Remove "Narrator QuickStart" app

Overview

About this script

This script improves your privacy on Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

This script removes the "Narrator QuickStart" app. This app is technically known as NarratorQuickStart 1.

The "Narrator QuickStart" is a brief tutorial designed to help new users familiarize themselves with the Narrator application 2. The tutorial is accessible through a "QuickStart" button within Narrator, a link in settings, and from the initial Welcome page of Windows 3. It provides a step-by-step guide on using keyboard shortcuts and other features to effectively use Narrator 4 5.

Narrator is a screen-reading tool built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, aiding users in tasks like using apps, browsing the web, and reading or authoring documents by reading text on the screen 6. The script targets only the "Narrator QuickStart" tutorial, not the Narrator application itself.

Besides removing the app, this script also disables the QuickStart by modifying the following the HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Narrator\QuickStart!SkipQuickStart key 7 to protect the system integrity.

Identified in testing, removing this app does not completely eleminate the tutorial.

This app comes pre-installed on certain versions of Windows 1 2 4. Introduced in Windows 10 1 2 4, this feature has been part of the OS since version 1903 2.

Caution

Removing this app may disable features in the tutorial for new users of the Narrator app, This could impact the learning experience for new users of Narrator. This script is recommended for users who are already familiar with Narrator, do not require the tutorial, or will never use the Narrator feature.

Overview of default preinstallation

OS	Version	Existence
Windows 10	19H2	✅
Windows 10	20H2	✅
Windows 10	21H2	✅
Windows 10	22H2	✅
Windows 11	21H2	✅
Windows 11	22H2	✅
Windows 11	23H2	✅

This script uses Batch (batchfile) scripting language.

Use with Caution

This script is only recommended if you understand its implications. Some non-critical or features may no longer function correctly after running this script.

Implementation Details

• Language: batch

• Required Privileges: Administrator rights

• Compatibility: Windows only

• Reversibility: Can be undone using provided revert script

Explore Categories

Remove system apps

This action belongs to Remove system apps category. This category includes scripts for uninstalling default system apps in Windows. System apps are pre-installed applications located in the C:\Windows* directory. These apps are typically found on C:\Windows\SystemApps\{PackageFamilyName} or C:\Windows\{ShortAppName} folders. They are... Read more on category page ▶

Remove Windows apps

This action belongs to Remove Windows apps category. This category covers the uninstallation of Windows apps. Windows apps were introduced with Windows 8 and are typically acquired and installed through the Store app. Many of these apps come pre-installed on Windows by default. Uninstalling unused or unwanted apps contributes to privacy by... Read more on category page ▶

Remove bloatware

This action belongs to Remove bloatware category. This category configures Windows using 215 scripts. These scripts are organized in 35 categories. The category includes 1 subscripts and 9 subcategories that include more scripts and categories. Read more on category page ▶

Apply now

Choose one of three ways to apply:

1. Automatically via privacy.sexy: The easiest and safest option.
2. Manually by downloading: Requires downloading a file.
3. Manually by copying: Advanced flexibility.

Alternative 1. Apply with Privacy.sexy

privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily.

Open privacy.sexy

You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using the application.

privacy.sexy instructions

1. Open or download the desktop application
2. Search for the script name: Remove "Narrator QuickStart" app.
3. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
4. Click on Run button at the bottom of the page.

Alternative 2. Download

Irreversible Changes

This script is irreversible, meaning there is no straightforward method to restore changes once applied. Exercise caution before running, restoring it may not be possible.

1. Download the script file by clicking on the button below:

   Download script

2. Run the script file by clicking on it.

Download revert script

This file restores your system to its original state, before this script is applied.

Download restore script

Alternative 3. Copy

This is for advanced users. Consider automatically applying or downloading the script for simpler way.

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.

HELP: Step-by-step guide

1. Click on Start menu

   Windows 11

   

   Windows 10

   

2. Type cmd

   Windows 11

   

   Windows 10

   

3. Right click on Command Prompt select Run as administrator

   Windows 11

   

   Windows 10

   

4. Click on Yes to run Command Prompt

   Windows 11

   

   Windows 10

   

---

Windows 11

Windows 10

2. Copy the following code:

Code to apply changes

:: Enable removal of system app 'NarratorQuickStart' by marking it as "EndOfLife"
:: Create "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\EndOfLife\$CURRENT_USER_SID\NarratorQuickStart_8wekyb3d8bbwe" registry key
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$keyPath='HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\EndOfLife\$CURRENT_USER_SID\NarratorQuickStart_8wekyb3d8bbwe'; $registryHive = $keyPath.Split('\')[0]; $registryPath = "^""$($registryHive):$($keyPath.Substring($registryHive.Length))"^""; $userSid = (New-Object System.Security.Principal.NTAccount($env:USERNAME)).Translate([Security.Principal.SecurityIdentifier]).Value; $registryPath = $registryPath.Replace('$CURRENT_USER_SID', $userSid); if (Test-Path $registryPath) { Write-Host "^""Skipping, no action needed, registry path `"^""$registryPath`"^"" already exists."^""; exit 0; }; try { New-Item -Path $registryPath -Force -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Host "^""Successfully created the registry key at path `"^""$registryPath`"^""."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to create the registry key at path `"^""$registryPath`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }"
:: Uninstall 'NarratorQuickStart' Store app
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "Get-AppxPackage 'NarratorQuickStart' | Remove-AppxPackage"
:: Mark 'NarratorQuickStart' as deprovisioned to block reinstall during Windows updates.
:: Create "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\NarratorQuickStart_8wekyb3d8bbwe" registry key
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$keyPath='HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\NarratorQuickStart_8wekyb3d8bbwe'; $registryHive = $keyPath.Split('\')[0]; $registryPath = "^""$($registryHive):$($keyPath.Substring($registryHive.Length))"^""; if (Test-Path $registryPath) { Write-Host "^""Skipping, no action needed, registry path `"^""$registryPath`"^"" already exists."^""; exit 0; }; try { New-Item -Path $registryPath -Force -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Host "^""Successfully created the registry key at path `"^""$registryPath`"^""."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to create the registry key at path `"^""$registryPath`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }"
:: Remove the registry key "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\EndOfLife\$CURRENT_USER_SID\NarratorQuickStart_8wekyb3d8bbwe" (Revert 'NarratorQuickStart' to its default, non-removable state.)
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$keyPath='HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\EndOfLife\$CURRENT_USER_SID\NarratorQuickStart_8wekyb3d8bbwe'; $registryHive = $keyPath.Split('\')[0]; $registryPath = "^""$($registryHive):$($keyPath.Substring($registryHive.Length))"^""; $userSid = (New-Object System.Security.Principal.NTAccount($env:USERNAME)).Translate([Security.Principal.SecurityIdentifier]).Value; $registryPath = $registryPath.Replace('$CURRENT_USER_SID', $userSid); Write-Host "^""Removing registry key at `"^""$registryPath`"^""."^""; if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $registryPath)) { Write-Host "^""Skipping, no action needed, registry key `"^""$registryPath`"^"" does not exist."^""; exit 0; }; try { Remove-Item -LiteralPath $registryPath -Force -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Host "^""Successfully removed the registry key at path `"^""$registryPath`"^""."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to remove the registry key at path `"^""$registryPath`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }"
:: Set the registry value: "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Narrator\QuickStart!SkipQuickStart"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Narrator\QuickStart'; $data = '1'; reg add 'HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Narrator\QuickStart' /v 'SkipQuickStart' /t 'REG_DWORD' /d "^""$data"^"" /f"

3. Right click on command prompt to paste it.
4. Press Enter to apply remaining code.

Copy restore code

Copy and run the following code to restore changes:

Revert code

:: Remove ability to remove system app 'NarratorQuickStart' to match operating system defaults
:: Restore "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\EndOfLife\$CURRENT_USER_SID\NarratorQuickStart_8wekyb3d8bbwe" registry key by deleting it
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$keyPath='HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\EndOfLife\$CURRENT_USER_SID\NarratorQuickStart_8wekyb3d8bbwe'; $registryHive = $keyPath.Split('\')[0]; $registryPath = "^""$($registryHive):$($keyPath.Substring($registryHive.Length))"^""; $userSid = (New-Object System.Security.Principal.NTAccount($env:USERNAME)).Translate([Security.Principal.SecurityIdentifier]).Value; $registryPath = $registryPath.Replace('$CURRENT_USER_SID', $userSid); Write-Host "^""Removing registry key at `"^""$registryPath`"^""."^""; if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $registryPath)) { Write-Host "^""Skipping, no action needed, registry key `"^""$registryPath`"^"" does not exist."^""; exit 0; }; try { Remove-Item -LiteralPath $registryPath -Force -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Host "^""Successfully removed the registry key at path `"^""$registryPath`"^""."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to remove the registry key at path `"^""$registryPath`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }"
:: Reinstall 'NarratorQuickStart' if it was previously uninstalled
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$packageName='NarratorQuickStart'; $publisherId='8wekyb3d8bbwe'; if (Get-AppxPackage -Name $packageName) { Write-Host "^""Skipping, `"^""$packageName`"^"" is already installed for the current user."^""; exit 0; }; Write-Host "^""Starting the installation process for `"^""$packageName`"^""..."^""; <# Attempt installation using the manifest file #>; Write-Host "^""Checking if `"^""$packageName`"^"" is installed on another user profile..."^""; $packages = @(Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers $packageName); if (!$packages) { Write-Host "^""`"^""$packageName`"^"" is not installed on any other user profiles."^""; } else { foreach ($package in $packages) { Write-Host "^""Found package `"^""$($package.PackageFullName)`"^""."^""; $installationDir = $package.InstallLocation; if ([string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($installationDir)) { Write-Warning "^""Installation directory for `"^""$packageName`"^"" is not found or invalid."^""; continue; }; $manifestPath = Join-Path -Path $installationDir -ChildPath 'AppxManifest.xml'; try { if (-Not (Test-Path "^""$manifestPath"^"")) { Write-Host "^""Manifest file not found for `"^""$packageName`"^"" on another user profile: `"^""$manifestPath`"^""."^""; continue; }; } catch { Write-Warning "^""An error occurred while checking for the manifest file: $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; continue; }; Write-Host "^""Manifest file located. Trying to install using the manifest: `"^""$manifestPath`"^""..."^""; try { Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "^""$manifestPath"^"" -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host "^""Successfully installed `"^""$packageName`"^"" using its manifest file."^""; exit 0; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Error installing from manifest: $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }; }; }; <# Attempt installation using the package family name #>; $packageFamilyName = "^""$($packageName)_$($publisherId)"^""; Write-Host "^""Trying to install `"^""$packageName`"^"" using its package family name: `"^""$packageFamilyName`"^"" from system installation..."^""; try { Add-AppxPackage -RegisterByFamilyName -MainPackage $packageFamilyName -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host "^""Successfully installed `"^""$packageName`"^"" using its package family name."^""; exit 0; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Error installing using package family name: $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }; throw "^""Unable to reinstall the requested package ($packageName). "^"" + "^""It appears to no longer be included in this version of Windows. "^"" + "^""You may search for it or an alternative in the Microsoft Store or "^"" + "^""consider using an earlier version of Windows where this package was originally provided."^"""
:: Remove 'NarratorQuickStart' from deprovisioned list to allow reinstall during updates.
:: Restore "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\NarratorQuickStart_8wekyb3d8bbwe" registry key by deleting it
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$keyPath='HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\NarratorQuickStart_8wekyb3d8bbwe'; $registryHive = $keyPath.Split('\')[0]; $registryPath = "^""$($registryHive):$($keyPath.Substring($registryHive.Length))"^""; Write-Host "^""Removing registry key at `"^""$registryPath`"^""."^""; if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $registryPath)) { Write-Host "^""Skipping, no action needed, registry key `"^""$registryPath`"^"" does not exist."^""; exit 0; }; try { Remove-Item -LiteralPath $registryPath -Force -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Host "^""Successfully removed the registry key at path `"^""$registryPath`"^""."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to remove the registry key at path `"^""$registryPath`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }"
:: Delete the registry value "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Narrator\QuickStart!SkipQuickStart"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "reg delete 'HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Narrator\QuickStart' /v 'SkipQuickStart' /f 2>$null"

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