Remove WindowsPackage - PowerShell

Overview

Remove-WindowsPackage removes one or more Windows packages from a computer. Windows packages are typically installed using the Add-AppxPackage command or through the Microsoft Store.

Syntax

Remove-WindowsPackage [-Name] <String[]> [-AllUsers] [[-RegisteredOwner] <String>] [-ForceRemove] [-ForceRemoveAppSettings] [-SkipAppxRegistration] [<CommonParameters>]

Options/Flags

  • -Name: Specifies the name(s) of the package(s) to remove. Wildcard characters can be used to match multiple packages.
  • -AllUsers: Removes the package for all users on the computer. By default, the package is only removed for the current user.
  • -RegisteredOwner: Specifies the registered owner of the package to remove. This is typically the user who installed the package.
  • -ForceRemove: Removes the package even if it is in use by other processes. This can lead to unexpected behavior or data loss.
  • -ForceRemoveAppSettings: Removes all application settings for the package. This can be useful if you are experiencing problems with the package.
  • -SkipAppxRegistration: Skips the AppX registration process when removing the package. This can be useful if you are having problems removing the package.

Examples

Simple example:

Remove-WindowsPackage -Name Microsoft.WindowsCalculator

This command will remove the Microsoft Calculator package for the current user.

Complex example:

Get-WindowsPackage | Where { $_.PublisherName -eq "Contoso" } | Remove-WindowsPackage -AllUsers -ForceRemove

This command will remove all Windows packages published by Contoso for all users on the computer, even if the packages are in use by other processes.

Common Issues

  • Error: The package cannot be removed because it is in use by another process.

Use the -ForceRemove flag to remove the package even if it is in use. This can lead to unexpected behavior or data loss.

  • Error: The package cannot be removed because it is not registered with AppX.

Use the -SkipAppxRegistration flag to skip the AppX registration process when removing the package. This can be useful if you are having problems removing the package.

Integration

Remove-WindowsPackage can be used with other PowerShell commands to automate tasks. For example, the following script removes all Windows packages installed by a specific user:

$username = "johndoe"
Get-WindowsPackage | Where { $_.PublisherName -eq $username } | Remove-WindowsPackage -AllUsers
  • Add-WindowsPackage: Installs a Windows package from a local file or the Microsoft Store.
  • Get-WindowsPackage: Gets information about Windows packages installed on the computer.