On Windows 11, you can use a PowerShell command to uninstall Cortana, and in this guide, you will learn how. Cortana is the digital assistant that Microsoft originally envisioned for Windows users to help with everyday tasks and answer questions that otherwise will take users more time to complete. However, the feature never became popular among users as a result of competition from Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri, which led the company to practically abandon the project. The feature still works on Windows 11, but with limited functionality.
Since it’s unclear the future of Cortana, on Windows 11, it’s now quite easy to uninstall the digital assistant. However, the option isn’t available from the Settings app. Instead, you have to use a PowerShell command.
This guide will teach you the steps to completely remove Cortana from Windows 11.
Uninstall Cortana on Windows 11
To remove Cortana completely from Windows 11, use these steps:
- Open Start on Windows 11.
- Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and click the Run as administrator option.
- Type the following command to uninstall Cortana on Windows 11 and press Enter:
Get-AppxPackage *Microsoft.549981C3F5F10* | Remove-AppxPackage
- (Optional) Type the following command to remove the digital assistant for all users and press Enter:
Get-appxpackage -allusers *Microsoft.549981C3F5F10* | Remove-AppxPackage
- (Optional) Type the following command to remove Cortana using the winget command and press Enter:
winget uninstall --id 9NFFX4SZZ23L
After you complete the steps, the PowerShell command will permanently remove Cortana from Windows 11.
Install Cortana on Windows 11
If you change your mind or the feature is missing for a different reason, it’s possible to reinstall Cortana from the Microsoft Store or use the winget command.
To install Cortana on Windows 11, use these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and click the Run as administrator option.
- Type the following command to reinstall Cortana on Windows 11 and press Enter:
winget install --id 9NFFX4SZZ23L
- Type Y and press Enter.
- Restart the computer.
Once you complete the steps, you can use Cortana again on Windows 11.