Guide | How To Remove Windows Nag Icon To Upgrade To Windows 10

The associated guide may contain user-generated or external content.

BoraMurdar

Community Manager
Thread author
Verified
Staff Member
Well-known
Aug 30, 2012
6,598
Remove Windows Nag Icon To Upgrade To Windows 10

Microsoft has pushed out a nag tray icon, that never goes away and you cant close it, trying to get people to upgrade to Windows 10.

While it is fine to offer something like that, the point that you cant get rid of it or close it, is what the problem is and shows how desperate Microsoft is to get their piece of the App Store pie that Apple and Google enjoy.

Option 1: One way to get rid of this nag ware is to remove the update that installed it. You must uninstall KB3035583.

"To do this, launch Control Panel, click on Programs > Programs and Features, and in the left side of the screen hit the “View installed updates” section.

Look for KB3035583 in the list, right-click it and hit the remove option. If you don’t want to be bothered again in the future, just hide it and no other notifications will be displayed because the update won’t be installed again on your PC."


Option 2. There have even been others who have found it goes even deeper than that.

"After you uninstall KB3021917, KB3035583 and KB3022345, you also need to disable two tasks in Task Scheduler.

There are two tasks under TaskScheduler > Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Application Experience, "Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser" and "ProgramDataUpdater", that will continue to contact telemetry servers even if telemetry is disabled. These tasks run and phone home even if CEIP is opted-out of. Reproduce (on Win7 Pro)"


Option 3. Simple .bat file script

But if you are a tech and have a lot of computers you now need to remove this from, then going to each machine and removing it, rebooting, then hiding it from the updates is going to be a pain, even if you write a script for it.

To avoid a reboot you can simply stop the exe that is running the tray icon, rename it the folder and be done. I have made a bat file to do this for you, just make sure to run it as administrator of course.

You can download the bat file in a zip here: Remove_MS_Upgrade_To_10_Nag.zip - Direct Download

Here is the bat file script

Code:
Echo off

taskkill.exe /F /IM "gwx.exe"
takeown /f "%windir%\System32\GWX" && icacls "%windir%\System32\GWX" /grant administrators:F
ren "%windir%\System32\GWX\" "GWX_Old"

exit


You can then put this in a startup script for all your users, or if you are a normal user and just want an easier way to get rid of the nag, then this should do the trick for now. Until MS changes it of course :)
 

comfortablynumb15

Level 7
Verified
May 11, 2015
326
Or, click the arrow on your task bar, click "Customize" and "hide notifications and icons" for GWF.exe and not make it more complicated than it needs to be. It's hardly a "nag", it uses 306k max and sits way down there by the network icon. Unless you're running with 256Mb of RAM and intentionally staring at the icon, you don't even know it's there. Come on guys :D
 

comfortablynumb15

Level 7
Verified
May 11, 2015
326
is the icon supposed to still be there even when you've done reserving?

Yep, it's just a reminder icon.

I'm betting that it goes away on its own after the release date. I can't say that is a certainty of course since I don't work for MS, but I figure that the people who want it right then will get it, and those that don't will get it offered again later or MS will just set up a website for it during that first year.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Like
Reactions: sonylxn

jamescv7

Level 85
Verified
Honorary Member
Mar 15, 2011
13,070
Well the system of upgrading to Windows 10 is totally different so no longer deals on WIndows Store after you update the patch from WU, so as much as possible keep it but still a choice is yours.
 

About us

  • MalwareTips is a community-driven platform providing the latest information and resources on malware and cyber threats. Our team of experienced professionals and passionate volunteers work to keep the internet safe and secure. We provide accurate, up-to-date information and strive to build a strong and supportive community dedicated to cybersecurity.

User Menu

Follow us

Follow us on Facebook or Twitter to know first about the latest cybersecurity incidents and malware threats.

Top