Windows 11 may soon let you uninstall the AI models Microsoft keeps installing on your PC

[DragonSlayer101]

Something to look forward to: Windows 11's Settings app includes a dedicated AI Components page, allowing users to view, manage, and verify details about local AI models running on their PC. A recent experimental preview build for Windows Insiders reportedly adds a more detailed version of this page, which not only displays information about installed AI models but also gives users the ability to uninstall some of them.

Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26300.8553 rolled out last week with several new features, improvements, and bug fixes. Notable changes include expanded customization options for the Start menu, improved Search with substring matching, and support for touch swipe gestures to reveal the Taskbar when it is docked in an alternate position on the desktop.

Researchers at Pureinfotech now claim to have uncovered another feature, particularly relevant for Copilot+ PCs. According to their findings, the latest experimental build includes a hidden AI model management page within the Settings app, offering detailed information such as publisher, version, installation date, size, and total usage for each installed model.

The new interface will also reportedly allow users to uninstall at least some AI models, potentially addressing one of the major pain points with Windows 11's increasing focus on AI in recent years. As of now, the only AI component that can be uninstalled is an on-device language model called Phi Silica, designed to run local AI workloads on Copilot+ PCs.

The feature also appears to be part of Microsoft's effort to provide greater transparency around the AI models integrated into Windows 11. The company has faced criticism for introducing AI features via automatic Windows updates without clear user choice, so any change that improves visibility into the purpose, data usage, and other details of installed AI components may be welcomed by users.

It is worth noting that the AI information page is not officially available yet, and Pureinfotech had to manually enable it on a test PC before accessing the uninstall option. However, its presence suggests that Microsoft may be responding to user feedback by offering more control over AI components that some users consider unnecessary.

Image credit: Pureinfotech

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Windows 11 may soon let you uninstall the AI models Microsoft keeps installing on your PC

 

[wiyosaya]

Microsoft responding positively to customer feedback? That would be a first!

 

[Art C]

"We won't do it again! It'll be different this time baby, I promise!"
-- Microsoft

 

[axiomatic13]

Good. The only thing I do on Windows is play games. I don't need AI there. I do my LLMs and everything else on Linux.

 

[GeoffreyA]

I've got an insider, experimental build (28020) installed in a VM and am waiting for the new WinUI 3 components. I must admit, W11 is looking more coherent and polished these days. If the performance of the shell gets better, I would consider moving from 10.

Microsoft responding positively to customer feedback? That would be a first!

Shocking, indeed : -)

 

[NumberNine]

Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC IoT is supported until 2032 and allows me to install or uninstall only the models I choose, and get this: they only do what I tell them to.

How's that for a feature?

 

[IMABEARLOL]

Not enough. Remove all AI and Copilot integration. All of it should be an optional install. If it's worth using people will install. The only reason the are forcing this on people is they know the masses DONT WANT IT and they need to skew metrics to deceive investors.

 

[Kirby1]

You can already uninstall copilot, and the model is not on your PC.

 

[p51d007]

They FORCE it on users, then claim 98% of users USE Copilot. Yeah, because it is installed and turned on BY DEFAULT!

 

[Infernus]

Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC IoT is supported until 2032 and allows me to install or uninstall only the models I choose, and get this: they only do what I tell them to.

How's that for a feature?

Same here, as I'm using Windows 11 LTSC IoT. Perfect for gaming, less bloat, no AI BS. Stop using Windows home or pro.

 

[Infernus]

Just use Windows 11 LTSC IoT, it's free if you know where to look hehe
Stop using home/pro!

 

[Mr Majestyk]

Trusty me, I'm a tech bro.

 

[trgz]

Same here, as I'm using Windows 11 LTSC IoT. Perfect for gaming, less bloat, no AI BS. Stop using Windows home or pro.

If you know how, you can delay Win10 Home updates too - I did it for 18 months

 

[Theinsanegamer]

If you know how, you can delay Win10 Home updates too - I did it for 18 months

Why would you waste your time fighting home when IoT exists?

You can already uninstall copilot, and the model is not on your PC.

Wrong. Go look up debloating guides for 11. Just uninstalling copilot does not remove all the cruft that goes with it.

 

[Rocky4040]

Any AI features I have found on Windows 11 has been removed by me. I do not use any of the AI slop so there was no need to have it taking up my resources on my computers.

 

[Northy]

Microsoft: We're going to stop jamming AI into every application and even let you uninstall it

Also Microsoft: Windows is becoming AI