Windows 11 installed Spotify by itself, how can I uninstall ?

Question

Just rebooted my computer, something I don't do all that often (I usually make it sleep when not in use). On startup, a Spotify Windows app appeared asking me to Login.

I went to Control Panel -> Programs and features, it's not in there.
I looked at the task manager properties for the thread and see that it's in Program Files Windows Apps. So I went into the microsoft store, searched for Spotify, found it and it offered me an install button (implying it's not installed). If it's not installed then I can't uninstall it.

I also can't delete the virus-like-install spotify folder because despite it being my computer and me being an admin, I'm not in charge of my own computer apparently.

So what now? I don't want this starting after every restart.

It seems like instead of Windows requiring permission for third party apps to access certain folders, I need to protect folders from Windows itself.

StopBeingLikeAVirusWindows

Answer 1

Hi @DeeDee ,

maybe this helps: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/how-to-stop-microsoft-store-from-installing/b9e8fd4f-1808-4f3f-b817-bec2de26e363

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(If the reply was helpful please don't forget to upvote and/or accept as answer, thank you)

Regards
Andreas Baumgarten

Answer 2

So, I found an answer that was related. That particular user was finding this auto-installed Spotify was getting in the way of his wish to install the regular one, but it was helpful. I modified the solution a bit and this did the trick for me. It's not going to stop Windows from behaving like a virus and re-installing it, and it'll need modifying to have the right new folder name when that happens, but otherwise it's reusable and I have stored as a bat.

c:
cd \
cd Program Files
cd WinApps
cd SpotifyAB.SpotifyMusic_1.194.874.0_x86__zpdnekdrzrea0

takeown /F * /R /D Y
icacls . /T /C /grant administrators:F System:F myusername:F
del * /s /q
rmdir Apps /S /Q
rmdir AppxMetadata /S /Q
rmdir locales /S /Q
rmdir GameBar /S /Q
rmdir Assets /S /Q
rmdir microsoft.system.package.metadata /S /Q

cd ..

takeown /F SpotifyAB.SpotifyMusic_1.194.874.0_x86__zpdnekdrzrea0 /R /D Y
icacls SpotifyAB.SpotifyMusic_1.194.874.0_x86__zpdnekdrzrea0 /T /C /grant administrators:F System:F myusername:F
rmdir SpotifyAB.SpotifyMusic_1.194.874.0_x86__zpdnekdrzrea0