How to Remove Pre-installed Windows Bloatware via Intune

Which apps to remove

Microsoft divides Windows apps into two categories:

• Provisioned apps - installed for all new users on the device. These can be removed via PowerShell using Get-AppxProvisionedPackage.
• Installed apps - already installed for the current user. Removed with Get-AppxPackage.

Common apps to remove in a business environment:

• Xbox, Xbox Game Bar, Xbox Game Overlay
• Candy Crush Saga, Candy Crush Friends
• Clipchamp (video editor)
• Solitaire Collection
• TikTok, Instagram, Facebook
• LinkedIn (if not used)
• Spotify
• Disney+, Prime Video
• Microsoft Teams (consumer version - separate from Teams for Work)
• Your Phone / Phone Link (if BYOD is not in scope)

Method 1 - PowerShell script via Intune

This script removes the provisioned versions of common bloatware apps so they will not install for new users. It also removes them for the current user if already installed.

$bloatware = @(
    "Microsoft.XboxApp",
    "Microsoft.XboxGameOverlay",
    "Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay",
    "Microsoft.XboxIdentityProvider",
    "Microsoft.XboxSpeechToTextOverlay",
    "Microsoft.BingWeather",
    "Microsoft.BingNews",
    "Microsoft.GetHelp",
    "Microsoft.Getstarted",
    "Microsoft.MicrosoftSolitaireCollection",
    "Microsoft.MixedReality.Portal",
    "Microsoft.People",
    "Microsoft.SkypeApp",
    "Microsoft.WindowsFeedbackHub",
    "Microsoft.YourPhone",
    "Microsoft.ZuneMusic",
    "Microsoft.ZuneVideo",
    "Clipchamp.Clipchamp",
    "SpotifyAB.SpotifyMusic",
    "Disney.37853D22215B2",
    "AmazonVideo.PrimeVideo",
    "ByteDance.TikTok",
    "king.com.CandyCrushSaga",
    "king.com.CandyCrushFriends"
)

foreach ($app in $bloatware) {
    # Remove provisioned package (prevents install for new users)
    Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online |
        Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -eq $app } |
        Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

    # Remove installed package for current user
    Get-AppxPackage -Name $app -AllUsers |
        Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

    Write-Host "Processed: $app"
}
Write-Host "Bloatware removal complete."

To deploy this script via Intune:

1. Go to Devices → Scripts and remediations → Platform scripts → + Add → Windows 10 and later
2. Upload the .ps1 file
3. Set Run this script using the logged on credentials to No (run as System)
4. Set Run script in 64-bit PowerShell Host to Yes
5. Set Enforce script signature check to No
6. Assign to your device group and save

Method 2 - Settings Catalog (prevent reinstallation)

Windows Update periodically reinstalls some removed apps as part of the consumer experience. To prevent this, create a Settings Catalog profile:

Search for Experience and enable:

Preventing bloatware during Autopilot

If you are using Windows Autopilot, apps are installed during the OOBE phase. To prevent bloatware installing during Autopilot deployment, make sure your Autopilot deployment profile has User account type set to Standard (not Administrator) and that the Settings Catalog policy above is deployed before user sign-in completes.

Assign and verify

After the script runs, verify removal on a test device by opening PowerShell and running:

Get-AppxPackage -Name "Microsoft.XboxApp" -AllUsers
Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Where-Object DisplayName -like "*Xbox*"

If these return no output, the app has been successfully removed.