Microsoft has made significant strides in enhancing the management of preinstalled applications within its Windows 11 operating system. The recent update to the in-box app removal policy, initially introduced in October, now empowers IT administrators with a dynamic list feature that allows for the selective uninstallation of Store apps.
Enhanced App Management for IT Administrators
The newly updated RemoveDefaultMicrosoftStorePackages policy enables administrators to remove any preinstalled MSIX/APPX applications by referencing their Package Family Name (PFN). This can be accomplished through either the Group Policy Object (GPO) or a custom OMA-URI for mobile device management (MDM).
Microsoft emphasized the benefits of this update, stating, “IT admins, you can now simplify Microsoft Store app management with dynamic removal on more devices across your enterprise.” This enhancement is designed to streamline the process of managing applications, making it easier for organizations to tailor their software environments.
To utilize this new feature, administrators must ensure that their devices have deployed at least the April 2026 Windows non-security update. For those participating in the Windows Insider program, access to this functionality will be available following the installation of the March 13, 2026, builds in the Dev and Beta channels.
For effective implementation using Group Policy, administrators are required to follow specific steps, which are detailed in Microsoft’s guidance documentation. Additionally, support for the RemoveDefaultMicrosoftStorePackages policy has been extended to systems operating on the Enterprise and Education editions of Windows 11 version 24H2. Initially, this policy was exclusive to devices running Windows 11 version 25H2 or later.
Microsoft further stated, “The updated app removal policy is now extended to Windows 11, version 24H2 Enterprise and Education editions. If your organization has standardized on the 2024 release, you can benefit from policy-driven app management without a full OS version upgrade.” This flexibility allows organizations to maintain control over their app environments without the need for extensive system updates.
A comprehensive list of supported applications, along with detailed instructions for applying the policy to individual devices via the Local Group Policy Editor or to multiple Active Directory-joined devices, is readily available for IT administrators.
While the Intune entry for this policy currently lacks the dynamic list option, Microsoft has indicated that this feature will be rolled out in the coming months. Administrators can anticipate its arrival by searching for “Remove Default Microsoft Store packages” in the settings picker once it becomes generally available.
In addition to these updates, Microsoft has recently introduced a new policy setting that allows IT administrators to uninstall the AI-powered Copilot digital assistant from enterprise devices. This capability is accessible following the installation of the April 2026 Patch Tuesday cumulative updates, further enhancing the control that organizations have over their software environments.
