How to Remove Apps that won't Uninstall with the Usual Methods


AdrianeS

Member
Local time
3:22 PM
Posts
2
Location
Cleveland, OH
OS
Windows 11 Pro
I've been trying to remove the Microsoft EA App from my new computer but so far I've been unsuccessful. I've tried using Powershell with command:

Remove-Appxpackage -AllUsers Microsoft.ECApp_10.0.22621.3085_neutral__8wekyb3d8bbwe

But I get this error:

Code:
C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.ECApp_8wekyb3d8bbwe failed. This app is part of Windows
and cannot be uninstalled on a per-user basis. An administrator can attempt to remove the
app from the computer using Turn Windows Features on or off. However, it may not be
possible to uninstall the app.

This app is uses eye tracking technology to do what, I'm not sure, but I don't like the sound of it and want it gone. Cany someone please help me figure out how to force uninstall this?
 
Windows Build/Version
Windows 11 Pro 23H2

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware M18 R2
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-14900HX 2.20 GHz
    Motherboard
    Alienware 0R5W53
    Memory
    32 GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU
    Monitor(s) Displays
    QHD+
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1600
    Hard Drives
    2 TB
    Internet Speed
    Edge, Firefox
EA app is always running in background. Before it can be uninstalled you have stop its service.
In Windows 11:

1. Right click the start button.
2. Select Task Manager
3. In the Task Manager Window search, "EA"
4. Right click on EA and stop service.
5. Try uninstall again.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.3775
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme+256gb SKHynix m.2 nvme /External drives 512gb Samsung m.2 sata+1tb Kingston m2.nvme+ 4gb Solidigm nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    #1 Edge #2 Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
Hi, Adriean, welcome to the ElevenForums 🙏


If the above fails, you could give a favourite in this forum a try.

 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build 22631.5039
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Sin-built
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz (4th Gen?)
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    5 x LG 25MS500-B - 1 x 24MK430H-B - 1 x Wacom Pro 22" Tablet
    Screen Resolution
    All over the place
    Hard Drives
    Too many to list.
    OS on Samsung 1TB 870 QVO SATA
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 Full-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 Elite Class Dual Tower CPU Cooler / 6 x EziDIY 120mm / 2 x Corsair 140mm somethings / 1 x 140mm Thermaltake something / 2 x 200mm Corsair.
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 / Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech: G402 / G502 / Mx Masters / MX Air Cordless
    Internet Speed
    1000/400Mbps
    Browser
    All sorts
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Premium
    Other Info
    I’m on a horse.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build: 22631.4249
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LENOVO Yoga 7i EVO OLED 14" Touchscreen i5 12 Core 16GB/512GB
    CPU
    Intel Core 12th Gen i5-1240P Processor (1.7 - 4.4GHz)
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR5 RAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics Processor
    Sound Card
    Optimized with Dolby Atmos®
    Screen Resolution
    QHD 2880 x 1800 OLED
    Hard Drives
    M.2 512GB
    Antivirus
    Defender / Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    …still on a horse.
@AdrianeS

What you're looking for is not EA app, but ECApp_8wekyb3d8bbwe. I found a slew of stuff in my registry about this thing, but I've never seen it or heard of it, probably because I only have desktop computers, and no cameras. The EC App depends on a camera, of course, since it's supposed to see your eye movements. I believe it's designed to help physically challenged individuals who can't use a regular keyboard type with eye movements. There's a section about it in Settings > Accessibility > Eye Control:

Clipboard 02.jpg

and the registry has lots about it, such as this:

Clipboard 03.jpg

I seriously don't think your concern about it is well-founded, because this EC function is only activated if YOU activate it here:

Clipboard 04.jpg

Oh, yeah: welcome to the forum!
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    11 Pro 24H2 26100.2454
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkCentre M920S SFF
    CPU
    i7-9700 @ 3.00GHz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo 3132
    Memory
    32GBDDR4 @ 2666MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 630 Graphics onboard
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG E2442
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1 x Samsung 970 EVO PLUS 500GB NVMe SSD, 1 x WD_BLACK SN770
    250GB NVMe SSD (OS and programs), 1 x WD_BLACK SN770
    500GB NVMe SSD (Data)
    Case
    Lenovo SFF
    Keyboard
    Cherry Stream TKL JK-8600US-2 Wired
    Mouse
    LogiTech M510 wireless
    Internet Speed
    Fast (for fixed wireless!)
    Browser
    Chrome, sometimes Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes Premium & Defender (working together beautifully!)
  • Operating System
    11 Pro 24H2 26100.2454
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkCentre M920S SFF
    CPU
    i5-8400 @ 2.80GHz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo 3132
    Memory
    32GB DDR4 @ 2600MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel HD 630 Graphics onboard
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG FULL HD (1920x1080@59Hz)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 x Samsung 970 EVO PLUS NVMe; 1 x Samsung 980 NVMe SSD
    Case
    Lenovo Think Centre SFF
    Mouse
    LogiTech M510 wireless
    Keyboard
    Cherry Stream TKL JK-8600US-2 Wired
    Internet Speed
    Fast (for fixed wireless!)
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes Premium and MS Defender, beautiful together
@AdrianeS

Here's a site full of info on the use of eye tracking tech. But if you neither need nor use an eye tracker the Windows app for it won't run at all in the background, and you can just ignore the fact that it's available in Windows -- on demand only.

 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    11 Pro 24H2 26100.2454
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkCentre M920S SFF
    CPU
    i7-9700 @ 3.00GHz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo 3132
    Memory
    32GBDDR4 @ 2666MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 630 Graphics onboard
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG E2442
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1 x Samsung 970 EVO PLUS 500GB NVMe SSD, 1 x WD_BLACK SN770
    250GB NVMe SSD (OS and programs), 1 x WD_BLACK SN770
    500GB NVMe SSD (Data)
    Case
    Lenovo SFF
    Keyboard
    Cherry Stream TKL JK-8600US-2 Wired
    Mouse
    LogiTech M510 wireless
    Internet Speed
    Fast (for fixed wireless!)
    Browser
    Chrome, sometimes Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes Premium & Defender (working together beautifully!)
  • Operating System
    11 Pro 24H2 26100.2454
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkCentre M920S SFF
    CPU
    i5-8400 @ 2.80GHz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo 3132
    Memory
    32GB DDR4 @ 2600MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel HD 630 Graphics onboard
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG FULL HD (1920x1080@59Hz)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 x Samsung 970 EVO PLUS NVMe; 1 x Samsung 980 NVMe SSD
    Case
    Lenovo Think Centre SFF
    Mouse
    LogiTech M510 wireless
    Keyboard
    Cherry Stream TKL JK-8600US-2 Wired
    Internet Speed
    Fast (for fixed wireless!)
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes Premium and MS Defender, beautiful together
@antspants

The eye control app won't be activated and won't be listed in Revo under Windows apps unless the computer user installs eye-tracker software and activates the switch in Accesibility. Then it functions to interpret the data sent to it by the camera-installed tracker, and help the user control the computer with eye movements.

@glasskuter

There was a typo in OP's post that led you to give your reply. I don't think she'll find it in Task Manager or listed in services unless she activates it in Settings.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    11 Pro 24H2 26100.2454
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkCentre M920S SFF
    CPU
    i7-9700 @ 3.00GHz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo 3132
    Memory
    32GBDDR4 @ 2666MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 630 Graphics onboard
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG E2442
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1 x Samsung 970 EVO PLUS 500GB NVMe SSD, 1 x WD_BLACK SN770
    250GB NVMe SSD (OS and programs), 1 x WD_BLACK SN770
    500GB NVMe SSD (Data)
    Case
    Lenovo SFF
    Keyboard
    Cherry Stream TKL JK-8600US-2 Wired
    Mouse
    LogiTech M510 wireless
    Internet Speed
    Fast (for fixed wireless!)
    Browser
    Chrome, sometimes Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes Premium & Defender (working together beautifully!)
  • Operating System
    11 Pro 24H2 26100.2454
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkCentre M920S SFF
    CPU
    i5-8400 @ 2.80GHz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo 3132
    Memory
    32GB DDR4 @ 2600MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel HD 630 Graphics onboard
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG FULL HD (1920x1080@59Hz)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 x Samsung 970 EVO PLUS NVMe; 1 x Samsung 980 NVMe SSD
    Case
    Lenovo Think Centre SFF
    Mouse
    LogiTech M510 wireless
    Keyboard
    Cherry Stream TKL JK-8600US-2 Wired
    Internet Speed
    Fast (for fixed wireless!)
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes Premium and MS Defender, beautiful together
There was a typo in OP's post that led you to give your reply.
Thank you for correcting my error. I thought she meant EA gaming app
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.3775
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme+256gb SKHynix m.2 nvme /External drives 512gb Samsung m.2 sata+1tb Kingston m2.nvme+ 4gb Solidigm nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    #1 Edge #2 Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
If the service IS running, just stop it in services.msc and set it to manual startup type. You can delete services if you really want to… but I wouldn’t…
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
i know this is old, but if anyone is looking for an answer...

there is a way to remove non-removable apps. you need to flag them as end of life for any SIDs that they have been installed for.

this is my powershell for doing this. it is used DURING OOBE as an autopilot script, but also gets staged for feature updates to run post-update. thats why the defaultuser0 things are there. if you run this outside of OOBE it should still work but might spit some errors. (in other words, this is run as the SYSTEM account. and yes it could be cleaner.)

Powershell:
#get apps to deprovision for file appx.txt that has to be in same folder as this script.
#apps listed in the appx.txt need to be listed as PackageFamilyNames
Write-Host "--Get Removable AppXs to deprovision--"
$appXs = get-content "$PSScriptRoot\appx.txt"
$appXs
Write-host *********************`n

Write-Host "--need SIDs for local accounts and SYSTEM to remove non-removable APPX--"
Write-Host "--Existing Profile SIDs for logged on user accounts are requiored to remove non-removable APPX also, but will be calculated dynamically when applying EOL paths--"
Write-Host "getting defaultuser0 SID and setting SYSTEM SID and EOL PATH"
$default_sid = (get-localuser -name "defaultuser0").SID
Write-Host "defaultuser0 SID is $default_sid"
$system_sid = "S-1-5-18"
Write-Host "SYSTEM SID is $system_sid"
$EOLPATH = "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\EndOfLife"
Write-Host "EOL APPX Registry Path is $EOLPATH"
Write-Host "---Done Collecting Info and Setting Variables---"
Write-host *********************`n

Write-Host "---Uninstalling AppXs---"
ForEach ($appX in $appXs) {
    Write-Host "Current App $appX"
    Write-Host "Checking if App is currently installed"
    $appX_trim = $appX.Substring(0,$appX.IndexOf("_"))
    $curr_appX = Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -Name $appX_trim
    if ($curr_appX) {
        Write-Host "$appX_trim installed, removing now..."
        $NonRemovable = ($curr_appX).NonRemovable
        $PackageFullName = ($curr_appX).PackageFullName #name not matching the registry, need to wildcard
        $inbox_path = "HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\InboxApplications\"
        $profile_path = "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\"
        If ($NonRemovable -eq $TRUE) {
            Write-Host "$appX_trim is marked an NonRemovable...  Attempting to allow removal"
            Write-Host "Writing EOL keys for system and defaultuser0"
            Write-Host "DEFAULTUSER0 EOL: $EOLPATH\$default_sid\$PackageFullName"
            New-Item -Path "$EOLPATH\$default_sid\$PackageFullName" -Force
            Write-Host "SYSTEM EOL PATH: $EOLPATH\$system_sid\$PackageFullName0"
            New-Item -Path "$EOLPATH\$system_sid\$PackageFullName" -Force
            Write-Host "detecting logged on profiles for app removal EOL"
            $ProfileList = Get-ChildItem -Path $profile_path -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Exclude "S-1-5-*"
            Write-Host "Profile List:"
            $ProfileList.Name
            ForEach ($Profile in $ProfileList) {
                $userSID = $Profile.PSChildName
                New-Item -Path "$EOLPATH\$userSID\$PackageFullName" -Force
            }
            Write-Host "locating inbox path for $appX_trim..."
            $inbox_keys = Get-ChildItem -Path $inbox_path -Recurse -Include "$appX_trim*" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
            if ($inbox_keys) {
                ForEach ($key in $inbox_keys) {
                write-host "cleanup app returning - deleting $key"
                & REG DELETE "$key" /f
                }

            }
        }
        if (Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Where-object {$_.DisplayName -Match $appX_trim}) {Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Where-object {$_.DisplayName -Match $appX_trim} | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -online -AllUsers}
        if (Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Where-object {$_.DisplayName -Match $appX_trim}) {Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Where-object {$_.DisplayName -Match $appX_trim} | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -online}
        if (Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Where-object {$_.DisplayName -Match $appX_trim}) {Write-Host "Failed to deprovision $appX_trim"} ELSE {Write-Host "$appX deprovisioned successfully"}
       
        if (Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -PackageTypeFilter Bundle -Name $appX_trim) {Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -PackageTypeFilter Bundle -Name $appX_trim | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers}
        if (Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -PackageTypeFilter Bundle -Name $appX_trim) {Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -PackageTypeFilter Bundle -Name $appX_trim | Remove-AppxPackage}  #seems to like a second pass with allusers to get the system account removed
        if (Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -Name $appX_trim) {Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -Name $appX_trim | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers}
        if (Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -Name $appX_trim) {Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -Name $appX_trim | Remove-AppxPackage}  #seems to like a second pass with allusers to get the system account removed
        if (Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -PackageTypeFilter Bundle -Name $appX_trim) {Write-Host "Failed to remove $appX_trim as bundle"} ELSE {Write-Host "$appX_trim no longer detected as bundle"}  
        if (Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -Name $appX_trim) {Write-Host "Failed to remove $appX_trim outside bundle"} ELSE {Write-Host "$appX_trim no longer detected outside bundle"}
        } ELSE {
        Write-Host "$appX_trim NOT installed, moving on..."
        }
    Write-host *********************`n
    }
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    lots of windows

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