Today, we are going to defy Microsoft and uninstall bundled Store Apps that we don’t want. How about that. These extraneous Apps may not effect system performance to a large degree, especially on more powerful computers, but it pleases me to remove them. Just because.
This Quick Tips article is going to show you how to regain a modicum of control over your Windows 10 computer by ridding you of some of these annoyances.
10AppsManager
10AppsManager is third-party tool that will help us out today. Don’t fret, it is portable and free– two characteristics we love here at DCT. Portable means you won’t have to install it; merely download it, unZip it, and run it. Free means, well, we all know what free means, and you can’t beat the price unless, of course, they paid us to use it.
Creating a System Restore Point
Before we dig into this brilliant utility it would be wise to create a System Restore Point. A System Restore Point is not a fail-safe backup by any stretch of the imagination, but it does offer a small level of comfort knowing you can revert to a previous system state if something goes terribly wrong. (I changed my mind. If something goes terrible, then System Restore ain’t gonna cut it. For that, you’ll need a full-fledged backup.)
I have not had any problems whatsoever with 10AppsManager, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Follow these simple steps:
- Use the Windows Key to open the Start Menu
- Type system restore
- Choose Create a restore point
- In the window that opens make sure your system drive is highlighted and click the Create button
- In the window that opens, enter a ‘name‘ for the Restore Point (make it descriptive)
- Click the Create button when ready
Windows will get busy and in short order you should see a window pop open confirming the operation was a success.
Note: If you don’t get a successful confirmation, then your problems go a lot deeper than simply getting rid of annoying Apps. Seek professional help to locate the source of more serious problems.
Here are a few images to help you along:
The Start Menu option
Drive Choice and Create
Name it and Create it
Done! Let’s get back to 10AppsManager, shall we?
10AppsManager Download and Run
Here, you can download the latest version (v2) of 10AppsManager from MajorGeeks. Once you have the file, unZip it to a folder of your choice, then run it. You should see this:
The rest is dead-simple. Click on an offending App and a window will ask if you’d like to uninstall it. Make your choice and in a few seconds it will be history. How sweet is that!
If you want to re-install the Apps, click the Reinstall button.
The only feature I would like to see added is some kind of marker or indication of which Apps I have uninstalled. You know, a little icon overlay or something. Admittedly, I went a little click-crazy and got rid of a whole bunch of what I consider to be pesky nuisances and lost track of where I was at. Have fun!
To be fair, The Windows Club deserves a mention and often has little gems like this in the offing and I find it useful to check them out once in a while.
Also, it might be helpful to point you to a previous article by Jim Hillier, a stalwart DCT contributor, on basically the same subject written in September 2016: Easily Install/Uninstall Windows 10 Apps Check it out! It is easy sometimes to cover what you think are new points when, in fact, they are old news having already been covered by a seasoned reporter.
Bonus Tip
Yesterday, June 13, was Patch Tuesday. Create your backups, then get your Windows 10 updates!
As always, if you have any helpful comments or suggestions, please share with us,