- The new Windows Backup app for Windows 11 doesn’t include an uninstall option.
- Microsoft says you can’t remove the app because it’s a system component.
- However, the company plans to release an update to hide the backup app on specific configurations.
Microsoft confirms you can’t uninstall the “Windows Backup” app on Windows 11 or 10. As part of the Copilot update (also referred to as the “moment 4 update”), version 23H2, and Windows 10, the company made available a new app to back up and restore your files, apps, settings, and credentials. However, even if you have another backup solution, it’ll be impossible to remove it from the Settings app.
According to the software giant, the Windows Backup app is a “system component,” and for this reason, in the “Installed apps” settings page, you won’t find the option to uninstall it. Currently, the restriction also applies to enterprise installations of Windows 11, and since it requires a Microsoft account, it means that users logged in with an Azure Active Directory (AAD) or Active Directory (AD) can still see the application, but they cannot use it.
As a result of this controversial implementation, the company has also confirmed that it’s working on an update to hide the application on specific configurations. For example, on Windows 11 and Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise and Education devices are connected to an Active Directory environment. However, Microsoft says it’ll hide the app, meaning it’ll remain part of the setup.
The new Windows Backup app has been designed to use OneDrive as the storage medium to back up files, apps, settings, and credentials. However, the app doesn’t work as a traditional backup application. For example, even though you can recover your files from the OneDrive folder, it’s impossible to restore apps, settings, and credentials individually since the company has created this solution to restore the user’s data in case of hardware failure or when transferring to a new computer.
The only time users can restore all the data is through the Out-of-box Experience (OOBE) during installation or while setting up a new computer.
Furthermore, when restoring apps, the Windows Backup won’t reinstall the applications. Instead, it’ll restore the icons in the Start menu and the Taskbar, and only when the users click on the app the system will download them again from the Microsoft Store. In the case that the app comes from outside the Store, then when clicking the app, the system will open the page where the user can download the installer to reinstall the application.
Finally, even though many users are complaining about the missing option to uninstall Windows Backup, it’s important to note that the app is only an interface to access the same backup settings already available through the “Windows Backup” settings page that has been around since the original release of Windows 11.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].