How to Disable or Remove “Get Windows 10 Upgrade” App and Icon from Taskbar?

NOTE: If you are using Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 and don’t want to upgrade to Windows 10, this tutorial will help you. It’ll disable and remove Windows 10 upgrade program and will also prevent your computer from automatically upgrading to Windows 10.

In recent topic we told you about the new “Get Windows 10” app and its White Windows flag icon present in Taskbar notification area:

[FAQ] Get Windows 10 App and Reserve Your Free Upgrade Notification Icon

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This new app has been released for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users via Windows Updates to help them in upgrading their computers to Windows 10 for free.

But there is one problem in this app! Even if you reserve your free Windows 10 upgrade using this app or cancel your upgrade reservation, the app always keeps running in background and its White Windows flag icon is always visible in system tray of Taskbar. You can’t close the app permanently. It just hides the window and sits in system tray.

Get_Windows_10_Free_Upgrade_Icon.png

Although a small icon in Taskbar is not a major problem but sometimes people find it annoying to have an extra process running in background and consuming system resources for no good reason.

Also many people may not want to upgrade their computers to Windows 10, in that case this app will be unnecessary for them and removing the app will be the best option for them as it may download the huge Windows 10 setup files (around 3GB) in future.

So today in this tutorial, we’ll tell you different ways to get rid of this Windows flag from Taskbar as well as completely remove “Get Windows 10” app from your system.

UPDATE: Microsoft has released an update to disable Windows 10 upgrade on Windows 7 computers. Check out following article for details:

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Microsoft Offers a Way to Prevent Windows 10 Upgrade on Windows 7

Similar feature already exists in Windows 8 and 8.1:

How to Disable Automatic Upgrade to Latest Windows Version in Windows 8 and 8.1

Now without wasting time lets start the tutorial:

METHOD 1: Hide “Get Windows 10” Icon in Taskbar

This is the easiest way to get rid of the icon. You can right-click on the date/time in Taskbar system tray and select “Customize notification icons” option. It’ll open a new window. Now look for GWX (Get Windows 10) entry in the list and change its value to “Hide icon and notifications” using the drop-down box.

Hide_GWX_Icon_Notifications.png

Apply the changes and it’ll hide the White Windows flag icon in Taskbar notification area.

PS: If the options (drop-down boxes) to change behaviors are grayed out or disabled, then uncheck “Always show all icons and notifications on the taskbar” checkbox and it’ll allow you to customize icons behaviors.

METHOD 2: Kill “Get Windows 10 (GWX)” Process Using Task Manager

If you don’t want to use the above mentioned method, you can kill the process related to “Get Windows 10” app and it’ll automatically remove the icon from Taskbar.

1. Right-click on Taskbar and select Task Manager option. It’ll open Task Manager. You can also directly launch Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys together.

2. Now go to Processes or Details tab and select GWX process and then click on “End Process” button. You can also right-click on GWX process and select “End Process” or “End Task” option. Or you can simply select GWX process and press Delete key.

Kill_GWX_Process_Task_Manager.png

It’ll kill GWX process and will also remove its icon from Taskbar notification area. If the icon is still visible, just hover mouse cursor over it and it’ll magically disappear.

METHOD 3: Disable “Get Windows 10” Using Registry Editor

If you follow above mentioned method, it’ll remove the app and its icon temporarily. After some time or next logon, the app and its icon might come back. Following Registry tweaks will disable “Get Windows 10” app and its Taskbar icon permanently:

1. Type regedit in RUN or Start search box and press Enter. It’ll open Registry Editor.

2. Now go to following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

3. Create a new key under Windows key and set its name as GWX

So the final key path would be:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\GWX

4. Now select GWX key and in right-side pane create a new DWORD DisableGWX and set its value to 1

Disable_GWX_App_Icon_Windows_Registry.png

5. Now go to following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

6. Create a new key under Windows key and set its name as WindowsUpdate

So the final key path would be:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate

7. Now select WindowsUpdate key and in right-side pane create a new DWORD DisableOSUpgrade and set its value to 1

8. Again go to following key in Registry Editor:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\OSUpgrade

9. In right-side pane, look for two DWORDs AllowOSUpgrade and ReservationsAllowed and change their values to 0

After applying all these tweaks, close Registry Editor and restart your computer to take effect.

It’ll permanently disable “Get Windows 10” app and will also remove its icon from Taskbar.

In future, if you decide to re-enable the app and its icon, simply delete the DWORDs created in above steps.

PS: If you are not familiar with registry editing tasks, we are also providing ready-made registry script to do the task automatically for your convenience. Just download following ZIP file, extract it and then run the given .REG files to enable/disable GWX app and its icon:

Registry Script to Disable “Get Windows 10” App and Icon in Windows

METHOD 4: Delete “Get Windows 10” Task from Task Scheduler

If you don’t want to modify Registry, you can delete “Get Windows 10” app’s task from Task Scheduler as there is a task present in Task Scheduler which automatically starts the “Get Windows 10” app at predefined time or events.

So to permanently get rid of the app and icon, you’ll need to delete its task from Task Scheduler using following steps:

1. Press Win+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box, then type taskschd.msc in RUN box and press Enter.

2. It’ll open Task Scheduler program. Now go to:

Task Scheduler Library -> Microsoft -> Windows -> Setup

3. Under Setup key, you’ll see 2 more sub-keys:

  • gwx
  • GWXTriggers

Both these keys contain various tasks related to “Get Windows 10” app which automatically launch the app at certain intervals.

GWX_Tasks_Task_Scheduler.png

4. To permanently remove “Get Windows 10” app, you’ll need to either disable or delete tasks present under both of the above mentioned keys. To disable the tasks, you can right-click on the task and select Disable option.

You’ll be able to disable all tasks present under “gwx” key but Windows will not allow you to disable tasks present under “GWXTriggers” key due to permissions issue.

Don’t worry! You can delete all tasks present under both gwx and GWXTriggers keys using following steps:

4. a. Type tasks in RUN dialog box and press Enter. It’ll show permissions related message, click on Continue button. It’ll open C:\Windows\System32\Tasks folder which stores all tasks listed in Task Scheduler program.

4. b. Now go to Microsoft\Windows\Setup folder and delete both gwx and GWXTriggers folders present inside it. If you face any permission related issue, take ownership of the folders first as mentioned in this guide and then delete them.

GWX_Tasks_Folders.png

Now again open Task Scheduler and you’ll see that “Task Scheduler Library -> Microsoft -> Windows -> Setup” is now empty. So no more “Get Windows 10” app and its icon in Taskbar.

METHOD 5: Delete the “Get Windows 10” app Files and Folder

Although after using the above mentioned method, you’ll no longer see “Get Windows 10” app and its icon in Windows but if you are still worried about the app, you can delete its executable file and its folder to remove it completely from your computer:

The “Get Windows 10” app executable file is GWX.exe which is present in following 2 folders:

  • C:\Windows\System32\GWX
  • C:\Windows\SysWOW64\GWX (in 64-bit systems only)

GWX_Files_Folder.png

So first end task of GWX.exe using Method 2 and then delete the entire GWX folder in both locations.

If Windows shows any permission related message, you’ll need to take ownership of the folder first with the help of this guide and then delete the folder.

PS: If you don’t want to delete the folders, you can rename them to a different name. It’ll also work.

METHOD 6: Uninstall Windows Update Responsible for “Get Windows 10” App

There is another alternative method to get rid of “Get Windows 10” app and its icon. You can uninstall the update which actually installed this app in your system. Once you uninstall the update, it’ll automatically remove the “Get Windows 10” app from your computer.

The update is KB3035583 and you can uninstall it using the same steps as given in following similar article:

How to Stop Automatic Forced Upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1?

Uninstall_GWX_Update_KB3035583.png

After uninstalling the update, don’t forget to hide it as mentioned in the Step 6 of above mentioned tutorial so that it doesn’t install again in your computer.

That’s it. You can try any of the above mentioned methods to remove “Get Windows 10” app and its icon from Taskbar in Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.

Also Check:

Windows 10 Automatic Upgrade on Your Computer Again

[Tip] Disable Telemetry and Data Collection on Windows 7, 8 and 8.1

[Fix] “Get Windows 10” Upgrade App Icon is Missing in Taskbar

Published in: Troubleshooting Guides, Windows 10, Windows 7, Windows 8

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. “FYI” I did NOT stop the GWX … Stop notifications in the “Taskbar system tray” and select “Customize notification icons, as it would have stopped the windows update. I followed Steps 6 all the way to the end. Trust me… It WILL work for you.

  2. Thank you Thank you Thank you! This is the first post I’ve come across (after lots of looking) that successfully answered how to remove this cursed thing! May the gods smile upon you! (And may those same gods send those evil MS overlords responsible for this cursed thing to Hades!)

  3. So I’m reinstalling Windows on a laptop that someone accidentally (?) clicked the flag, in the systray, and “upgraded” to Windows 10. They lost all data so I decided to install from scratch. I’m in the process of running Windows Updates and I noticed that WU is offering KB3035583 as an important, and currently not-yet-installed, update…but…the “Upgrade to Windows 10 NOW!” flag is still showing in the systray. This leads me to believe…it’s NOT KB3035583… Thoughts? I’ll be Googling more now, but wanted to throw this out there.

  4. Hello ASKVG.com – I’m having quite the problem at locating the following registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\OSUpgrade The: (WindowsUpdate/OSUpgrade) isn’t found, instead I find this:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\InternetSettings.

    What am I missing? I know that I am being at the right place, but unfortunately there always seems to be issues with Windows, and it will most likely never end. Anyhow, I’d be very thankfully, if you could guide me to the right place, so that I finally can get rid of GWX. Thank you in advance, for taking the time to read this, and furthermore have a nice day/upcoming ones, as well as a merry Christmas & Happy New Year 🙂

  5. Probably the best most informative article on the net on how to remove annoying & buggy W10 intrusive spy ware crap .

  6. Confusing post to be honest…

    Simply do this:
    1. Start menu -> type in “explorer.exe”
    2. Right click and “Run as administrator”
    3. Go to –> C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\Setup
    4. Delete “gwx” and “GWXTriggers”

  7. VG, my computer is full of enormous ready-made registry tweaks from askvg.com. You just click and everything is handled. And the best part is that you can disable and then re-enable the thing. P.S restart required after registry to hide icon.

  8. 2015-12-28
    Method #6
    Uninstall Update for Microsoft Windows (KB 3025583)
    Then Follow Method # 1 to remove the pesky flag from your TaskBar.
    God bless you all in 2016.

  9. 2015-12-28
    Blog update…
    I actually had to perform task # 6 three time in order to have the update removed.
    For some reason it would uninstall and then mysteriously reinstall itself upon reboot.
    At this moment the update and icon are removed.
    Time will tell if it stays gone. LOL.

  10. Dude, I LOV YOU, I hate s**t forced on your computers, getting rid of windows 10 was so easy with your help, THANKS A MILLION for your instructional Site ! It was driving me c.zy and kept flashing the windows 10 offer on my screen. I know people who have it and are having so much trouble they hate it ! Now they cant get rid of it. A computer wizard I know said DO NOT INSTALL IT NO MATTER WHAT ! Now YOU just saved me from a future forced install ! Blessings, Blessings brother!

    Regards
    Rob~
    Philippines ~

  11. Please stop sending me this update message. I can’t stop it from coming in and pestering me. I don’t want the update. My computer is incompatible with it.
    Can you stop this? I am getting really upset with you guys.

  12. I am in your debt for your valuable and free service!!!
    I have had the “pester” icon encouraging me to use the free upgrade to Windows 10 for many months now. I finally decided to consider installing the program just to get rid of the icon and so I took time today to fully investigate the effects of that installation.
    I had read that I could restore my system back to Windows 7 if I did not like the program providing I did that within 30 days. Then I read the nightmare story one unfortunate individual posted which informed everyone that problems he had after the installation did not show up until after 30 days, when it was too late to roll back to his prior version of Windows. At that time he lost icons, programs and even the use of the connection to his printer and scanner and could do nothing about it. After reading that I decided to remove the Windows 10 Install icon from my tool bar, but found that I could not. That is when I discovered your website and article on how to remove the icon which worked perfectly. But as I read on with what you had posted, I learned that Windows 10 was sitting silently in my computer as an “exe” which could install itself at some future time without my asking it to do so. Needless to say, I then went further in reading your article and was able to totally remove the program so it could not sneak up on me. But in doing that I also had to utilize your “How to take ownership (Permission) of a file or folder Manually in Windows.” For a long time I suffered along without being able to remove certain files without administrator permission and your tips on how to give myself full permission over files I had been restricted from has now allowed me to feel like I truly own my computer, no longer being dependent upon the person who set my computer up for me.
    Actually that was my son and, while he is always physically available to me, his job is maintaining the computers at a major hospital. So I feel very uncomfortable imposing on him since he deals with computers all day long and does not need his father bothering him when he is hoping to be away from computers after work.
    Bottom line is that your tips, which were clear and VERY VERY easy to follow, have not only freed my computer of unwanted “garbage” and have not only freed my son from being pestered by me but have freed me from roadblocks I sometimes encountered in my computer concerning “permissions.” Now I know how to remedy that.
    With gratitude,
    Robert D. Rentzer, Attorney At Law

  13. What I don’t understand is why Microsoft keeps bugging me to try Windows 10, while I have already done so and upgraded back to Windows 7 after a few days of horror. Yes, I have already tried, and NO, I do not want the hideous Win10 interface. It does not provide any benefits IMHO. Thanks for the KB number to uninstall. Hopefully this malware stays away.

  14. I shouldn’t have to go through all this to get this unwanted, intrusive c**p off my computer. This is BS.

  15. my recommendation for those who dont want to be bothered by the icon or the update constantly popping up is to leave it installed.
    To keep it from loading at windows startup (notification app and loading in memory), after killing GWX from taskmanager just go to the GWX folder and rename GWX.exe to something else. It wont come back after that

  16. Setting your PC to manual updates will stop this. I’m on 7 still and haven’t even seen this icon or any trace of GWX.

  17. If you choose the last method, it’s also worth mentioning that you need to uninstall some other updates, besides 3035583:
    Win 7: KB 2952664, KB 3021917, KB 2990214
    Win 8: KB 2976978, KB 3044374

    These updates are part of the Win 10 upgrade. Hide them afterwards. You should also make the changes in regedit. This doesn’t rule that method out.

  18. Thank you!!
    I used the Method 2. Hope it will work.
    They have no right to push Windows 10 above us!!
    And I was sooo tired of the icon “popping up” everyday!!!

  19. Thank you!!

    I used Method 3. After I added the steps in Method 3 I restarted my computer and the method worked. I was using Method 2. But one morning I forgot to Kill GWX.exe. Later in the day when I returned to use my computer Windows 10 installation started after the computer sleep mode. I hit the Reset button. The installation was terminated and Windows 7 was back on the restart.

    It is disgusting when your computer is being hijacked by the creator’s of your operating system.

    Thanks again.

  20. I changed the ownership and denied everything to trustedinstaller. i also deleted some of the mentioned files. i hope now i won’t see anything related to Win10

    Microsoft should be sued because this is no difference than hijacking or spyware that take control over your PC.

    Windows 7 FTW.

  21. Thank you for the information. I utilized method #6, and the files were deleted.
    Thanks again!

  22. Thanks a mint for this posting. Is worth a lot. Have cleaned all of my machines and they are now protected from forced or inadvertent upgrade to win 10. Not a good OS on many machines that were designed with 7 or 8. AND, the lack of control imposed by MS on win 10 leaves this a most undesirable OS. As for backdoor spying by the NSA, I guess big brother is here to stay. But, we can try to hang on to win 8 and get more up to speed on Lenox.

    thanks again VG

  23. It is nice to have all this information in one site.

    Does anybody know if there is a search option within the Windows Important Update List? The only search option is located within the navigation bar. However, it only search apps within the control panel. It will be nice if a Find text option within the UI screen was incorporated to it. I wonder why Microsoft did not include this option?

    Without it, it will be hard to find what updates have to be hidden in the list. Specially if you have almost 200 important updates pending in a new Windows 7 Install…

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