Disabling bing now also removes Bing Web Search package

Made possible by the EU thanks to the DMA!

Also fixed bug that caused the first selection to not be saved correctly to LastSettings

Menus/DefaultSettings

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 Win11Debloat will make the following changes:
 - Remove bloatware apps, the list can be found in the 'Appslist.txt' file.
 - Disable telemetry, diagnostic data, app-launch tracking & targeted ads.
-- Disable bing search & cortana in windows search.
+- Disable & remove bing search & cortana in Windows search.
 - Disable tips & tricks on the lockscreen. (This may change your lockscreen wallpaper)
 - Disable tips, tricks and suggestions in the start menu and settings, and ads in windows explorer.
 - Disable Windows Copilot. (Windows 11 build 22621+)

Menus/Info

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ through all the settings yourself, or removing apps one by one!
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 - Remove all bloatware apps, the list can be found in the 'Appslist.txt' file.
 - Disable telemetry, diagnostic data, app-launch tracking & targeted ads.
-- Disable bing search & cortana in windows search.
+- Disable & remove bing search & cortana in Windows search.
 - Disable tips, tricks, suggestions and ads in start, settings, notifications, windows explorer, and on the lockscreen.
 - Disable Windows Copilot. (Windows 11 only)
 - Show file extensions for known file types.
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ through all the settings yourself, or removing apps one by one!
 - Remove Mail & Calendar, People or new Outlook for Windows apps.
 - Remove all pinned apps from the start menu. NOTE: This applies to all existing and new users. (Windows 11 build 22621+)
 - Disable telemetry, diagnostic data, app-launch tracking & targeted ads.
-- Disable bing search, bing AI & cortana in windows search.
+- Disable & remove bing search & cortana in Windows search.
 - Disable tips, tricks, suggestions and ads in start, settings, notifications, windows explorer, and on the lockscreen.
 - Disable Windows Copilot. (Windows 11 build 22621+)
 - Restore the old Windows 10 style context menu. (Windows 11 build 22000+)

README.md

@@ -14,11 +14,11 @@ You can pick and choose exactly which modifications you want the script to make,
 
 - Remove all bloatware apps from [this list](#apps-that-are-removed).
 - Disable telemetry, diagnostic data, app-launch tracking & targeted ads.
-- Disable bing search & cortana in Windows search.
+- Disable & remove bing search & cortana in Windows search.
 - Disable tips, tricks, suggestions and ads in start, settings, notifications, Windows explorer, and on the lockscreen.
 - Disable Windows Copilot. (Windows 11 only)
 - Show file extensions for known file types.
-- Disable the widget service & hide the icon from the taskbar. 
+- Disable the widget service & hide the icon from the taskbar.
 - Hide the Chat (meet now) icon from the taskbar.
 - Hide the 3D objects folder under 'This pc' in Windows explorer. (Windows 10 only)
 
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ You can pick and choose exactly which modifications you want the script to make,
 - Remove all bloatware apps from [this list](#apps-that-are-removed) and optionally also remove communication and gaming-related apps.
 - Remove all pinned apps from the start menu. NOTE: This applies to all existing and new users. (Windows 11 only)
 - Disable telemetry, diagnostic data, app-launch tracking & targeted ads.
-- Disable bing search, bing AI & cortana in Windows search.
+- Disable & remove bing search & cortana in Windows search.
 - Disable tips, tricks, suggestions and ads in start, settings, notifications, Windows explorer, and on the lockscreen.
 - Disable Windows Copilot. (Windows 11 only)
 - Restore the old Windows 10 style context menu. (Windows 11 only)
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ You can pick and choose exactly which modifications you want the script to make,
     - Microsoft.BingFoodAndDrink 
     - Microsoft.BingHealthAndFitness
     - Microsoft.BingNews  
+    - Microsoft.BingSearch* (Bing web search in Windows)
     - Microsoft.BingSports  
     - Microsoft.BingTranslator  
     - Microsoft.BingTravel   
@@ -141,6 +142,8 @@ You can pick and choose exactly which modifications you want the script to make,
     - WinZipUniversal  
     - Wunderlist  
     - XING
+    
+    * App is removed when disabling Bing in Windows search.
   </blockquote>
 </details>
 
@@ -150,40 +153,37 @@ You can pick and choose exactly which modifications you want the script to make,
   <summary>Click to expand</summary>
   <blockquote>
     
-    Apps that are required or useful for most users:
+    General apps that are not removed by default:
     - Microsoft.GetHelp (Required for some Windows 11 Troubleshooters)
     - Microsoft.MSPaint (Paint 3D)
-    - Microsoft.OutlookForWindows*** (New mail app)
+    - Microsoft.OutlookForWindows* (New mail app)
     - Microsoft.Paint (Classic Paint)
-    - Microsoft.People** (Required for & included with Mail & Calendar)
+    - Microsoft.People* (Required for & included with Mail & Calendar)
     - Microsoft.ScreenSketch (Snipping Tool)
     - Microsoft.Whiteboard (Only preinstalled on devices with touchscreen and/or pen support)
     - Microsoft.Windows.Photos
     - Microsoft.WindowsCalculator
     - Microsoft.WindowsCamera
-    - Microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps** (Mail & Calendar)
+    - Microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps* (Mail & Calendar)
     - Microsoft.WindowsStore (Microsoft Store, NOTE: This app cannot be reinstalled!)
     - Microsoft.WindowsTerminal (New default terminal app in Windows 11)
     - Microsoft.YourPhone (Phone Link)
     - Microsoft.Xbox.TCUI (UI framework, removing this may break MS store, photos and certain games)
     - Microsoft.ZuneMusic (Modern Media Player)
 
-    Apps that are required or useful for gaming:
+    Gaming related apps that are not removed by default:
     - Microsoft.GamingApp* (Modern Xbox Gaming App, required for installing some games)
     - Microsoft.XboxGameOverlay* (Game overlay, required for some games)
     - Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay* (Game overlay, required for some games)
     - Microsoft.XboxIdentityProvider (Xbox sign-in framework, required for some games)
     - Microsoft.XboxSpeechToTextOverlay (Might be required for some games, NOTE: This app cannot be reinstalled!)
 
-    Apps that are required or useful for developers:
+    Developer related apps that are not removed by default:
-    - Microsoft.PowerAutomateDesktop****
+    - Microsoft.PowerAutomateDesktop*
-    - Microsoft.RemoteDesktop**** 
+    - Microsoft.RemoteDesktop*
-    - Windows.DevHome****
+    - Windows.DevHome*
 
-    * Can be removed in custom mode or by running the script with the '-RemoveGamingApps' parameter.
+    * Can be removed in custom mode or by running the script with the relevant parameter. (See advanced method)
-    ** Can be removed in custom mode or by running the script with the '-RemoveCommApps' parameter.
-    *** Can be removed in custom mode or by running the script with the '-RemoveW11Outlook' parameter.
-    **** Can be removed in custom mode or by running the script with the '-RemoveDevApps' parameter.
   </blockquote>
 </details>
 
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ To run the script without any user input, simply add parameters at the end, exam
 | -RemoveGamingApps                  |    Remove the Xbox App and Xbox Gamebar. |
 | -ClearStart                        |    Remove all pinned apps from the start menu. NOTE: This applies to all existing and new users. (Windows 11 update 22H2 or later only) |
 | -DisableTelemetry                  |    Disable telemetry, diagnostic data & targeted ads. |
-| -DisableBing                       |    Disable bing search, bing AI & cortana in Windows search. |
+| -DisableBing                       |    Disable & remove bing search, bing AI & cortana in Windows search. |
 | -DisableSuggestions                |    Disable tips, tricks, suggestions and ads in start, settings, notifications and Windows explorer. |
 | <pre>-DisableLockscreenTips</pre>  |    Disable tips & tricks on the lockscreen. |
 | -RevertContextMenu                 |    Restore the old Windows 10 style context menu. (Windows 11 only) |

Win11Debloat.ps1

@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ function RegImport {
 
 # Stop & Restart the Windows explorer process
 function RestartExplorer {
-    Write-Output "> Restarting Windows explorer to apply all changes."
+    Write-Output "> Restarting Windows explorer to apply all changes. Note: This may cause some flickering."
 
     Start-Sleep 0.5
 
@@ -199,9 +199,10 @@ function AddParameter {
         $null = New-Item "$PSScriptRoot/LastSettings"
     } 
     elseif ($global:FirstSelection) {
-        $global:FirstSelection = $false
         $null = Clear-Content "$PSScriptRoot/LastSettings"
     }
+    
+    $global:FirstSelection = $false
 
     # Create entry and add it to the file
     $entry = $parameterName + "#- " + $message
@@ -427,8 +428,8 @@ if ((-not $PSBoundParameters.Count) -or $RunDefaults -or $RunWin11Defaults -or (
 
             Write-Output ""
 
-            if ($( Read-Host -Prompt "Disable bing search, bing AI & cortana in Windows search? (y/n)" ) -eq 'y') {
+            if ($( Read-Host -Prompt "Disable & remove bing search, bing AI & cortana in Windows search? (y/n)" ) -eq 'y') {
-                AddParameter 'DisableBing' 'Disable bing search, bing AI & cortana in Windows search'
+                AddParameter 'DisableBing' 'Disable & remove bing search, bing AI & cortana in Windows search'
             }
 
             Write-Output ""
@@ -678,6 +679,9 @@ else {
             continue
         }
         {$_ -in "DisableBingSearches", "DisableBing"} {
+            $AppsList = '*Microsoft.BingSearch*'
+            RemoveSpecificApps $AppsList
+
             RegImport "> Disabling bing search, bing AI & cortana in Windows search..." $PSScriptRoot\Regfiles\Disable_Bing_Cortana_In_Search.reg
             continue
         }