Windows 11/10 App Reinstallation Loop: Why Uninstalled Apps Keep Returning

Table of Contents

• Understanding Why Apps Reinstall Themselves¶
• Troubleshooting Methods for Persistent App Reinstallation¶

It can be frustrating when you uninstall applications on your Windows 11 or Windows 10 system, only to find them reappearing after a system reboot or a feature update. This persistent reinstallation loop is a known issue, often stemming from the Microsoft Store or inherent system behaviors during updates. Understanding the root causes and implementing effective solutions are crucial to regaining control over your installed applications and maintaining a clean, efficient system. This article will guide you through several proven methods to stop unwanted app reinstalls and ensure your uninstalled applications stay gone for good.

Understanding Why Apps Reinstall Themselves¶

Before diving into solutions, it’s important to understand why this issue occurs in the first place. Several factors can contribute to the reinstallation of uninstalled applications:

• Microsoft Store Behavior: The Microsoft Store, the central hub for app downloads and updates in Windows, can sometimes automatically reinstall applications, even those you’ve previously removed. This behavior can be triggered by background processes or misconfigurations within the Store itself.
• Feature Updates: Windows Feature Updates are major system updates that bring new features and improvements. During these updates, the system may attempt to restore default or pre-provisioned applications as part of the update process, leading to the reappearance of previously uninstalled apps.
• Organizational Policies: If your computer is part of a school or corporate network, IT administrators may have implemented policies that automatically reinstall certain applications to ensure all devices within the organization have the necessary software.
• Advertisements and Suggested Apps: Microsoft sometimes promotes applications through advertisements and suggestions within the Windows environment. While not directly reinstalling apps, these advertisements can be misleading and prompt users to unintentionally download applications they thought were already removed or were never interested in.

Knowing these potential causes is the first step in effectively addressing the reinstallation loop. The following sections provide actionable methods to tackle this problem and regain control over your application installations.

Troubleshooting Methods for Persistent App Reinstallation¶

Here are several methods you can employ to prevent uninstalled Windows applications from returning. These range from simple checks and settings adjustments to more advanced techniques.

1. Is Your Computer Part of a School or Corporate Network?¶

If your computer is connected to a school, university, or corporate network, the persistent app reinstallation could be due to organizational policies enforced by your IT department. Organizations often deploy standardized software configurations across their devices to ensure compatibility, security, and operational consistency. These configurations are typically managed through Group Policies or Mobile Device Management (MDM) systems, which can automatically install or reinstall specific applications deemed necessary for users within the organization.

How to Check:

• Contact your IT department: The most direct way to confirm if organizational policies are in play is to contact your school or company’s IT support. They can provide definitive answers and explain the policies in place.
• Check System Settings (Work or school account):
  1. Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I.
  2. Navigate to Accounts.
  3. Select Access work or school.
  4. If you see a connection listed here that belongs to your school or organization, it’s highly likely that policies are being applied to your device.

Solution:

If organizational policies are indeed the cause, standard troubleshooting steps on your personal device might be ineffective as the policies will override your local changes. The most appropriate course of action is to:

• Consult with your IT administrator: Explain the issue you are experiencing and inquire about the policies related to application installations. They may be able to provide exceptions or adjust policies if the reinstalled applications are genuinely interfering with your work or studies.
• Understand organizational requirements: Before attempting to bypass any policies (which is generally not recommended and might violate organizational guidelines), try to understand why these applications are being reinstalled. They might be essential for accessing network resources, security protocols, or specific software required for your role within the organization.

In organizational environments, app management is often centralized for security and efficiency. While it might seem inconvenient to have apps automatically reinstalled, these policies are usually in place for valid reasons. Communication with your IT department is key to resolving this issue while adhering to organizational standards.

2. Are You Mistaking Advertisements for Reinstalled Apps?¶

Sometimes, what appears to be a reinstalled application might actually be a Microsoft Store advertisement or a suggested app promotion. Windows can display advertisements for applications within the Start Menu or other areas of the operating system. These advertisements can sometimes be visually similar to installed application icons, leading to confusion.

How to Differentiate Ads from Installed Apps:

• Check for “Install” or “Download” Prompts: If you click on what you believe is a reinstalled app and are prompted to install or download it from the Microsoft Store, it’s likely an advertisement or suggestion rather than a fully installed application.
• Examine the App Tile in the Start Menu: Advertisements might have a small “Ad” label or a different visual cue compared to regular app tiles.
• Search for the App in “Installed Apps”: To confirm if an app is truly installed, check the list of installed applications in Settings:
  1. Open Settings (Windows key + I).
  2. Go to Apps.
  3. Select Installed apps (or Apps & features in older versions of Windows 10).
  4. Search for the application name in the list. If it’s not there, it’s not actually installed, and what you are seeing is likely an advertisement.

Solution: Blocking Windows Advertisements

If you are being misled by advertisements, you can disable personalized ads in Windows to minimize these promotional suggestions:

1. Open Settings (Windows key + I).
2. Go to Privacy & security.
3. Select General.
4. Toggle off the switch for “Let apps show me personalized ads using my advertising ID”.

While this setting might not eliminate all app suggestions, it can significantly reduce the number of personalized advertisements you see, making it clearer which apps are truly installed versus just being promoted. Remember to also be mindful of app suggestions within the Microsoft Store itself, as these are inherent to the Store’s functionality.

3. Update Apps Before Uninstalling¶

This might seem counterintuitive, but updating an application before uninstalling it has been reported by some users as a surprisingly effective method to prevent reinstallation loops. The rationale behind this approach is that ensuring the application is in its most current state might help Windows properly recognize the uninstallation and prevent future automatic reinstalls.

How to Update Apps via Microsoft Store:

1. Open the Microsoft Store application.
2. Click on your Profile icon (usually in the top right corner).
3. Select Downloads and updates.
4. Click the Get updates button to check for and install any pending updates for all your installed apps, including the one you intend to uninstall.
5. Wait for all updates to complete.
6. After updating, proceed to uninstall the application through the standard methods (Settings > Apps > Installed apps or Apps & features).

Why This Might Work:

• Clean Uninstall Processes: Updating an app might ensure that the latest uninstall scripts and processes are in place. Older versions of applications might have remnants or registry entries that trigger reinstallation, which could be addressed by updating to the newest version before removal.
• Microsoft Store Synchronization: Updating apps forces a synchronization with the Microsoft Store. This synchronization might help the Store accurately register the app’s current state and recognize the subsequent uninstallation as intentional, preventing automatic re-downloads.

While there’s no guarantee this method will work in every case, it’s a simple and relatively quick step to try before resorting to more complex solutions. It’s especially worth trying if you suspect the reinstallation loop is related to the Microsoft Store’s app management processes.

4. Take Ownership of the WindowsApps Folder¶

The WindowsApps folder, located at C:\Program Files\WindowsApps, is a protected system folder where many Microsoft Store applications are installed. By default, this folder has restricted permissions, primarily controlled by the “TrustedInstaller” system account and the system itself. Taking ownership of this folder can give you more control over the applications within it and potentially prevent unauthorized reinstalls.

Caution: Modifying permissions of system folders like WindowsApps should be done with caution. Incorrectly changing permissions can lead to system instability or application errors. Proceed with these steps carefully and ensure you understand the potential risks.

Steps to Take Ownership (Simplified):

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1. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Program Files.
2. Right-click on the WindowsApps folder and select Properties.
3. Go to the Security tab.
4. Click Advanced.
5. Next to “Owner”, click Change.
6. In the “Enter the object name to select” field, type your username (the one you use to log in to Windows) and click Check Names. Windows should automatically complete your username. Click OK.
7. Check the box “Replace owner on subcontainers and objects” and click Apply, then OK on the Security dialog.
8. Now, back in the “Advanced Security Settings for WindowsApps” window, click Add.
9. Click “Select a principal”.
10. Enter your username again, click “Check Names”, and then OK.
11. Under “Basic permissions”, check the Full control box.
12. Click OK on all open windows to close them.

Explanation and Potential Impact:

• Restricting System Control: By taking ownership and granting yourself full control, you reduce the system’s ability to automatically modify the contents of the WindowsApps folder, including reinstalling applications.
• Manual App Management: After taking ownership, you should have more control over installing and uninstalling apps located in this folder. However, directly modifying files within WindowsApps is generally not recommended for most users.
• Potential Side Effects: While taking ownership can prevent reinstalls, it might also interfere with legitimate app updates or other system processes that rely on the default permissions of the WindowsApps folder. If you encounter issues after taking ownership, you might need to revert the permissions back to their default state.

Reverting Ownership (If Necessary):

To revert ownership back to TrustedInstaller (the default owner):

1. Repeat steps 1-5 above to access the “Owner” settings in the Advanced Security Settings for WindowsApps.
2. In the “Enter the object name to select” field, type NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller and click Check Names. Windows should resolve it. Click OK.
3. Check “Replace owner on subcontainers and objects” and click Apply, then OK.
4. You may also want to restore the default permissions for the folder if you made changes there.

Taking ownership of the WindowsApps folder is a more advanced technique and should be considered if other simpler methods have failed. Always proceed with caution and be prepared to revert changes if needed.

5. Uninstall Apps Using PowerShell or 10AppsManager¶

If standard uninstallation methods (via Settings > Apps) are not effectively preventing app reinstallation, using PowerShell commands or dedicated uninstaller tools like 10AppsManager can provide a more forceful and thorough removal. These methods can bypass some of the typical Microsoft Store and system behaviors that might be causing the reinstallation loop.

Method 5a: Uninstalling with PowerShell

PowerShell is a powerful command-line shell and scripting language built into Windows. It allows for more direct interaction with the operating system and can be used to uninstall applications, including those that might be resistant to standard uninstallation methods.

Steps to Uninstall Apps via PowerShell:

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator:
   • Press the Windows key, type powershell, right-click on “Windows PowerShell”, and select “Run as administrator”.

2. List Installed Apps: To get the exact name of the app you want to uninstall (which is needed for the uninstall command), use the following command:

   Get-AppxPackage | Select-Object Name, PackageFullName
   

   
   This command will list all installed “AppxPackage” apps (modern Windows apps). Scroll through the list to find the app you want to remove and note down its PackageFullName. The PackageFullName is a longer, more specific identifier than just the app’s name.

3. Uninstall the App: Once you have the PackageFullName, use the following command to uninstall the app, replacing [PackageFullName] with the actual PackageFullName you noted down:

   Remove-AppxPackage -Package [PackageFullName]
   

   
   For example, to uninstall the “Microsoft.BingWeather” app, you would use:

   Remove-AppxPackage -Package Microsoft.BingWeather_8wekyb3d8bbwe
   

   
   Press Enter to execute the command. PowerShell will uninstall the application without any further prompts.

Method 5b: Using 10AppsManager

10AppsManager is a free third-party tool specifically designed to help manage and uninstall Windows 10 and Windows 11 built-in applications, as well as other installed apps. It provides a user-friendly interface for tasks that can be more complex to perform manually, like using PowerShell.

Steps to Uninstall Apps with 10AppsManager:

1. Download and Install 10AppsManager: Search online for “10AppsManager download” (ensure you download from a reputable source like The Windows Club, as mentioned in the original article) and download and install the application.
2. Run 10AppsManager as Administrator: Right-click on the 10AppsManager executable and select “Run as administrator”.
3. Select Apps to Uninstall: 10AppsManager will display a list of installed Windows apps, often categorized into different groups (e.g., Built-in apps, Store apps). Locate the app you want to uninstall.
4. Uninstall the App: Select the app by clicking on it, and then click the “Uninstall” button (or a similar button depending on the 10AppsManager version). Follow any on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation.

Advantages of PowerShell and 10AppsManager:

• Forceful Uninstall: These methods often perform a more thorough uninstallation than standard methods, removing app packages and related components more effectively.
• Bypassing Store Issues: They can bypass potential glitches or misconfigurations within the Microsoft Store that might be causing automatic reinstalls.
• Batch Uninstall (in some cases): PowerShell can be scripted to uninstall multiple apps at once. 10AppsManager may also offer batch uninstall capabilities.

Considerations:

• System Apps: Be cautious when uninstalling built-in system apps, especially using PowerShell or 10AppsManager. Removing essential system apps can lead to system instability or malfunctions. Only uninstall apps you are certain are safe to remove and are not critical for system operation.
• Administrative Rights: Both PowerShell uninstall commands and 10AppsManager require administrator privileges to function correctly.

Using PowerShell or 10AppsManager offers a more robust approach to uninstalling applications and can be particularly effective in resolving persistent reinstallation issues when standard methods fail.

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By systematically applying these methods, you should be able to identify the cause of your app reinstallation loop and implement an effective solution. Remember to start with the simpler methods and progress to the more advanced ones if needed.

Have you encountered this issue of apps reinstalling themselves on Windows? What solutions have you found effective in your experience? Share your thoughts and tips in the comments below!