Buzz
The May 2020 update elevated Cortana to a higher level of productivity. If you're not accustomed to using this virtual assistant, you might want to uninstall Cortana completely. However, if you're unsure how to do it, you might end up just disabling Cortana instead of fully removing the application. Follow the steps below to uninstall Cortana entirely.
Any issues with uninstalling Cortana?
As Cortana was once integrated into Windows 10, you may have heard that removing a core Windows component can be risky. In reality, Windows functions perfectly fine without Cortana, even before the May 2020 update.
Now, Cortana is no longer integrated into Windows as it used to be. This ensures that uninstalling the application becomes safe without causing harm to your system.
Uninstalling Cortana Steps
Although Cortana is currently an application, you cannot uninstall it from the 'Add & Remove Programs' section. Previously, you would have to edit the Registry or use the Group Policy Editor, both methods carrying significant risks and being less user-friendly.
Now, you simply need to use PowerShell, which is very straightforward. If you have ever made adjustments in CMD, PowerShell is quite similar.
If you don't have administrator privileges, right-click on the shortcut and choose Run as administrator.
Step 2: Next, copy and paste the following command into the PowerShell window.
Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.549981C3F5F10 | Remove-AppxPackage
To eliminate or add any characters, simply press Enter and Cortana will be completely uninstalled. Note that this method only works if you have updated to Windows 10 version after May 2020. If you are still using an older version of Cortana, this method will not work.
Resetting Cortana
If you change your mind, Cortana won't disappear forever. You can reinstall Cortana anytime by accessing the Microsoft Store in the Start menu. You'll need to log in to your Microsoft account to download the app.
Type 'Cortana' in the search box, select the first result:
Click on Install and Cortana will be reinstalled.
Alternatively, if you're unsure about using Cortana in the future but don't want to uninstall it, simply disable it. Check out how to disable Cortana in this article. You might also consider deleting Cortana's logs if you have no plans to use it anymore.
