Microsoft has begun force installing the PC Health Check application on Windows 10 devices using a new KB5005463 update.
PC Health Check is a new diagnostics tool created by Microsoft and released in conjunction with Windows 11 that provides various troubleshooting and maintenance features.
However, its primary use has been to analyze a device's hardware to check if it's compatible with Windows 11.
This Friday, Microsoft began rolling out the new KB5005463 update to force-install the PC Health Check application on Windows 10 devices.
Microsoft says that users who do not want PC Health Check on their system can simply uninstall it using the Settings app.
However, readers have told BleepingComputer that they have had to uninstall the application numerous times as the applications keep being reinstalled on the next check for updates.
To make matters worse, when attempting to uninstall KB5005463, Windows 10 states that the update is not installed, when that is clearly untrue, as shown in the image below.
BleepingComputer has found a way to block the update from installing PC Health Check on your computer for those who do not want the application installed.
How to prevent PC Health Check from installing
When you uninstall the PC Health Check application, it creates a "PreviousUninstall" value under the 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PCHC' key and sets its value to '1', as shown below.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PCHC]
"PreviousUninstall"=dword:00000001
If this value exists, the next time you perform a 'Check for updates' in Windows Update, the KB5005463 update and PC Health Check will not install again.
It is unclear why this key is not being created for some users or being ignored and causing the application to reinstall.
It is also possible to use the following Registry key to prevent the installation of PC Health Check, but it is not clear if this will cause unexpected behavior.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PCHealthCheck]
"installed"=dword:00000001
There is no good reason not to install the utility as it does not run automatically and can be closed as needed.
However, if you do not wish to have the application installed, you can use one of the above methods to prevent its installation.
BleepingComputer has reached out to Microsoft to learn why PC Health Check is being reinstalled for some users and will update this article when we hear back.
Comments
JonathanSteadman - 2 years ago
Stupid. Just stupid.
JonathanSteadman - 2 years ago
<p>Yes we get more bloatware. Thats all we want. I am now install Fedora. :)</p>
EmanuelJacobsson - 2 years ago
Luckily its extremely easy to uninstall it all.
Lawrence Abrams - 2 years ago
Except people are finding it reinstalls on the next 'Check for updates'.
EmanuelJacobsson - 2 years ago
Ive never found pre-installed apps to be installed again after a new update, even after a complete reinstall or factory reset.
Edit: They do reinstall after I factory reset, but not when I update.
Lawrence Abrams - 2 years ago
From what I understand this is unexpected behavior. It is supposed to remain uninstalled, but is not.
premomh - 2 years ago
"Microsoft says that users who do not want PC Health Check on their system can simply uninstall it using the Settings app."
Cuz there couldn't POSSIBLY be people out there who don't want to unnecessarily DL USELESS crap that they never intend to use... Like people who have HORRIBLE DL speeds who live in rural areas... Nope... They don't exist at all..
Just another instance that proves ONLY MICROSOFT knows what is best for OUR PCs...
TanyaC - 2 years ago
"There is no good reason not to install the utility as it does not run automatically and can be closed as needed."
Rubbish. Of course there is. I don't want it on any of my PCs. I have no intentions of ever upgrading to Windows 11. It's just more bug riddled telemetry bloatware crap that we don't need. There's 3!
1Phase1 - 2 years ago
The only good reason there needs to be is that users just don't want it and haven't consented to it being downloaded on their systems. These sorts of things should always be opt-in, not opt-out. If people want it, they can get it from the Microsoft website themselves.
Personally, I don't want another worthless program I'm never going to use on my system. This is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt at encouraging people to "upgrade" to Microsoft's terrible new OS
NoneRain - 2 years ago
telemetry? I don't think so... Windows already take the info they want, including info abour your hardware... The app is there to "help" those that want to upgrade. If you do not, well, you can totally ignore it or change the reg, but again, that won't change at all your experience with the system....
ZNoiD - 2 years ago
Everything i've heard so far indicates that win11 is much better privacywise than win10 by default, so i dont know what youre talking about, i listen to many different well known "security/privacy experts", its very common people that have NO clue what so ever just thinks that just because its from Microsoft it's crap, ofc its not the case what so ever. Stop spreading lies around and listen to those who really knows, the educated ones preferably!
Hardbrocklife - 2 years ago
I feel bleepingcomputer still cares about user privacy, and haven't sold out to some kind of Microsoft payout for positively reviewing their product or refraining criticizing it. We live in a time where nearly everything you are told is marketing or advertising for a government lobby or mega corporation.
NoneRain - 2 years ago
I bet MS don't pay sites to talk good stuff about Win10/Win11. They already have 80%+ of desktop market, and most of "tech news sites" say a lot of sh1t they copied pasted from somewhere else, withouth knowing about the subject. So, I've seen most of these sites to trash Windows... If MS is paying, they aren't paying enought :p
Lawrence Abrams - 2 years ago
I am not sure how you see this as a positive article towards Microsoft.
There is obviously an issue here if people are having issues removing it and keeping it uninstalled.
Msradell - 2 years ago
Any idea how to uninstall it once it's installed? I like to keep all extraneous junk off of my machine whether it actually runs or not.
NMI - 2 years ago
Settings, Apps, Apps & features, Windows PC Health Check, Uninstall.
Msradell - 2 years ago
Well that makes too much sense! I didn't even think of that idea. I was trying to go through the updates history and uninstall it from there. Thanks back at rid of it.