GoKawiilMicrosoft has updated a Windows 11 in-box app removal policy introduced in October to include a dynamic list that lets IT admins choose which preinstalled Store apps to uninstall.
The updated RemoveDefaultMicrosoftStorePackages policy enables admins to remove any preinstalled MSIX/APPX app by referencing its Package Family Name (PFN) using Group Policy Object (GPO) or a custom OMA-URI for mobile device management (MDM).
"IT admins, you can now simplify Microsoft Store app management with dynamic removal on more devices across your enterprise. Use policy to remove any preinstalled MSIX/APPX app by referencing its Package Family Name (PFN)," Microsoft said on Thursday.
To get this new feature, admins must ensure that their devices have at least the April 2026 Windows non-security update deployed. Windows Insiders can get it after installing the March 13, 2026, builds in the Dev and Beta channels.
To make it work using Group Policy, admins have to:
Find the app's PFN using PowerShell. Use the following example, replacing "Notepad" with your desired app: Get-AppxPackage *Notepad* | Select-Object PackageFamilyName
Open Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc). Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > App Package Deployment and select Remove default Microsoft Store packages from the system .
> > > and select . Add the PFN to the multi-text list under Specify additional package family names to remove. Enter one package family name per line.
Microsoft has also extended support for the RemoveDefaultMicrosoftStorePackages policy to systems running Enterprise and Education editions of Windows 11 24H2. Microsoft introduced the policy in October 2025, but it was only made available on devices running Windows 11 25H2 or later.
"The updated app removal policy is now extended to Windows 11, version 24H2 Enterprise and Education editions. Originally, you could only use this feature on devices running Windows 11, version 25H2 or newer," Microsoft added. "If your organization has standardized on the 2024 release, you can benefit from policy-driven app management without a full OS version upgrade."
... continue reading