Remove MEET NOW from My PC

This is becoming standard Microsoft Practice when it comes to Windows 10.
When I first installed the OS I went out of my way to use PowerShell and remove as much bloat as possible. As soon as MS forced an update the whole system broke. Of course, since MS started enforcing updates rather than allowing users to set their own update policy, I have had more broken updates than at any other time in my life (going back to Windows 95).

And, each update that does actually work, tries to find some new way to sneak unasked for apps onto my machine. Either because, MS has been paid to, or because they are desperate to collect my data.

Meet Now appears to be just the most recent attempt to funnel less tech savvy users to a MS service - currently skype.

If MS really want to continue with this behaviour, then Windows 10 has to go free. Charging for the software while also taking money to push unwanted apps and trying to profit from user's data is really not acceptable (unless you've paid through the nose for the 'privilege' of a Mac). Google knows this - they are just as bad with data and apps, but that is the trade off for having access to free products.

As for the Meet Now icon. There is a good chance that:

1. It is literally just a link, integrated into the OS to signpost unsuspecting users to this new MS product;
2. If you are willing to mess about in the Registry and with PowerShell you may well be able to remove it at the expense of having your system break the next time they force an update (something I'm not even willing to try).

In reality, the solution is to switch OS - with linux and bsd currently the prime contenders.

For most users, who surf the web, check their mail, and maybe do some word processing every now and then, these basic functions are available as standard; and, choosing a stable, well maintained distribution will cause no more headaches than Windows 10 does anyway.

The problems start to emerge when a user has specific software or hardware needs not easily (or sometimes, at all) supported. That's the reason I still have a Windows 10 machine, sometimes I want to game on it.

But, if more of us were willing to take the plunge, it would incentivise developers and manufacturers to provide support; and, force MS out of their complacent 'put up and shut up' attitude. We've already seen this in action (sort of) - the Surface Duo ships with  Android  instead of the discontinued Windows Mobile - so if enough of us reject their offerings they will change.

Ultimately it is up to the Windows install base at large. As long as it remains a relatively small number of us complaining in forums, but continuing to use Windows, then things will continue on their current trajectory with MS pushing things as far as they can. But if their approximately 80% global install started to plummet, that would be a different story.

I have 5 devices and only the PC I use to game has windows on it. I will continue to use linux when I can and look forward to a day I can comfortably swap my OS without taking a hit to that particular functionality (or, even less likely, these decisions are not governed by greed). But, in the mean time, as much as the behaviour annoys me, it is meaningless for me to rage against a corporation doing what corporations do - making all the money they can in any way they can get away with.

Let me get this straight, you give people info on how to disable the icon and the program. But, you wont tell people how to remove applications that spy on me and other Microsoft Windows users? Sounds like a cover-up. I didnt ask for this **** to be installed on my computer. Skype is so full of security holes i wouldn't use it on your PC. And Meet Now is an annoyance that takes over my camera even when its "off". Tell me how to remove this ****.

It would seem that all you are doing is turning the system icon off and you can do that by right clicking on the icon.

The question, at least in my mind, is un-installing the meet now function/code/application.

Hello North Side Guy,

You can't uninstall the feature, but you can disable it using option 4 or 5 in the tutorial below so it cannot be turned back on normally.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/165990-how-add-remove-meet-now-icon-taskbar-windows-10-a.html

It seems to me that if you cannot uninstall this useless feature, then it appears to be some form of spyware or malware. I do not wish to just disable it, I want it removed.

Hi TIme lady, I have disabled this, and the stupid thing is still working, I want it gone. I don't have skype, and don't use that, so I shouldn't have this icon, it feels like an invasion as I am seeing this thing turn on without my permission.