Windows 11 25H2 will come with a debloat option to remove default apps

• Microsoft is introducing a new Group Policy in Windows 11 25H2, called “Remove Default Microsoft Store packages from the system,” which allows Pro and higher editions to uninstall most pre-installed apps during setup automatically.
• This option is not available through the Settings app or on Home editions, and it only targets Microsoft Store apps, not third-party promotional software (as far as I can tell).

Microsoft is quietly adding an option to remove most of the applications that Windows 11 bundles by default during the installation in the latest preview release of version 25H2. However, it’s not an option available through the Settings app. Instead, it’s a new policy available through the Group Policy Editor, meaning that it’s only available for Windows 11 Pro and higher editions, which also indicates that the company is targeting this feature for network administrators.

The policy is known as “Remove Default Microsoft Store packages from the system,” and according to the description, once the policy is enabled, those applications that come from the Microsoft Store will be automatically uninstalled from the computer.

Windows 11 25H2 apps that can be uninstalled via Group  Policy

Currently, the list includes 25 applications that you can uninstall from Windows 11, including:

• Feedback Hub
• Microsoft 365 Copilot
• Microsoft Clipchamp
• Microsoft News
• Microsoft Photos
• Microsoft Solitaire Collection
• Microsoft Sticky Notes
• Microsoft Teams
• Microsoft To Do
• MSN Weather
• Outlook for Windows
• Paint
• Quick Assist
• Snipping Tool
• Windows Calculator
• Windows Camera
• Windows Media Player
• Windows Notepad
• Windows Sound Recorder
• Windows Terminal
• Xbox Gaming App
• Xbox Gaming Overlay
• Xbox Identity Provider
• Xbox Speech To Text Overlay
• Xbox TCUI

The policy is indeed part of version 25H2. I have also checked the Group Policy Editor for version 24H2, and the policy isn’t available for this release. However, the policy is present in the latest Insider Preview build from the Beta Channel, which is available for version 24H2. As a result, it’s unclear whether this policy will be exclusive to version 25H2 or if the company plans to implement it in both versions.

The “Remove Default Microsoft Store packages from the system” policy path is located on Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates >  Windows Components > App Package Deployment.

After enabling and configuring the policy to debloat Windows 11, the system creates a RemoveDefaultMicrosoftStorePackages Registry key in the HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Appx location.

Since this configuration requires the use of the Group Policy Editor, the option won’t be available for Windows 11 Home.

It’s important to note that the newly discovered policy only removes Microsoft’s applications, not those promotional apps that may come with a new computer.

Although this is a welcome addition for the operating system, it’s something that should be available for both Pro and Home editions of the operating system.

I believe it would be a better approach if Windows 11 didn’t include preinstalled applications by default. Instead, the operating system could offer a post-setup interface that lets users choose which apps to install based on their preferences.

Microsoft could easily implement this by introducing a dedicated page in the Microsoft Store app that launches automatically during or immediately after the Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE), allowing users to have complete control over the initial app selection process.

The company is already in the development process of version 25H2, which is expected to become available sometime in the fall of 2025. However, at this point, the operating system doesn’t include anything new other than this new policy, but if you want to get an early start, it’s already possible to download the Windows 11 25H2 ISO file, and you can upgrade your computer in at least two ways.