Troubleshooting WhatsApp Removal from a Windows Computer using Intune Scripts
Question
Hi all,
I am trying to remove the WhatsApp application from a Windows computer using Intune.
For testing purposes, I installed the WhatsApp app to a PC. Then added a script and assigned it to this system.
After execution, the status of the script is shown as success. But the app is still there.
Later, I tried with another script. The result is the same.
I am adding both scripts below for your reference.
Could you please help me out to do this?
Script 1:
Get-AppxPackage -Name WhatsApp | Remove-AppxPackage
Script 2:
$WhatsAppApp = Get-WmiObject -Query “SELECT * FROM Win32_Product WHERE Name LIKE ‘%WhatsApp%'”
if ($WhatsAppApp) {
$WhatsAppApp.Uninstall()
} else {
Write-Host “WhatsApp not found.”
Posted a Question by Joseph K in the HTMD FB group
Answers ( 4 )
Hi Rasmi,
If the WhatsApp is installed as a Win32 app (Older exe/msi version) use Get-CimInstance instead of Get-WmiObject (modern and more efficient)
Use the below mentioned PowerShell Script :-
$WhatsAppApp = Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_Product | Where-Object { $_.Name -like “*WhatsApp*” }
if ($WhatsAppApp) {
$WhatsAppApp | ForEach-Object {
$_.Uninstall()
Write-Host “Uninstalled: $($_.Name)”
}
} else {
Write-Host “WhatsApp not found.”
}
Replied by Michael Pantner
Have you tried Winget? And as someone else mentioned, is the install user lever or system, and what context is the script running in?
Replied by Robin Hjärtfors
Use winget instead. It will probably work better.
Replied by Rúben Almeida
On script 1, you must add -AllUsers on both Get and Remove
Replied by Joseph K
When using winget, it is failing. I directly ran winget using PowerShell to test, it was working fine. While applying via Intune, it fails. Robin Hjärtfors Michael Pantner
Replied by Michael Pantner
Joseph K, what is the full command you’re using for winget? You need to give the full path to the exe, you can’t just call “winget” or “winget.exe”, unfortunately
Replied by Aaron Tytgat
Depending on how WhatsApp was installed. Microsoft store: Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -Name “WhatsApp” | Remove-AppxPackage
OR Exe/mfi installation: $app = Get-Package | Where-Object { $_.Name -like “WhatsApp” }
if ($app) {
$app | Uninstall-Package -Force
} else {
Write-Host “WhatsApp not found.”
}
Replied by Gordon Dragovich
and check the Get components of both are returning something to then try the remove
Replied by CJ Tarbox
Can always try adding it to Intune and setting it to uninstall, which works great for the Windows Store apps
Replied by Steven McKenzie
Is it a Windows app? If it is an application on Intune. Find the app in the store and choose Uninstall
For more details – Step by Step Process of Removing or Uninstalling an App using Intune – https://www.anoopcnair.com/process-of-remove-or-uninstall-app-using-intune/
Replied by Ryan Matthew
Did you test the script manually to ensure it would work? Also, what are your installation commands in Intune? Did you review the IME logs to ensure the script ran properly?
Replied by Peter Cashen
Are you running as a system or a user?
Replied by David Stanton
Peter Cashen, this is the start of the answer.
Replied by Joseph K
I created a Group and added the system and its user to the same group.
Assigned policy to this group. Both the user and the system show success. But the Application is still there.