[REQUEST] Ability to Uninstall Only Amazon Appstore

[raaomoka]

Describe your request | 描述您的要求

Hi,

Been enjoying the benefits of the Play Store on my Surface Pro 7+ for a while now, thanks to WSABuilds. However, with the recent v2308.40000.3.0 release, I was looking to install the build with the stable Magisk 26.3.26300 release and the Google Play Store, not knowing that the Amazon Appstore had unusually also been bundled into that package.

Now, attempting to uninstall the Amazon Appstore the regular way also shows the following notification, that it'll uninstall the Play Store and all my other apps, which I've installed from the Play Store (never even opened the Amazon Appstore):

I tried installing the WSABuild v2308.40000.3.0 with the Canary Magisk and the Amazon Appstore removed, but that didn't uninstall the Amazon Appstore. Please could you provide a separate build/script for uninstalling only the Amazon Appstore, and not our other apps?

[MustardChef]

@raaomoka This is known behaviour and that trying to uninstall Amazon Appstore will result in it trying to uninstall all installed apps. Removing Amazon Appstore is not possible without modifying the VHDX files, similar to what the MagiskOnWSALocal script does.

The easiest method is to have a root build and to use Neo Backup to backup your apps and to then clean install a root build without Amazon Appstore and then restore all the apps.

Other options are to keep the Amazon Appstore and ignore it, or to clean install WSA.

[raaomoka]

Oh, well in that case, guess I'll just delete its shortcut from my start menu and ignore it until I have the time to refresh WSA on my Surface Pro 7+...

[MustardChef]

Oh, well in that case, guess I'll just delete its shortcut from my start menu and ignore it until I have the time to refresh WSA on my Surface Pro 7+...

Sorry if the solutions listed are unsatisfactory.

[raaomoka]

Interestingly, when I checked the hidden WSA Settings app, it doesn't list the Amazon Appstore as one of the installed apps:

But it's shown in the WSA apps list:

Also, attempting to launch the Amazon Appstore (via its Start Menu shortcut) or get to its "App settings" screen does nothing. So, it seems like installing the "Amazon Appstore Removed" build did uninstall the Amazon Appstore as expected, it just remains listed in the WSA apps list. No problem with that 😃

[MustardChef]

@raaomoka Ah, so you downloaded a build without Amazon Appstore and it shows up in the list of installed app? That is an bug that some users experience where Amazon Appstore shows, but is not installed in actual fact.

Now I understand the issue. I was under the impression that you wanted to remove Amazon Appstore for a build with Amazon Appstore included.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

[raaomoka]

@MustardChef Yes, I did initially install a v2308.40000.3.0 build with Amazon Appstore unexpectedly included. However, I then installed another v2308.40000.3.0 build without the Amazon Appstore, but the Amazon Appstore still remained in the WSA apps list, even though it actually wasn't installed in the WSA system as shown above.

[MustardChef]

@raaomoka

Thank you for the clarification.

I will close this issue and mark it as solved. If you believe that this issue should not be closed, please reopen the issue and state a reason.

[raaomoka]

@MustardChef FYI, uninstalling Amazon Appstore without affecting the other installed app is indeed possible as follows:

1. Install a WSA Build without the Amazon Appstore; this should remove any dependencies of WSA on it, and it will no longer show up in the hidden WSA Settings.

2. Using a Win32 uninstaller program like Revo Uninstaller Pro, initiate the uninstall of the Amazon Appstore; this will initially launch the Amazon Appstore's built-in uninstaller, simply click Cancel in the built-in uninstaller window.

3. Select the "Moderate" scanning option in Revo Uninstaller's left over scanner, it'll find the registry and files left by the Amazon Appstore uninstaller.

4. Deselect all registry entries, only select branches that have the name "Amazon" or "com.amazon.venezia" in them, delete them and click Next:

5. Deselect all the files entries, only select the files that have the name "Amazon" or "com.amazon.venezia" in them, delete them and click Finish:

6. Vuala, no trace of the Amazon Appstore remains on your system, not even in the WSA app, but all other installed Android apps remain installed and functional as before 🙂:

[Mitia99]

@raaomoka Not related but as you have a Surface Pro, ty for upvoting this major right-click context menu touchscreen bug on Windows 11 in Feedback Hub so that Microsoft fix it asap

[raaomoka]

@Mitia99 It appears Microsoft blocked your feedback on the feedback hub:

So much for them being open to feedback. Got a separate link to a forum/reddit post discussing the problem?

[Mitia99]

@raaomoka You don't have access to the link cause we're in different region. I'm UTC +03:00. Feedback Hub is region related.

[raaomoka]

@raaomoka You don't have access to the link cause we're in different region. I'm UTC +03:00. Feedback Hub is region related.

Seriously? That's the dumbest restriction I've ever heard of on a software bugs/issues reporting portal, especially for one that is globally utilized. Wonder which genius at microsoft came up with such nonsense...

[MustardChef]

Yeah, it's quite unfortunate. I am sure that there is a good reason for doing this, but there is nothing we can do about this.

[Mitia99]

@raaomoka You don't have access to the link cause we're in different region. I'm UTC +03:00. Feedback Hub is region related.

Seriously? That's the dumbest restriction I've ever heard of on a software bugs/issues reporting portal. Wonder which genius at microsoft came up with such nonsense...

Yes Indeed, it's nonsense

[raaomoka]

@Mitia99 I've sent this message to a news outlet (Neowin), you should do the same reporting such nonsensical habits of tech giants to tech news outlets, and let them get publicly ridiculed/shamed so that they come back to their senses.