windows 10 How to get rid of extra connections in Windows 10 Redstone

[Sylence]

How to get rid of extra connections in Windows 10 Redstone and reduce data usage significantly

 

 

 

1. Uninstall the built-in apps you want and also uninstall Windows Store, it's become so aggressive in Redstone update.

 

to do this, open a powershell as admin in Windows 10 and enter each command in it and press enter.

 

 

Uninstall 3D Builder:

Get-AppxPackage *3dbuilder* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

Uninstall Alarms and Clock:

Get-AppxPackage *windowsalarms* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

Uninstall Calculator:

Get-AppxPackage *windowscalculator* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

Uninstall Calendar and Mail:

Get-AppxPackage *windowscommunicationsapps* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

Uninstall Camera:

Get-AppxPackage *windowscamera* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

Uninstall Contact Support:

This app can’t be removed.

 

Uninstall Cortana:

This app can’t be removed.

 

Uninstall Get Office:

Get-AppxPackage *officehub* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

Uninstall Get Skype:

Get-AppxPackage *skypeapp* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

Uninstall Get Started:

Get-AppxPackage *getstarted* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

Uninstall Groove Music:

Get-AppxPackage *zunemusic* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

Uninstall Maps:

Get-AppxPackage *windowsmaps* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

Uninstall Microsoft Edge:

This app can’t be removed.

 

Uninstall Microsoft Solitaire Collection:

Get-AppxPackage *solitairecollection* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

Uninstall Money:

Get-AppxPackage *bingfinance* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

Uninstall Movies & TV:

Get-AppxPackage *zunevideo* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

Uninstall News:

Get-AppxPackage *bingnews* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

Uninstall OneNote:

Get-AppxPackage *onenote* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

Uninstall People:

Get-AppxPackage *people* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

Uninstall Phone Companion:

Get-AppxPackage *windowsphone* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

Uninstall Photos:

Get-AppxPackage *photos* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

Uninstall Store:

Get-AppxPackage *windowsstore* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

Uninstall Sports:

Get-AppxPackage *bingsports* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

Uninstall Voice Recorder:

Get-AppxPackage *soundrecorder* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

Uninstall Weather:

Get-AppxPackage *bingweather* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

Uninstall Windows Feedback:

This app can’t be removed.

 

Uninstall Xbox:

Get-AppxPackage *xboxapp* | Remove-AppxPackage

 

 

      2. use programs like O&O ShutUp10 (just an example, there are a dozen such programs out there, some of them even better) to disable telemetry services to reduce data usage.

     

      3. set your connection as metered connection in settings (WIFI only)

 

 

 

 

[p4psb]

Hi,

 

Where is metered connection in settings?

 

Thanks.

[Pete 12]

Indeed, a lot of this stuff can be deleted , but ,take care ,  which of them you dump, some of them are usefull and ; deleted is gone for ever , hard to go back before the deleting...............

[Sylence]

1 hour ago, p4psb said:

Hi,

 

Where is metered connection in settings?

 

Thanks.

 

Hi, if you have WIFI then in the bottom right click on the WIFI icon and then click on your access point's name then choose properties, it will take you to the settings page where you have the option to set your connection as metered.

 

40 minutes ago, Pete 12 said:

Indeed, a lot of this stuff can be deleted , but ,take care ,  which of them you dump, some of them are usefull and ; deleted is gone for ever , hard to go back before the deleting...............

 

we all worked with these apps since Windows 8 so it's not hard to choose which one of them to delete ^^ 

restoring store app is hard but.... it uses too much background connection and keeps downloading stuff and no matter what setting you choose, it still does its work 

[Pete 12]

Remain two questions ; 1. By deleting this all , doesnt it break your Windows update in future ?

                                       2. There are many programs ,like O&O , but which one is really best  ?

[p4psb]

14 hours ago, saeed_dc said:

 

Hi, if you have WIFI then in the bottom right click on the WIFI icon and then click on your access point's name then choose properties, it will take you to the settings page where you have the option to set your connection as metered.

 

 

we all worked with these apps since Windows 8 so it's not hard to choose which one of them to delete ^^ 

restoring store app is hard but.... it uses too much background connection and keeps downloading stuff and no matter what setting you choose, it still does its work 

I use ethernet not WiFi?

[Sylence]

29 minutes ago, p4psb said:

I use ethernet not WiFi?

 

there are some registry hacks to enable it for Ethernet as well but i'm not sure how effective it is because i didn't try it

4 hours ago, Pete 12 said:

Remain two questions ; 1. By deleting this all , doesnt it break your Windows update in future ?

                                       2. There are many programs ,like O&O , but which one is really best  ?

 

Nope, Windows store and metro apps don't break Windows update.

"Destroy Windows spying" was really the best but it needs to be updated to cover the redstone update, i use O&O because it works on this update and has the ability to revert back any options you change

[Pete 12]

Yep, using O&O also,just installed.

It gave us no problems, so far..........

[BimBamSmash]

20 hours ago, saeed_dc said:

"...get rid of extra connections in Windows 10"

 

"...it's become so aggressive in Redstone update."

 

Define aggressive? It's collecting more data than before? Well, hallelujah.

 

The Enterprise SKU, with all the relevant GPO's applied, and the A.I. assistant disabled is behaving very nicely at my end - even with all the metro apps in place, and no metered connection enforcement. Though that had me spend more hours at that confounded GPedit screen than I have ever spent. Basic Windows deployment shouldn't be this frequent, or this annoying.

 

With respect to metro apps, you may want to fire up the Store app, navigate to settings and make sure it is now updating your apps on its own. Unlike most GPO/registry tricks out in the wilds, this particular option seems to be available to all, irrespective of the edition one might have installed. That bad boy is usually the culprit for irregular net activities in 10. Metro apps get updated way too frequently, without meaningful changes (just how buggy can a calculator be to call for this many revisions?!), and the updates usually download the full package, rather than just some incremental file that should make necessary changes.

 

Boy oh boy. the way it is going, this cloudy little snitch is going to be a real pain to handle once it becomes the only option a decade from now.

[straycat19]

I fully expect to see Microsoft fix this 'flaw' in Redstone 2 so you will not be able to remove anything from the OS.  They continue to go the way of Apple with their heavy handed updates and not allowing modifications to their OS.  One day, in the not too distant future, there will be articles on Jailbreaking Windows.  Win 10 Enterprise LTSB is fine for now but they will probably screw it up when they release the next version.  They really don't want to antagonize organisations who with the push of one computer key could reimage 25,000 systems with Windows 7 overnight.  

[kaloo1995]

uninstall whatever u don't need with ccleaner.

[Sylence]

15 hours ago, BimBamSmash said:

 

Define aggressive? It's collecting more data than before? Well, hallelujah.

 

The Enterprise SKU, with all the relevant GPO's applied, and the A.I. assistant disabled is behaving very nicely at my end - even with all the metro apps in place, and no metered connection enforcement. Though that had me spend more hours at that confounded GPedit screen than I have ever spent. Basic Windows deployment shouldn't be this frequent, or this annoying.

 

With respect to metro apps, you may want to fire up the Store app, navigate to settings and make sure it is now updating your apps on its own. Unlike most GPO/registry tricks out in the wilds, this particular option seems to be available to all, irrespective of the edition one might have installed. That bad boy is usually the culprit for irregular net activities in 10. Metro apps get updated way too frequently, without meaningful changes (just how buggy can a calculator be to call for this many revisions?!), and the updates usually download the full package, rather than just some incremental file that should make necessary changes.

 

Boy oh boy. the way it is going, this cloudy little snitch is going to be a real pain to handle once it becomes the only option a decade from now.

 

 

you think I didn't try that (the most simplest option) before using these more advanced methods? loL

 

Windows store installs, updates and downloads without your permission. all the preinstalled apps in Windows 10 Redstone update are automatically downloaded and updated. if not all, most of the apps available in your store library (those you previously used on Windows 8, 8.1, 10) also get automatically downloaded and installed, all those huge games you might have installed once before, again without your permission, Group policy options also won't help you because this is for Windows 10 pro. next time get enough information and experience before commenting  

 

 

 

[BimBamSmash]

54 minutes ago, saeed_dc said:

you think I didn't try that (the most simplest option) before using these more advanced methods? loL

 

Of course not. I didn't see any posts by you in this thread that suggests you have - until now.

 

And if you think going through all the relevant GPO's is easier than pasting a few lines of PowerShell script onto a console window then, wow, you rock bro!

 

1 hour ago, saeed_dc said:

...won't help you because this is for Windows 10 pro

 

Unless I missed it, you did not mention in your original post that your target audience are mainly people on the Pro SKU's until now, either.

 

Like I said above, with the correct application of GPOs, the Enterprise SKU limits data collection just fine. No need to install third party tools or remove existing metro apps.

 

With the Pro SKU's on the other hand - well, no amount of trick'n'treat seem to stop that. I tried them all out and the company firewall still logs healthy web activities from a test machine that runs a clean installation of Pro, when it's left idle for a little while, that is. Mind you the Enterprise SKU used to misbehave too, but it looks like they might have beefed up a few things since 1607. Either that or the 1607 Enterprise is yet to demonstrate any signs of "insubordination" when it comes down to network activity.

 

1 hour ago, saeed_dc said:

next time get enough information and experience before commenting

 

LOL!

 

I am going to print out this particular comment and hang it on the wall of my office! Would love to see the face of my colleagues when they see this!

[Sylence]

24 minutes ago, BimBamSmash said:

 

Of course not. I didn't see any posts by you in this thread that suggests you have - until now.

 

And if you think going through all the relevant GPO's is easier than pasting a few lines of PowerShell script onto a console window then, wow, you rock bro!

 

 

I never talked about GPOs in this post, what are you talking about? 

 

24 minutes ago, BimBamSmash said:

Unless I missed it, you did not mention in your original post that your target audience are mainly people on the Pro SKU's until now, either.

 

Like I said above, with the correct application of GPOs, the Enterprise SKU limits data collection just fine. No need to install third party tools or remove existing metro apps.

 

With the Pro SKU's on the other hand - well, no amount of trick'n'treat seem to stop that. I tried them all out and the company firewall still logs healthy web activities from a test machine that runs a clean installation of Pro, when it's left idle for a little while, that is. Mind you the Enterprise SKU used to misbehave too, but it looks like they might have beefed up a few things since 1607. Either that or the 1607 Enterprise is yet to demonstrate any signs of "insubordination" when it comes down to network activity.

 

 

Yeah sorry I should've explicitly mentioned that I'm only talking about Pro version, but most fellas here know that on Enterprise editions you can do it using Group Policy.

 

my Pro edition is pretty much tamed now. no more background downloading by Windows store, I've been watching bandwidth usage carefully since I fresh installed Redstone update but unplugged the network cable soon after i logged in using Microsoft account because in a blink of eye it updates everything and won't let you go through those options to disable them one by one. before uninstalling Store app, I tried everytihng in their normal ways to prevents apps from getting updated or installed but the next day I turned on my computer i saw a 2GB asphalt 8 game is installed, last time i used it was on 8.1. 

 

24 minutes ago, BimBamSmash said:

 

LOL!

 

I am going to print out this particular comment and hang it on the wall of my office! Would love to see the face of my colleagues when they see this!

 

alright who are you again? lol

 

but anyway i was right, you didn't try Pro version, yet, so you didn't know it would ignore your settings and still does its works 

[BimBamSmash]

2 minutes ago, saeed_dc said:

I never talked about GPOs in this post, what are you talking about? 

 

I was not quoting you on that. I mentioned GPO's in my original post myself. And I understood from your successive post that, not only was that something you had tried before, but you also thought it's the most straightforward option in the solution pool. I then wanted to state my disagreement with that being the simplest: Assigning, removing or reassigning GPOs to Windows, company-wide, even in a small-scaled test environment, is about the most excruciating task any sysadmin can can subject themselves too. Especially with W10, which greets admins with GPO's that either disappear, or reappear under a new name between builds, GPO's whose functionality/description change between builds, heck some even become obsolete for a particular SKU starting with a new build... No. Definitely not the simplest solution around for anything!

 

3 minutes ago, saeed_dc said:

my Pro edition is pretty much tamed now. no more background downloading by Windows store, I've been watching bandwidth usage carefully since I fresh installed Redstone update

 

To check whether or not your W10 box is really "tamed", do a fresh install, apply all the tricks you know of, remove everything you must remove (just like you explained in your post), plug the box to an external firewall with logging capabilities, and have your system do all its network activities through that firewall. Leave your machine idle for a day or a week if you can and come back to and see what the firewall has to say on your W10 box's activities. I did this with a Pro test machine and the results were disappointing.

 

 

1 minute ago, saeed_dc said:

alright who are you again? lol

 

Nobody. Just a random guy working in the IT industry for the past twenty years or so. You know...

[Sylence]

50 minutes ago, BimBamSmash said:

 

I was not quoting you on that. I mentioned GPO's in my original post myself. And I understood from your successive post that, not only was that something you had tried before, but you also thought it's the most straightforward option in the solution pool. I then wanted to state my disagreement with that being the simplest: Assigning, removing or reassigning GPOs to Windows, company-wide, even in a small-scaled test environment, is about the most excruciating task any sysadmin can can subject themselves too. Especially with W10, which greets admins with GPO's that either disappear, or reappear under a new name between builds, GPO's whose functionality/description change between builds, heck some even become obsolete for a particular SKU starting with a new build... No. Definitely not the simplest solution around for anything!

 

I tried both Group Policy and Powershell methods, Powershell was easier for Pro edition and in a single OS environment, also not all the options are available for Pro edition so again Group Policy can't be much useful. Enterprise editions have a different story of course. you can make a post about methods for achieving the same results using Group Policy.

 

51 minutes ago, BimBamSmash said:

To check whether or not your W10 box is really "tamed", do a fresh install, apply all the tricks you know of, remove everything you must remove (just like you explained in your post), plug the box to an external firewall with logging capabilities, and have your system do all its network activities through that firewall. Leave your machine idle for a day or a week if you can and come back to and see what the firewall has to say on your W10 box's activities. I did this with a Pro test machine and the results were disappointing.

 

First I installed the VL version and it was totally a mess, it was kinda my test OS, then I downloaded the retail version from official website and applied all the tricks on it, it became the way i wanted to be, almost. btw I also used o&o to disable telemetry and that kind of stuff. so if you did all of them and still the results were disappointing,  could you tell us which program/service/app was the culprit?

 

[BimBamSmash]

15 hours ago, saeed_dc said:

so if you did all of them and still the results were disappointing,  could you tell us which program/service/app was the culprit?

 

 

What I monitor are remote hosts a box tries to talk to, ports, protocols, number of packets, frequency of communications, packet sizes, etc. Logs won't tell me what program or service has triggered a particular connection. I never tried to look into that in detail either. The machines I will ultimately install 10 on are meant for a corporation. You mod or mess with the way the OS runs in an enterprise, you buy yourself constant headaches, sleepless nights, and clock-work nagging from the employees and management alike.

 

Think about it though, If there was anything that we could block beyond what's already known without bricking systems, I'm sure all the devs making those third party apps would have implemented them by now. MS in turn would have blocked and reworked them too - those guys sure don't want these stopped!

 

If you are curious about other potential culprit(s), you have time to spare, and you are up for a little challenge, you could hook your Windows 10 box to a firewall with logging capabilities - like I previously described - get a list of known MS Telemetry hosts, and define a filter on your firewall to notify you when your machine has initiated a connection to any of those hosts. Record the source port from your machine when such a connection is established, move back to your W10 box and use netstat or some third party equivalent - say SysInternals TCP View, and see which program or service had initiated the connection using the port number you just recorded.

 

You could also use apps like Fiddler or Proxifier instead of a firewall. Fiddler is very good and it has a host of incredibly useful tools you don't find on your average firewall. But careless play and configs may mess up your box's networking, so if that's where you are headed, do it inside a VM instead.

 

Either way, it will be a long a tedious process, and in most cases you are likely pointed towards svchost or one of its sub-processes, like netsvc. i.e. processes that you can't/don't want to mess with.

 

I doubt MS is daft enough to have some dedicated channel, program, or service for the purpose of data collection anymore - or else they risk having it blocked by the community - like DiagTrack, CONSENT, dmwappushservice or those other twenty and somethings that you disable with these third party apps. If they haven't done so already, they will most likely plant these somewhere next to core services in the near future, so that when a user cuts off their access to their data, the user loses a whole set of services altogether.