How to remove Cortana (beta) app from Windows 10 May 2020 (20H1) update?

[SM03]

Hello,
Is there any way to remove /disable the new 'CORTANA (BETA)' app that's present in the Windows 10 May 2020 (20H1) update ISO without disabling the 'Shell Search' functionality?



I don't use CORTANA so need to remove that, & I know that CORTANA APP is locked by the Shell Search compatibility feature, but I don't wanna disable that 'Shell Search' as that 'd disable the searching functionality in START (tried & tested)

If there is any way to remove the app without disabling the ShellSearch, suggest me that, if not, then requesting nuhi to take a look in this case & if possible do something to make this happen.

 

[Windows 10 User]

No. I didn't, you try that & update here.



The screenshot link that you've shared is not relevant, not similar to my issue.

I think it's exactly the same issue you're having and I only showed you that screenshot (which doesn't have the issue) just for you to know what setting I'm talking about.

 

[crypticus]

I have modernsettings search not working problem when i erase cortana.
shellsearch works but modern search doesn't

 

[Windows 10 User]

No. I didn't, you try that & update here.



The screenshot link that you've shared is not relevant, not similar to my issue.

So, this time I only unchecked the Shell Search compatibility and removed Cortana in the pre-released NTLite version in a 20H1 19041.1 Enterprise x64 pt-pt image. After typing "winver" in the Start Menu, I had results, after typing "control panel" ("painel de controlo" in my language) in the Start Menu, it showed up with the right icon, after searching for a local file in the Start Menu, I also had results, and after searching anything in the Settings app, I had results too so it looks like everything's fine now.

 

[SM03]

So, this time I only unchecked the Shell Search compatibility and removed Cortana in the pre-released NTLite version in a 20H1 19041.1 Enterprise x64 pt-pt image. After typing "winver" in the Start Menu, I had results, after typing "control panel" ("painel de controlo" in my language) in the Start Menu, it showed up with the right icon, after searching for a local file in the Start Menu, I also had results, and after searching anything in the Settings app, I had results too so it looks like everythings' fine now.

So, you are Portuguese.

And BTW, before saying everything is fine, did you check the issue that I've listed earlier in my comment? I mean the search settings under Windows Settings?

 

[SM03]

I have modernsettings search not working problem when i erase cortana.
shellsearch works but modern search doesn't

Do you mean this? If yes then working here. Can you check the search section here in Windows settings & share the screenshots from there?

 

[crypticus]

then i removed something extra rather than cortana but i really don't know and nuhi is not answering my pm's so i won't be learning that for some more days.

 

[nuhi]

So, nuhi , you just fixed a long-awaited issue that we're discussing here for quite a time, can confirm this.

But, there are also somethings that get bricked by this process of removing Cortana via disabling the shell search feature, & need to be fixed. This issue also there in my earlier tests as well which I probably mentioned either here, or directly PM'ing you.

And the issue is this

Search under Windows setting is completely broken, no predefined option, even no default values, absolutely none option selected, even you select it manually, it can't be registered. You select it manually & you close the Windows Settings and the again re-open & there is nothing (again), no option selected.

So, this is the only issue related that need a fix, I hope you'd do that in the future builds.

Again, nuhi if you want the preset for this latest finding, ping me & let me know

P.S: While I/we don't know whether Windows 10 User did test this with 20H1 or not, I will wait & keep an eye here about his finding

OK, great, now let's move on to the next.
Testing the Settings search, which I presume is not about Cortana, but your full preset. For that should have opened another topic.

 

[nuhi]

So, this time I only unchecked the Shell Search compatibility and removed Cortana in the pre-released NTLite version in a 20H1 19041.1 Enterprise x64 pt-pt image. After typing "winver" in the Start Menu, I had results, after typing "control panel" ("painel de controlo" in my language) in the Start Menu, it showed up with the right icon, after searching for a local file in the Start Menu, I also had results, and after searching anything in the Settings app, I had results too so it looks like everythings' fine now.

Finally, thanks.

 

[nuhi]

then i removed something extra rather than cortana but i really don't know and nuhi is not answering my pm's so i won't be learning that for some more days.

surprise!
OK, today is forum cleaning day it seems. Will test yours after the first similar search issue is reviewed, because then it can be the same thing.
Thanks.

 

[SM03]

OK, great, now let's move on to the next.
Testing the Settings search, which I presume is not about Cortana, but your full preset. For that should have opened another topic.

I already shared the PRESET with you in PM. Do check that, thanks.

 

[nuhi]

I already shared the PRESET with you in PM. Do check that, thanks.

OK back to weirdness, I cannot replicate the issue, used the latest pre-release.
If I'm to guess, try keeping English US, but I did test with it removed, maybe I need the exact ISO and your FOD packages done as well.
Can you do me a favor and redownload pre-release and try with English US kept?
With that version feel free to retest 19042, I expect only Edge to be a leftover, will be tackling that today or tomorrow.

 

[crypticus]

I will wait untill you fix edge too then try again and share results about modernapp settings search.. but i must clarify that, i only deleted cortana my preset was the same for 3 months. and after deleting cortana this problem started.

 

[Windows 10 User]

So, you are Portuguese.

And BTW, before saying everything is fine, did you check the issue that I've listed earlier in my comment? I mean the search settings under Windows Settings?

Yes, and I didn't have it. It looks like I may only have it after using both MSMG ToolKit and NTLite.

 

[nuhi]

Yes, and I didn't have it. It looks like I may only have it after using both MSMG ToolKit and NTLite.

If you tell me what do I remove first with MSMG (can be over PM as well to not clutter here), and if the Settings search works then, what to do with NTLite to provoke its breaking, I'm interested.

 

[nuhi]

I will wait untill you fix edge too then try again and share results about modernapp settings search.. but i must clarify that, i only deleted cortana my preset was the same for 3 months. and after deleting cortana this problem started.

OK, I presume by fixing Edge you mean to add Edge Chromium removal support.
Working on it.

 

[crypticus]

OK, I presume by fixing Edge you mean to add Edge Chromium removal support.
Working on it.

I was talking about edge leftover that u mentioned above but either way thanks..

 

[SM03]

Will test yours after the first similar search issue is reviewed, because then it can be the same thing.
Thanks.

Did you receive this 'similar search issue' from anyone else yet?

OK back to weirdness, I cannot replicate the issue, used the latest pre-release.
If I'm to guess, try keeping English US, but I did test with it removed, maybe I need the exact ISO and your FOD packages done as well.
Can you do me a favor and redownload pre-release and try with English US kept?
With that version feel free to retest 19042, I expect only Edge to be a leftover, will be tackling that today or tomorrow.

I'll upload the ISO file & FOD packs for you & share the link with you in PM, is that ok for you?

OK, I presume by fixing Edge you mean to add Edge Chromium removal support.
Working on it.

Not only the new chromium-based EDGE, as I already mentioned here (Also reported by Windows 10 User in the earlier post), all other apps are also not being removed for 20H2, kindly note & check that/those too while you're developing next ntlite build for & with 20H2 support. I will wait for the final supported build.

 

[Windows 10 User]

If you tell me what do I remove first with MSMG (can be over PM as well to not clutter here), and if the Settings search works then, what to do with NTLite to provoke its breaking, I'm interested.

Did you receive this 'similar search issue' from anyone else yet?



I'll upload the ISO file & FOD packs for you & share the link with you in PM, is that ok for you?



Not only the new chromium-based EDGE, as I already mentioned here (Also reported by Windows 10 User in the earlier post), all other apps are also not being removed for 20H2, kindly note & check that/those too while you're developing next ntlite build for & with 20H2 support. I will wait for the final supported build.

So, now in 20H1 I used this preset on NTLite's pre-release version and I had this issue again (I think it's the same as SM03's). This time I only used NTLite and I still had the issue. If I choose a setting, close the app and open it again, it's blank again.

 

[nuhi]

Did you receive this 'similar search issue' from anyone else yet?

Settings Search is reported by you and ege, otherwise I would not be double-checking it since it works in my tests and no one has that much time to keep lingering on a single issue.
Win10User knows this best, while there was no SM03, I was not able to replicate his Cortana removal reports or it wasn't well explained.
All 4 of us are not native English speakers, so it is what it is.

I'll upload the ISO file & FOD packs for you & share the link with you in PM, is that ok for you?

Replied to PM, thanks.

Not only the new chromium-based EDGE, as I already mentioned here (Also reported by Windows 10 User in the earlier post), all other apps are also not being removed for 20H2, kindly note & check that/those too while you're developing next ntlite build for & with 20H2 support. I will wait for the final supported build.

Will recheck that when Edge is done, for me Cortana was removed in 20H2 with the latest pre-release so I'm expecting it to be fine.

 

[nuhi]

So, now in 20H1 I used this preset on NTLite's pre-release version and I had this issue again (I think it's same as SM03's). This time I only used NTLite and I still had the issue. If I choose a setting, close the app and open it again. it's blank again.

OK, noted, checking that after the Settings Search is fixed. Thanks.