This is a multi-part blog series focused on optimizing Windows 10 VDI
- Part 1: Optimizing default apps
- Part 2: Optimizing Windows services
- Part 3: Optimizing scheduled tasks
Roughly every 6 months, Microsoft releases a new major update to Windows 10. Microsoft continues to add new capabilities into the base operating system that will have an impact on the user experience in a VDI implementation.
Default Apps
Microsoft expanded the list of default applications that come pre-installed within the base OS.
With each release, the number of default apps increased.
- Build 1507: 24 Apps
- Build 1607: 26 Apps
- Build 1703: 31 Apps
- Build 1709: 33 Apps
- Build 1803: 35 Apps
- Build 1809: 29 Apps
As shown in previous tests, leaving these apps part of the base operating system directly impact user logon time and overall system density. It is generally recommended to review the list of apps and uninstall those that are not necessary for the users.
To see a list of default Windows apps, run the following PowerShell command:
Get-ProvisionedAppXPackage -Online|Select DisplayName
Color Code:
- Green: Remove
- Orange: Consider removing
- Red: Keep
- Black: App does not exist on build
| Application Name | Build 1507 | Build 1607 | Build 1703 | Build 1709 | Build 1803 | Build 1809 |
| Microsoft.3DBuilder | Remove | Remove | Remove | |||
| Microsoft.Appconnector | Keep | |||||
| Microsoft.BingFinance | Consider | |||||
| Microsoft.BingNews | Consider | |||||
| Microsoft.BingSports | Consider | |||||
| Microsoft.BingWeather | Consider | Consider | Consider | Consider | Consider | Consider |
| Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller | Keep | Keep | Keep | Keep | Keep | |
| Microsoft.GetHelp | Remove | Remove | Remove | |||
| Microsoft.Getstarted | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove |
| Microsoft.Messaging | Consider | Consider | Consider | Consider | ||
| Microsoft.Microsoft3DViewer | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | ||
| Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub | Remove | Remove | Consider | Consider | Consider | Consider |
| Microsoft.MicrosoftSolitaireCollection | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove |
| Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes | Consider | Consider | Consider | Consider | Consider | |
| Microsoft.MSPaint | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | ||
| Microsoft.Office.OneNote | Consider | Consider | Consider | Consider | Consider | Consider |
| Microsoft.OneConnect | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | |
| Microsoft.People | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove |
| Microsoft.Print3D | Remove | Remove | Remove | |||
| Microsoft.ScreenSketch | Remove | |||||
| Microsoft.SkypeApp | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | |
| Microsoft.StorePurchaseApp | Keep | Keep | Keep | Keep | Keep | |
| Microsoft.Wallet | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | ||
| Microsoft.Windows.Photos | Consider | Consider | Consider | Consider | Consider | Consider |
| Microsoft.WindowsAlarms | Keep | Keep | Keep | Keep | Keep | Keep |
| Microsoft.WindowsCalculator | Keep | Keep | Keep | Keep | Keep | Keep |
| Microsoft.WindowsCamera | Consider | Consider | Consider | Consider | Consider | Consider |
| microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove |
| Microsoft.WindowsFeedbackHub | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | |
| Microsoft.WindowsMaps | Consider | Consider | Consider | Consider | Consider | Consider |
| Microsoft.WindowsPhone | Consider | |||||
| Microsoft.WindowsSoundRecorder | Consider | Consider | Consider | Consider | Consider | |
| Microsoft.WindowsStore | Consider | Consider | Consider | Consider | Consider | Consider |
| Microsoft.Xbox.TCUI | Remove | Remove | ||||
| Microsoft.XboxApp | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove |
| Microsoft.XboxGameOverlay | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | ||
| Microsoft.XboxIdentityProvider | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | |
| Microsoft.XboxSpeechToTextOverlay | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | ||
| Microsoft.ZuneMusic | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | |
| Microsoft.ZuneVideo | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | Remove | |
| Microsoft.YourPhone | Remove |
Note: Office Hub is an app that changed functionality across different builds. In early builds, Office Hub was essentially an ad for Office 365. In the Creator build, Office Hub adds management capabilities for Office users.
Daniel (Follow on Twitter @djfeller)
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We noticed recently that even after removing default apps and then deploying VDI that the apps will reinstall. Have you encountered this? There doesn’t seem to be a fix that MS has to prevent this from happening.
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how are you removing the app? You will need to do it in the master image via powershell using this command
Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -online | Select DisplayName,PackageName
Grab the package name item that relates to the display name item you want to remove. Then use this command so the app won’t be provisioned to new users.
Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -Package packagename -online
example of package name: Microsoft.WindowsMaps_2017.209.105.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
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I agree.
It’s work looking at this post by Michael Niehaus, about removing provisioned packages on MACHINE level.
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/f2c822c7-350e-4f2b-acab-cc1e81365e4e/removing-windows-10-built-in-apps?forum=mdt
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We’ve done exactly as you’re describing in XenDesktop 7.13 but after doing so and provisioning a desktop the user logs in for the first time and the apps start downloading again.
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It might have to do with this GPO: “Computer Configuration –> Administrative Templates –> Windows Components –> Cloud Content” called “Turn off Microsoft consumer experiences”.
https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/mniehaus/2015/11/23/seeing-extra-apps-turn-them-off/
Thanks abraham
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why is the mail app not on the list?
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Calendar and mail are contained within the communication apps item.
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What are the limitations with accounts? Are you able to have a local Administrator profile with XenDesktop and Windows 10. The reason i ask is we have a customer that is asking for The creators edition and Visual Studio 2017
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Hey, 1709’s “Microsoft.XboxTCUI” is actually “Microsoft.Xbox.TCUI”, with the dot.
Regards,
Chris
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You win the award for best attention to detail!
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I have found through extensive testing that if you remove Microsoft.Xbox.TCUI, the Windows Store will no longer function, neitehr will the Windows Photos app.
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I just tried this and my photos app and store app still function.
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I removed the packages offline from the install.wim.
I’ve generated a list of packages that can be removed from 1703.
When you remove the same ones from 1709 you’ll find there are 3 new ones; GetHelp, Xbox.TCUI & Print3D.
As soon as I add Xbox.TCUI to the list of packages to remove, Windows Store doesn’t function after the OS is installed.
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I’ve been chasing this one around for a while, I couldn’t find out why the Photo app was the only one that I keep that fails to run. I’ve updated my script and testing now.
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I had this issue with the Xbox Identity provider, not the TCUI.
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