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With reference to:

Can I completely disable Cortana on Windows 10?

I removed the Cortana packages from my running Windows 10 using the method posted by magicandre1981 and using win6x_registry_tweak.

My question is how can I re-install Cortana (or for that matter any other package removed similarly)?

I have opened up the install.wim image (converted from a Win 10 install.esd file) and found Cortana in the system apps folder, but don't know how / what to use to re-install it.

Any help please?

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    Did you read the last line of magicandre1981's answer? "ATTENTION. Make a full backup if you later when to restore it to get Cortana back."
    – DavidPostill ♦
    Commented Aug 26, 2015 at 12:19
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    Yes, I did, but that doesn't answer my question!
    – JohnDuhr
    Commented Aug 26, 2015 at 12:22
  • 3
    Yes it does. Restore from the backup you made.
    – DavidPostill ♦
    Commented Aug 26, 2015 at 12:23
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    Further up in the post alluded to there is a suggestion by WernerCD which uses a Powershell and: Get-AppxPackage | Select Name, PackageFullName Remove-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_1.4.8.176_neutral_neutral_cw5n1h2txyewy ...which incidentally does NOT work to remove Cortana, as he would have found out by actually trying it! However there is an 'add package' command which is the reverse of the above to add/remove individual apps like Weather, etc. Surely there must be a similar set of tools to do the same with Cortana? I don't care that it's gone, that's exactly what I wanted.
    – JohnDuhr
    Commented Aug 26, 2015 at 12:28
  • which version/language do you need (32 or 64Bit)?
    – magicandre1981
    Commented Aug 27, 2015 at 4:27

3 Answers 3

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NOTE: The packages are only for 64Bit build 10240 with EN-GB MUI, if you have a newer build, this won't work. Use the setting to disable Cortana, instead of removing Cortana!!!!!

If you already removed the files, generate the CABs on your own with the steps I posted here. Replace Flash in the commands with Cortana. Go to the servicing\Packages folder and look for the correct names of the Cortana .mum files like here the x86 MUMs for Build 14393 enter image description here.









Download the following 3 CAB files from my Dropbox:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dxfblnhr9b0k73m/Microsoft-Windows-Cortana-Package~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.0.10240.16384.cab?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/b91x0ie4j27iyfa/Microsoft-Windows-Cortana-Package~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~en-GB~10.0.10240.16384.cab?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zcgk0wb30c178h9/Microsoft-Windows-Cortana-PAL-Desktop-Package~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.0.10240.16384.cab?dl=0

and store them in C:\Cortana.

Open a command prompt (cmd.exe) as admin and run this command:

Dism /online /Add-Package /PackagePath:C:\Cortana

This adds the cortana packages back to the Windows.

If you get an error message about using the 32 bit version on a 64 bit computer, instead of doing the "Dism" command in CMD, do "C:\Windows\Sysnative\dism.exe

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  • Thanks for this. I don't doubt it will work and thank you for the commands and syntax too. What I would more like to know, is: Where, did you manage to get all those disparate files from and make them into those 3 specific packages?! Also, How did you do it?! I noticed that some of the files and folders were still in the current Win 10 installation.
    – JohnDuhr
    Commented Aug 28, 2015 at 17:09
  • I use a script to collect the files from WinSxS and put them into a CAB file. But I haven't tried if this really brings back cortana. I don't use it and have no intension to reinstall it because I use StartIsBack++ in my Windows 10 VM.
    – magicandre1981
    Commented Aug 29, 2015 at 5:27
  • @magicandre1981 - What was the script that collected the files so those that want to collect the files themselves can do so.
    – Ramhound
    Commented Jan 15, 2016 at 13:13
  • The answers doesn't work for me as it's not compatible to my build version. I now switched to Classicshell as it brings back the search functionality and that's actually all I use the start menu for. classicshell.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3449
    – fivef
    Commented Jun 7, 2016 at 18:51
  • @fivef yes, this is for Build 10240 (July 2015 version). If you use 1511 it doesn't work.
    – magicandre1981
    Commented Jun 8, 2016 at 4:19
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Running System File Checker fixed this problem for me after I deleted Cortana. This can be done by running the following command on an Administrator Command Prompt 

sfc /scannow
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If you save this as a .reg file and double click it, it works for me (assuming you TURNED OFF cortana instead of destroying the files. See also this gui: https://superuser.com/a/1196624/234051

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search]
"AllowCortana"=dword:00000001
"AllowCortanaAboveLock"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search]
"CortanaConsent"=dword:00000001
"AllowSearchToUseLocation"=dword:00000001
"BingSearchEnabled"=dword:00000001
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