Microsoft has introduced a new policy enabling IT administrators to remove pre-installed Microsoft Store apps from Windows 11 Enterprise and Education systems. This change streamlines management by eliminating the need for custom Windows images and complex scripting.
Policy Deployment Details
The new app management policy is available with Windows 11 25H2 for both Enterprise and Education versions. Administrators can use the configuration service provider (CSP), Group Policy Object (GPO), or Microsoft Intune to deploy the policy. The policy requires activation, as it defaults to being disabled.
For implementation via Microsoft Intune, IT administrators should navigate to Devices > Manage devices > Configuration, select Administrative Templates > Windows Components > App Package Deployment, and enable 'Remove default Microsoft Store packages from the system'. The necessary toggles must be set to True for each app intended for removal, and the policy should be assigned to relevant device groups.
Operational Benefits and Implications
By allowing the removal of pre-installed apps, Microsoft anticipates a reduction in operational overhead for organizations. The need for brittle scripts is minimized, promising a more stable and efficient process. All removed apps and related data are completely deprovisioned and erased from devices upon policy application.
This development signals Microsoft's commitment to providing more flexible management tools for enterprise-level IT departments, offering a modest but meaningful enhancement to system configuration capabilities.
