how to uninstall new "Windows Backup" bloat app?

Thanks for the testing @garlin
I've updated the script and will attach it here.
However for me, it seems very hit and miss if it works now on my daily use PC! On my test VM it's great and works every time.

Remove Windows Backup App. (Copy in Terminal or Powershell)

$remove_appx = @("Client.CBS"); $provisioned = get-appxprovisionedpackage -online; $appxpackage = get-appxpackage -allusers; $eol = @()
$store = 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore'
$users = @('S-1-5-18'); if (test-path $store) {$users += $((dir $store -ea 0 |where {$_ -like '*S-1-5-21*'}).PSChildName)}
foreach ($choice in $remove_appx) { if ('' -eq $choice.Trim()) {continue}
foreach ($appx in $($provisioned |where {$_.PackageName -like "*$choice*"})) {
$next = !1; foreach ($no in $skip) {if ($appx.PackageName -like "*$no*") {$next = !0}} ; if ($next) {continue}
$PackageName = $appx.PackageName; $PackageFamilyName = ($appxpackage |where {$_.Name -eq $appx.DisplayName}).PackageFamilyName
ni "$store\Deprovisioned\$PackageFamilyName" -force >''; $PackageFamilyName
foreach ($sid in $users) {ni "$store\EndOfLife\$sid\$PackageName" -force >''} ; $eol += $PackageName
dism /online /set-nonremovableapppolicy /packagefamily:$PackageFamilyName /nonremovable:0 >''
remove-appxprovisionedpackage -packagename $PackageName -online -allusers >''
}
foreach ($appx in $($appxpackage |where {$_.PackageFullName -like "*$choice*"})) {
$next = !1; foreach ($no in $skip) {if ($appx.PackageFullName -like "*$no*") {$next = !0}} ; if ($next) {continue}
$PackageFullName = $appx.PackageFullName;
ni "$store\Deprovisioned\$appx.PackageFamilyName" -force >''; $PackageFullName
foreach ($sid in $users) {ni "$store\EndOfLife\$sid\$PackageFullName" -force >''} ; $eol += $PackageFullName
dism /online /set-nonremovableapppolicy /packagefamily:$PackageFamilyName /nonremovable:0 >''
remove-appxpackage -package $PackageFullName -allusers >''
}
}

There are code tags for that.

It's been repeated many times, removing Client.CBS will break your desktop. Some users don't care about the broken features.

AveYo's code snippet is hideously overkill and can be simplified when removing one Appx package:

garlin said:

It's been repeated many times, removing Client.CBS will break your desktop. Some users don't care about the broken features.

AveYo's code snippet is hideously overkill and can be simplified when removing one Appx package:

Code:

$appx = get-appxpackage -allusers *Client.CBS*
$PackageFamilyName = $appx.PackageFamilyName
$PackageFullName = $appx.PackageFullName; $PackageFullName

ni "$store\Deprovisioned\$PackageFamilyName" -force >''
dism /online /set-nonremovableapppolicy /packagefamily:$PackageFamilyName /nonremovable:0 >''

$store = 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore'
$users = @('S-1-5-18')
$users += $((dir $store -ea 0 |where {$_ -like '*S-1-5-21*'}).PSChildName)

foreach ($sid in $users) { ni "$store\EndOfLife\$sid\$PackageFullName" -force >'' }
remove-appxpackage -package $PackageFullName -allusers >''

Click to expand...

Herein lies the risk of using amateur scripts without extensive testing and a good understanding of what the script does.

A decent script should be properly annotated with comments saying what next step does.

More importantly, it is funny how such script writers never advise users to make full system image backups or test in virtual machines etc.

JamieT said:

Thanks for the testing @garlin
I've updated the script and will attach it here.
However for me, it seems very hit and miss if it works now on my daily use PC! On my test VM it's great and works every time.

Powershell:

Param(     [Parameter(ValueFromPipelineByPropertyName)]$RemoveStartMenuItems = $True,
        [Parameter(ValueFromPipelineByPropertyName)]$RestartExplorer = $True )

Function Restart-Process
{
    Param(    [Parameter(ValueFromPipelineByPropertyName)]$Name,
            [Parameter(ValueFromPipelineByPropertyName)]$Wait,
            [Parameter(ValueFromPipelineByPropertyName)]$Timeout,
            [Parameter(ValueFromPipelineByPropertyName)]$Kill,
            [Parameter(ValueFromPipelineByPropertyName)]$Start )
    Process
    {
        If ( $Kill )
        {
            $szSystem32Path = [Environment]::GetFolderPath("System")
            $szTaskKillBinary = "$szSystem32Path\taskkill.exe"
            Write-Host -ForegroundColor White "Killing the process '$Name'..."
            # Note, stopping Explorer like this will cause it to not automatically restart
            Start-Process -WindowStyle Hidden -Wait -FilePath $szTaskKillBinary -ArgumentList "/F /IM $Name"
        }
        Else
        {
            Write-Host -ForegroundColor White "Stopping the process '$Name'..."
            Stop-Process -Name $Name -Force    # Note, stopping Explorer like this will cause it to automatically restart
            Write-Host -ForegroundColor White "Waiting for the process '$Name' to stop..."
            Wait-Process -Name $Name -Timeout $Timeout
        }
        If ( $Start )
        {
            Write-Host -ForegroundColor White "Starting the process '$Name'..."
            If ( $Name -Eq "explorer.exe" )
            {
                Start-Process -WindowStyle Hidden -FilePath "cmd" -ArgumentList "/c start /wait $Name"
            }
            Else
            {
                # Wait doesn't work on explorer
                Start-Process -WindowStyle Hidden -Wait -FilePath $Name
            }
        }
        $szNameWithoutExtension = [io.path]::GetFilenameWithoutExtension( $Name )
        Write-Host -ForegroundColor White "Waiting for the process '$szNameWithoutExtension' to start..."
        $iCount = 0
        While ( ((Get-Process -Name $szNameWithoutExtension -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).Count -Eq 0) -And ($iCount -lt $Timeout) )
        {
            Start-Sleep -Seconds 1
            $iCount++
        }
        Write-Host -ForegroundColor White "Waiting $Wait seconds..."
        Start-Sleep -Seconds $Wait
    }
}

Function Remove_NonRemovablePackage
{
    Param(     [Parameter(ValueFromPipelineByPropertyName)]$Name )
    Process
    {
        $bRet = $False
        Write-Host -ForegroundColor White "Getting details for package '$Name'..."
        $objAppx = Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -Name $Name
        If ( $Null -Ne $objAppx )
        {
            If ( $objAppx.Count -Gt 1 ) { $objAppx = $objAppx[0] }
            $szStoreRegKey = "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore"
            $aszUserSIDs = @( "S-1-5-18" )
            If ( Test-Path -Path $szStoreRegKey )
            {
                $aszUserSIDs += $((Get-ChildItem -Path $szStoreRegKey -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Where {$_ -Like '*S-1-5-21*'}).PSChildName)
            }
            Write-Host -ForegroundColor White "Setting package '$($objAppx.PackageFamilyName)' to Deprovisioned..."
            $objDeprovisionedRegKey = New-Item -Force -Path "$szStoreRegKey\Deprovisioned\$objAppx.PackageFamilyName"
            ForEach ( $szUserSID in $aszUserSIDs )
            {
                Write-Host -ForegroundColor White "Setting package '$($objAppx.PackageFullName)' to End-of-life for user SID '$szUserSID'..."
                $objEOLRegKey = New-Item -Force -Path "$szStoreRegKey\EndOfLife\$szUserSID\$($objAppx.PackageFullName)"
            }
            Write-Host -ForegroundColor White "Removing package '$($objAppx.PackageFullName)' for all users..."
            $objRemovedPackage = Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers -Package $($objAppx.PackageFullName)
            $bRet = $True
            Write-Host -ForegroundColor White "Waing a second..."
            Start-Sleep -Seconds 1
        }
        Else
        {
            Write-Host -ForegroundColor Red "ERROR: No package found called '$Name'."
        }
        Return $bRet
    }
}

Function Remove_StartMenuCBSItems
{
    Param( [Parameter(ValueFromPipelineByPropertyName)]$RestartExplorer )
    Process
    {
        $szCBSName = "MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS"
        $szCBSAppName = "$($szCBSName)_cw5n1h2txyewy"
        $szWindowsPath = [Environment]::GetFolderPath( "Windows" )
        $szCBSXMLPath = "$szWindowsPath\SystemApps\$($szCBSAppName)\appxmanifest.xml"
        Write-Host -ForegroundColor White "Creating a backup of the Appx manifest file for '$szCBSAppName'..."
        $szCurrentTime = (Get-Date).ToString( "yyyy-MM-dd_HH-mm-ss" )
        $szBackFilePath = "$($szCBSXMLPath)_$($szCurrentTime).xml"
        Copy-Item -Force -Path $szCBSXMLPath -Destination "$($szCBSXMLPath)_$($szCurrentTime).xml"
        Write-Host -ForegroundColor White "Reading the Appx manifest file for '$szCBSAppName'..."
        $xmlCBS = [XML]( Get-Content $szCBSXMLPath )
        $xmlCBSNode = $xmlCBS.Package.Applications.Application | Where-Object { $_.Id -Eq "WebExperienceHost" }
        If ( $xmlCBSNode.VisualElements )
        {
            Write-Host -ForegroundColor White "Hiding the Start menu item 'Get Started'..."
            $xmlCBSNode.VisualElements.SetAttribute( "AppListEntry", "none" )
        }
        $xmlCBSNode = $xmlCBS.Package.Applications.Application | Where-Object { $_.Id -Eq "WindowsBackup" }
        If ( $xmlCBSNode.VisualElements )
        {
            Write-Host -ForegroundColor White "Hiding the Start menu item 'Windows Back up'..."
            $xmlCBSNode.VisualElements.SetAttribute( "AppListEntry", "none" )
        }
        $xmlCBSNode = $xmlCBS.Package.Applications.Application | Where-Object { $_.Id -Eq "CrossDeviceResumeApp" }
        If ( $xmlCBSNode.VisualElements )
        {
            Write-Host -ForegroundColor White "Hiding the Start menu item 'Continue from Phone'..."
            $xmlCBSNode.VisualElements.SetAttribute( "AppListEntry", "none" )
        }
        $szUser = "Administrators"
        $aclOrig = Get-Acl $szCBSXMLPath
        $aclPath = Get-Acl $szCBSXMLPath
        Write-Host -ForegroundColor White "Setting '$szUser' to have full control of '$szCBSXMLPath'..."
        $arPath = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemAccessRule( $szUser, "FullControl", $([System.Security.AccessControl.InheritanceFlags]::None), "None", "Allow" )
        $aclPath.SetAccessRule( $arPath )
        Set-Acl $szCBSXMLPath $aclPath
        Write-Host -ForegroundColor White "Saving the updated Appx manifest file for '$szCBSAppName'..."
        $objUTF8WithoutBOM = New-Object System.Text.UTF8Encoding( $False )
        $objUTF8WithoutBOMSW = New-Object System.IO.StreamWriter( $szCBSXMLPath, $False, $objUTF8WithoutBOM )
        $xmlCBS.Save( $objUTF8WithoutBOMSW )
        $objUTF8WithoutBOMSW.Close()
        $bRemoved = Remove_NonRemovablePackage -Name $szCBSName
        Write-Host -ForegroundColor White "Installing package '$szCBSAppName'..."
        Add-AppxPackage -ForceApplicationShutdown -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $szCBSXMLPath
        Write-Host -ForegroundColor White "Waing a second..."
        Start-Sleep -Seconds 1
        If ( $RestartExplorer ) { Restart-Process -Name "explorer.exe" -Wait 0 -Timeout 5 -Kill:$True -Start:$True }
        Write-Host -ForegroundColor White "Restoring the original AppX manifest file..."
        Move-Item -Force -Path $szBackFilePath -Destination $szCBSXMLPath
        Write-Host -ForegroundColor White "Resetting permissions on '$szCBSXMLPath'..."
        Set-Acl $szCBSXMLPath $aclOrig
    }
}

Function Restore_StartMenuCBSItems
{
    Param( [Parameter(ValueFromPipelineByPropertyName)]$RestartExplorer )
    Process
    {
        $szCBSName = "MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS"
        $szCBSAppName = "$($szCBSName)_cw5n1h2txyewy"
        $szWindowsPath = [Environment]::GetFolderPath( "Windows" )
        $szCBSXMLPath = "$szWindowsPath\SystemApps\$($szCBSAppName)\appxmanifest.xml"
        $bRemoved = Remove_NonRemovablePackage -Name $szCBSName
        Write-Host -ForegroundColor White "Installing package '$szCBSAppName'..."
        Add-AppxPackage -ForceApplicationShutdown -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $szCBSXMLPath
        If ( $RestartExplorer ) { Restart-Process -Name "explorer.exe" -Wait 0 -Timeout 5 -Kill:$True -Start:$True }
    }
}

If ( $RemoveStartMenuItems )
{
    Remove_StartMenuCBSItems -RestartExplorer:$RestartExplorer
}
Else
{
    Restore_StartMenuCBSItems -RestartExplorer:$RestartExplorer
}

Click to expand...

thank you so much for this. but after use it auto installed both app. not work. i use in 24h2.

I'm starting to look at this again for work.
I've already fixed an issue that won't be an issue for most people. Having multiple service user accounts.. Just multiple accounts that may not have logged in is an issue currently.
I 'broke' my personal laptop running this script on it as is. It deprecated the CBS app for some people but not all. And Microsoft updates just failed after that. A big reinstall works but only when it's a major update like 24H2.
If you have a broken update scenario due to my script then get in touch. It's a case of removing certain registry keys the script creates to take out the CBS app. I'll look to make the script good in that respect.
Apologies if iv'e crippled anyone's systems. I did that to one of mine!
If I could remember off the top of my head the keys to remove I'd tell you. I'll need to look at things again to be specific.
As for it working for some and not others. I can now reproduce that so hopefully will be able to sort that out.
For me, a new system installs with no Windows updates it fails to work. A new system install with cumulative updates to be installed and install, the script works. Odd stuff, but I'll be on it again soon.
On leave next week but back on it then hopefully.
It's frustrating it works in some scenarios and not others!
For me, this isn't really a work ask, but more a thing I want to sort out for myself and you guys.
FYI: The script works on a April 2025 Win11 ISO (MSDN download) build with the cumulative Microsoft updates installed, But it doesn't work with the May 2025 Win11 ISO with no updates. ..The updates feel like the area to focus on.
Again, sorry if this has broken anyone's system.
Watch this space!

I do not have a horse in this race but here's an observation.
While I would never use such a script, a lot of readers will read it without reading this entire 6 page thread. If any of the scripts have been proven to cripple a system, would it not be a smart thing to do to either flag this thread in some way or contact a forum admin to see the best way to deal with it. Just my 2 cents.

Unfortunately users who are most likely to run “offbrand” scripts aren’t listening to words of caution. Removing Client.CBS just to remove the Backup icon is the least responsible solution, since fixing it requires a repair reinstall.

Tweaking the AppxManifest.xml (if done correctly) is a less obtrusive and reversible hack. The trick is in the exact details.

Just pretend it's not there!!!

17:00 Friday, end of the working week, perfect timing!
I reckon I've got it sorted after 3 days experimenting and a day making it nice for the average user!

I've put it in GitHub as it feels the best place to keep/maintain it:

JamieT said:

I've put it in GitHub as it feels the best place to keep/maintain it:

Remove_CBSStartMenuRubbish/Remove_CBSStartMenuRubbish.ps1 at main · JamieToll/Remove_CBSStartMenuRubbish

Remove items from the Windows Start Menu: 'Get Started', 'Windows Back up' and on older Windows releases 'Continue from Phone'. - JamieToll/Remove_CBSStartMenuRubbish

github.com

Click to expand...

While you're mucking around the XML, can you also hide the pages for:

Those are the "nuisance" banners on Settings app, which do the upsell on MS online services. Same AppxManifest.xml.

I've not noticed those nags. But then I am doing all my testing using 'Enterprise N'.
I'll give it a look when I'm back on the clock!
Have a good weekend mate.

By the way, did you try the script? Did it do the job for you?

Sorry, haven't yet. Working on another previous project to auto-restore Classic Ribbon on a clean install. As you know, everything's in the details.

No worries G, and no rush. I'd just like to know if it works for others.

Yep, the Devil is in the detail! But that's where the fun/frustration lies!

Appears to work fine, the real test is when you apply the next round of Monthly or Preview Updates.

Thanks for testing it G.
I tested applying cumulative updates, there were issues to start with, with regards restoring. But I sorted that out. It's all about the version numbers.
Of course, when the updates get applied the patch will get removed. It's then just a case of running it again.

I think if you're not well versed in the inner workings of Windows and script writing, running a script you see posted in a forum is probably not the safest or brightest idea. The issue or Windows updates seems to be a major stumbling block, and worsens with the complexity of the script. It certainly seems that Microsoft can introduce all the problems that I need without me trying to change anything.

Quite rightly said by gunrunnerjohn
Use at your own risk. I did forget to say that.
I feel it does the job with safety nets.
But as always, have a look what the script does if you understand PowerShell. If not, it may be best not to run it.