If you have uninstalled apps but they keep coming back, i.e., reinstalling after reboot or with a Feature Update, this post will help you solve the problem. Microsoft Store is known to cause these types of issues, and it usually reinstalls the app out of nothing. Similarly, Feature Updates tend to install apps along with their updates.
Uninstalled Windows apps return and keep coming back after reboot
These are some of the methods that can help you uninstall these apps which keep coming back. Some are suggestions, while others are from a shared user experience that worked for them.
- Is your computer part of School or Corporate?
- Are you looking at Ads?
- Update Apps before uninstalling
- Take Ownership of WindowsApps Folder
- Uninstall Apps using PowerShell Script or 10AppsManager
You will also need admin permission to execute some of the solutions.
1] Is your computer part of School or Corporate?
Computers in organizations, businesses, and schools will have this problem. Because of policies, those apps have to be there, and the IT admin has configured them so. If the answer is yes, it is best to connect with IT and seek their help to sort this out.
2] Are you looking at Ads?
Microsoft is known to recommend apps through advertisements. You may see an ad that feels like the app is installed. When a user clicks on it, the app will download directly from the store, and you can see the progress in the Start menu.
These Windows advertisements can be blocked, and we recommend you follow our detailed guide on how to turn it off.
3] Update Apps before uninstalling
It is an odd suggestion, but it has reportedly worked for some. Before uninstalling an app, update it completely from within the store.
Go to the Windows Store, click on the three-dot menu, and then click on Downloads and Updates. It will check for any pending updates and install them. Once you are sure everything is up to date, uninstall the app, and hopefully, it will not return. You can also click on the Get Updates button to manually check for a pending update.
4] Take Ownership of WindowsApps Folder
Windows System User accounts control the WiodnowsApps folder. They can install the apps when needed. However, you can take ownership, and then only you can install and uninstall apps from there. The folder is located at C:\Windows\WindowsApps
Please read our detailed guide on how you can take ownership of any folder. In summary, you need to remove Trustedinstalled and Add your account to it.
Some of the apps are installed at different locations, i.e., Mail & Calendar. You can uninstall it from Windows Settings > Apps > Apps and features or by using the uninstaller script or the software mentioned below.
5] Uninstall Apps using PowerShell Script or 10AppsManager
If nothing else works, you can keep a script ready to uninstall these apps. Some of the system apps are known to come back. You can follow our guide on how to remove these apps for good. You will have to use PowerShell and Get-AppxPackage commandlet to uninstall these apps. It’s a cumbersome method, but that’s the last method one can try.
10AppsManager is a powerful and feature-rich uninstaller that can remove such apps without special skills. If you are an admin user, you can use this to remove these apps. You can also use the software to install apps that are necessary.
I hope this post was helpful and that you were able to get rid of the apps that keep returning after a reboot.
