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Remove Office Hub from Win10: 4 Ways

Updated · Standard formula, shown below

If you want to remove the Office Hub (the Microsoft 365 app icon that appears in the Start menu and taskbar on Windows 10), the direct answer is: you can’t fully uninstall it, but you can hide or disable it using Settings, PowerShell, or a registry edit. The Office Hub is a built-in Windows 10 app, so the practical fix is to unpin it from the taskbar and Start menu, or block it from launching if it keeps reappearing.

What Is the Office Hub on Windows 10?

The Office Hub is a Microsoft 365 app that Microsoft added to Windows 10 in 2019 via a cumulative update. It appears as a tile in the Start menu and an icon in the taskbar, and it opens a lightweight interface that links to Office Online, recent documents, and the Office apps installed on your PC. It is not the same as the full Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) — it’s a separate app, often called “Microsoft 365” or “Office” in the Start menu.

For many users, the hub is unwanted because it takes up space, shows notifications, or simply wasn’t requested. Since it’s a system component, Windows does not offer a normal “Uninstall” button in Settings. However, you have several reliable ways to remove its presence from your daily workflow.

Method 1: Unpin from Taskbar and Start Menu (Quickest)

The simplest approach is to remove the shortcuts without touching the underlying app. This works for most people because the hub won’t bother you unless you click it.

  1. Right-click the Office Hub icon on the taskbar (usually a square with an “O” or the Microsoft 365 logo).
  2. Select “Unpin from taskbar.”
  3. Open the Start menu, find the Office or Microsoft 365 tile, right-click it, and choose “Unpin from Start.”

If the icon reappears after a Windows update, you can repeat the steps. This method doesn’t delete the app, but it removes all visible shortcuts.

Method 2: Use PowerShell to Remove the App Package

For a more thorough removal, you can uninstall the app package using PowerShell. This removes the hub’s files and prevents it from running, though it may come back with a major feature update.

  1. Right-click the Start button and select “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” or “Terminal (Admin).”
  2. Type the following command and press Enter:
    Get-AppxPackage -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub | Remove-AppxPackage
  3. Wait for the command to finish. You’ll see no confirmation message if it succeeds.

This command uninstalls the app for your user account. If you have multiple user accounts, you may need to run it while logged into each one, or use the -AllUsers parameter (which requires admin rights). After removal, the Start menu and taskbar icons should disappear immediately.

Method 3: Block Reinstallation via Registry

Windows 10 may reinstall the Office Hub during a feature update (like the twice-yearly version upgrades). To prevent that, you can add a registry key that blocks the app from being installed for new users.

  1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CloudContent
  3. If the CloudContent key doesn’t exist, right-click “Windows,” select New > Key, and name it CloudContent.
  4. Inside CloudContent, right-click on the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it DisableWindowsConsumerFeatures.
  5. Double-click it, set the value to 1, and click OK.
  6. Restart your computer.

This registry policy disables “consumer features” that Microsoft uses to auto-install apps like the Office Hub. It also blocks other suggested apps in the Start menu. Note that this doesn’t remove an already-installed hub — you still need Method 2 for that.

Method 4: Hide It with Group Policy (Windows 10 Pro/Enterprise Only)

If you have Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education, you can use the Local Group Policy Editor to disable the hub entirely.

  1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to:
    Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Cloud Content
  3. Double-click “Turn off Microsoft consumer experiences.”
  4. Set it to “Enabled” and click OK.
  5. Restart your PC.

This policy is the same as the registry method but offers a graphical interface. It’s the cleanest option for IT administrators managing multiple machines.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

  • “I can’t find PowerShell as admin.” On newer Windows 10 versions, the Start button menu shows “Windows Terminal (Admin)” instead. Both work for this command.
  • “The hub came back after an update.” That’s normal — feature updates can reinstall built-in apps. Use Method 3 to block future reinstallation.
  • “Does removing it break my Office apps?” No. The Office Hub is separate from Word, Excel, or Outlook. Removing it only affects the hub’s shortcuts and its online launcher.
  • “I don’t see the CloudContent folder in regedit.” You may need to create it manually as described. Double-check that you’re in the right path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, not HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
  • “The icon is still in the Start menu after unpinning.” Try restarting Explorer (right-click the taskbar > Task Manager > Windows Explorer > Restart) or logging out and back in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I uninstall the Office Hub like a normal app?

No. Windows 10 treats it as a system app, so the Settings > Apps list only shows a “Move” or “Advanced options” button, not “Uninstall.” The PowerShell method is the closest to a true uninstall.

Will the Office Hub reinstall after I remove it?

It can, if you install a Windows feature update (like version 21H2 to 22H2). The registry or Group Policy method prevents that by disabling consumer feature installs.

Does removing the Office Hub slow down my PC?

No. The hub is a small app that only runs when you open it. Removing it won’t noticeably affect performance, but it does free a small amount of disk space (roughly 20–50 MB) and removes background update tasks.

Is it safe to delete the Office Hub files manually?

You can delete the app’s folder in C:\Program Files\WindowsApps, but this is not recommended because that folder is protected by Windows and may cause errors. Stick to the PowerShell command.

What if I want the Office Hub back?

You can reinstall it from the Microsoft Store by searching for “Microsoft 365” or “Office.” Alternatively, run this PowerShell command as admin: Get-AppxPackage -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub | Add-AppxPackage.

Alternatives to Removing the Hub

If you don’t want to use PowerShell or registry edits, you can simply ignore the hub. It doesn’t run in the background unless you open it. You can also move it to a folder in the Start menu (drag it onto another tile) so it’s out of sight. Another option is to use the “Start” settings to turn off “Show suggestions occasionally in Start,” which reduces the chance of Microsoft pushing similar apps.

For enterprise users, the cleanest approach is to configure the policy via Group Policy or MDM (like Intune) so that the hub never installs on new machines. This avoids per-user cleanup entirely.

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