When removing Cortana, the WindowsApps folders are not removed

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AeonX

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After removing Cortana the following folders still exist:

\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.549981C3F5F10_1.1911.21713.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\
\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.549981C3F5F10_1.1911.21713.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe\

Tested on Windows 10 22H2 Build 19045.5247.

Disabling all options in Compatibility removes the folders. I'm trying to figure out which one is causing this. Unchecking only Shell Search still keeps the folders.
 
I figured it out. Unchecking only System File Check (SFC) in Compatibility and removing Cortana removes the folders. Unchecking Servicing Stack isn't enough.

I forgot to mention, I'm using NTLite 2025.07.10534 (currently the latest version).
 
The question is whether it's really necessary to keep these folders for SFC or if this is a bug. LTSC doesn't have these folders, so I doubt the need to keep them. PowerShell cmdlets or Dism also remove these folders from what I remember.

I think only nuhi can answer this, so I asked him via DM 7 days ago but no response.
 
You can test by renaming these folders, then doing an SFC and seeing if there is an error or not
 
AeonX said:
The question is whether it's really necessary to keep these folders for SFC or if this is a bug. LTSC doesn't have these folders, so I doubt the need to keep them. PowerShell cmdlets or Dism also remove these folders from what I remember.

I think only nuhi can answer this, so I asked him via DM 7 days ago but no response.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the report, quick-reading it few days ago I thought it's solved.
Actually you did find a leftover, fix uploaded, let me know how it goes and if you see something similar in the future with other Apps.
Apologies for missing it.
 
nuhi said:
Thank you for the report, quick-reading it few days ago I thought it's solved.
Actually you did find a leftover, fix uploaded, let me know how it goes and if you see something similar in the future with other Apps.
Apologies for missing it.
Click to expand...
Thanks nuhi, with the new version everything is fine now. Sorry for the delay in giving feedback, I had some unexpected issues here. And sorry if I was a little impatient.
 
nuhi said:
and if you see something similar in the future with other Apps.
Click to expand...
I found a few more Apps. I removed them all but the folders in Program Files\WindowsApps are only removed if you disable SFC Compatibility.

1757905215615.png
 
AeonX said:
I found a few more Apps. I removed them all but the folders in Program Files\WindowsApps are only removed if you disable SFC Compatibility.

View attachment 14959
Click to expand...
Yes, that was intentional as some were returned with SFC scan, but I should invert the logic, from whitelist to blacklist.
Can you please delete those and run sfc /scannow, if any was returned?
To see which side wins.
 
nuhi said:
Can you please delete those and run sfc /scannow, if any was returned?
Click to expand...
They didn't return for me in Win10 22H2 build 19045.6332 (latest). It found corrupted files, but without removing the apps it also gives errors. Looking at the cbs.log I couldn't find which files are corrupted. I used an ISO from UUP Dump.
 
Retested and found a pattern as to which apps to keep and when, will be cleaner in the next update.
Thank you.
 
nuhi said:
Retested and found a pattern as to which apps to keep and when, will be cleaner in the next update.
Thank you.
Click to expand...
I was only able to test this now with NTLite 2025.11.10675 and the mentioned folders are still present, and now the Cortana folders are back again.
 
The problem persists, you could at least say you'll take a look at it. I feel completely ignored.

I had to write a script to remove leftover files. Even with SFC compatibility disabled, I still have leftover files in the WinSxS folder after removing WinSxS; I had to write a script to remove those leftover files as well. What's the point of using NTLite if I have to deal with scripts anyway?

I'm increasingly less inclined to use it. Windows 10/11 doesn't allow you to remove much without breaking something important anyway; the reduction in RAM and CPU usage isn't what it used to be, it's very close to the result of keeping files and using tweaks and disabling things.
 
I don't have any leftovers when a component is deleted.
I hunt down leftovers, nuhi is tearing his hair out

All I have in WindowsApps are kept components

Capture.PNG

Your case is strange.
 
AeonX said:
The problem persists, you could at least say you'll take a look at it. I feel completely ignored.

I had to write a script to remove leftover files. Even with SFC compatibility disabled, I still have leftover files in the WinSxS folder after removing WinSxS; I had to write a script to remove those leftover files as well. What's the point of using NTLite if I have to deal with scripts anyway?

I'm increasingly less inclined to use it. Windows 10/11 doesn't allow you to remove much without breaking something important anyway; the reduction in RAM and CPU usage isn't what it used to be, it's very close to the result of keeping files and using tweaks and disabling things.
Click to expand...

It would be nice to have a dedicated forum for bug reports. If Nuhi is concerned about false reports, maybe it could be reserved for members that have been here a while or have a minimum number of posts. Perhaps then he'd have more time to address them. I honestly don't think he reads the forum all that much unless he's pinged by Garlin. I posted a bug several weeks ago too and the post didn't receive any replies. I feel bad about pinging him.
 
Some bugs I see, I add to the "to-do list," but I don't see them all.
Or you have to tag nuhi in the post so he gets a notification.
 
I tested again with version 2025.12.10736 and Cortana is removed again, but there are still apps that are not removed from the WindowsApps folder when removing all of them in NTLite. Although they appear to be inactive.

1766678494916.png

I removed all of them just for testing. Of those that remain I personally only remove the Microsoft Advertising SDK for XAML (Microsoft.Advertising.Xaml).

tistou77 said:
Your case is strange.
Click to expand...
Perhaps this is something that only happens on Windows 10.

tharri said:
I posted a bug several weeks ago too and the post didn't receive any replies. I feel bad about pinging him.
Click to expand...
I hadn't seen your thread because I've been a bit absent from the forum dealing with personal matters. It's exactly the same problem I'm having. I pinged nuhi here in the thread and sent a DM about the WinSxS problem, but I don't feel comfortable doing that, so I haven't sent any more messages. But it's frustrating not to get a response, it discourages you from reporting bugs when you're ignored.
 
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