Remove multiple Start screen apps at once in Windows 8

While many of us in the tech world have been using Windows 8 for some time -- perhaps even since back when the Developer Preview came out, which is when I moved to the new operating system. If you are using the new platform then you have likely noticed a difference in how you delete apps. Traditional software and apps still show up in the Uninstall pane within Control Panel, but Metro, or Modern UI, apps do not.

To remove those, you will need to return to the Start screen and right-click the app and then choose the uninstall option that appears on the bottom of the screen. However, if you want to remove multiple apps then this can be time-consuming. You could, of course, write a script for this, but thankfully, there is now a user script that can help you out.

The script is provided by Microsoft and can be found in the company's TechNet repository. The PowerShell script can be downloaded for free as a ZIP file. You simply need to agree to the terms of service.

"This script can be used to remove multiple Windows Store apps from a user account in Windows 8. It provides a list of installed Windows Store apps.  You can specify the application IDs, and remove them all at once".

Once downloaded and unzipped, you can simply click the icon labeled "Remove Windows Store App". This will open a notepad that displays the entire script. Scroll down to the bottom and add the following:

Remove-OSCAppxPackage

Now open Powershell in Windows 8 and run the file. Alternatively, and an easier method, is to right-click the file and choose the option "Run with PowerShell". You will need to ID the apps you wish to remove and then click "Y" for yes when the script runs.

While this is a simple process, it is probably not for the casual user because of the processes involved. You certainly do not need to be a programmer or IT person, but you will likely need to have a firm understanding of your computer to use these types of little hacks.

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