Remove 'Get Windows 10' Icon & Stop Upgrade Notifications

Removing the "Get Windows 10" Icon and Notifications

Following the release of Windows 10, users of Windows 7 and 8 experienced frequent upgrade prompts. These notifications stemmed from a system tray icon known as GWX, short for "Get Windows 10." This guide details the process of eliminating this icon and halting the persistent upgrade notifications.

Initial Publication and Updates

This article first appeared in June of 2015. Since its original publication, a more efficient utility has been developed to prevent unsolicited Windows 10 updates. Consequently, this article has been revised to incorporate information regarding this new tool.

The team at How-to Geek recognizes the benefits of Windows 10, acknowledging its improvements over Windows 8 and the introduction of useful features. However, we consistently receive feedback regarding Microsoft’s assertive approach to promoting the upgrade. If you wish to defer upgrading to Windows 10 and are frustrated by the constant reminders, the following steps will resolve the issue.

Addressing Aggressive Upgrade Tactics

Related: Upgrade Now or Upgrade Tonight: How Microsoft Has Aggressively Pushed Windows 10 to Everyone

Microsoft has been noted for its proactive strategies in encouraging users to adopt Windows 10. These methods, while intended to facilitate a smooth transition, have often been perceived as overly insistent by those who prefer to remain on their current operating systems.

The GWX utility, while designed to inform users about Windows 10, can become intrusive. Removing it provides a more peaceful computing experience for individuals not immediately interested in the upgrade.

Addressing the Persistent "Get Windows 10" Icon and Update Notifications

Many users have expressed concern regarding the "Get Windows 10" (GWX) icon and associated dialogs appearing in their system trays. These prompts have led to questions about their legitimacy, with some fearing they represent a trick or malicious software. We can definitively state that this is not the case, though its implementation by Microsoft can be perceived as somewhat aggressive and disruptive.

Selecting this icon initiates a dialog box. This dialog assesses your PC’s compatibility with Windows 10, determines your eligibility for a free upgrade, and highlights the benefits of transitioning to the new operating system.

This icon and its accompanying dialog are components of an application initially released in late April 2015 as a recommended Windows update, identified as KB3035583. This update has been revised multiple times to streamline the upgrade process and circumvent attempts at its removal.

The update appears in one of two ways, depending on your Windows Update settings. If you’ve selected “Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates,” KB3035583 will be presented as an optional update. Conversely, if this option is unchecked, the update will appear as an unchecked, italicized entry.

Microsoft’s official description of the update on its support page clarifies its intended function:

This update installs the Get Windows 10 app, which assists users in understanding their Windows 10 upgrade choices and verifying device readiness. Additional information regarding Windows 10 can be found at Windows 10.

Notably, recent versions of KB3035583 will re-enable the update if it has been previously hidden. In essence, KB3035583 presents a persistent annoyance, and its complete removal proves surprisingly challenging.

Understanding the Update's Behavior

The Get Windows 10 application is delivered via a Windows Update.
It assesses system compatibility and upgrade eligibility.
Microsoft characterizes the update as optional, despite its persistent nature.
Recent revisions actively counteract attempts to conceal the update.

The KB3035583 update is designed to inform users about Windows 10. However, its implementation has been criticized for being intrusive and difficult to remove.

Understanding KB3035583

Essentially, KB3035583 functions by prompting users through Windows Update regarding potential upgrades to Windows 10. This update, also identified as GWX, operates as an executable file initiated through the Task Scheduler on your computer.

The GWX.exe file is responsible for displaying the icon in the system tray. Clicking this icon then launches the application GWXUX.exe, which presents the Windows 10 upgrade dialog.

Microsoft’s suggested solution to eliminate this icon and its associated notifications is simply to hide them. However, this approach is only temporary.

A system restart will cause the icon to reappear. Directly disabling the icon through a right-click option isn't available. While removing the entry from the Task Scheduler is possible, it doesn't fully uninstall the GWX application from your system.

Critically, simply hiding the icon doesn't prevent further upgrade prompts.

If you wish to completely remove this component from your system, we advise uninstalling the update. We do not consider this update essential for upgrading to Windows 10. Should you choose to upgrade later, you can always reinstall KB3035583 through Windows Update, or utilize an alternative method to avoid these recurring prompts.

Never10: A Simple Solution to Block Windows 10 Upgrade Prompts

Since its initial release eleven months ago, the Get Windows 10 (GWX) utility has been a source of frustration for many Windows 7 and 8.1 users. Microsoft has consistently sought methods to install Windows 10 on a wide range of devices.

This has often occurred despite explicit user preferences against the update. Consequently, we present what is currently considered the most effective approach to prevent these unwanted upgrades: utilizing a lightweight (81KB) freeware tool named Never10.

About Never10

Never10 was created by Steve Gibson, a highly respected figure in the security research community. This pedigree ensures the tool’s trustworthiness and guarantees the absence of adware, viruses, or any other malicious software.

Essentially, Never10 functions as a user-friendly interface for Microsoft’s internal settings designed to block the Windows 10 upgrade process.

Let's examine how Never10 functions. The GWX icon, frequently appearing in the system tray, provides options to learn about or initiate the upgrade to Windows 10 when right-clicked.

This icon can periodically display reminders suggesting a Windows 10 upgrade. Our goal is to eliminate this behavior, and Never10 is the tool to achieve that.

Using Never10 to Disable Updates

First, navigate to the Never10 homepage and locate the download link for the Never10 executable. Alternatively, you can access the Never10 freeware page directly.

The tool doesn't require a traditional installation process; it operates as a standalone executable. Simply double-click the file to launch it.

Never10 will assess whether the Windows 10 upgrade is currently enabled on your system. If it is, click the "Disable Win10 Upgrade" button.

Confirming this action will prevent further interruptions from GWX, unless Microsoft implements new methods to bypass these settings.

The system tray icon might not disappear immediately, potentially remaining visible and even offering upgrade assistance upon clicking. However, a system restart will resolve this issue.

Additional Features

You can also utilize the "Remove Win10 Files" button to delete the upgrade files, freeing up disk space. However, Steve Gibson notes that Windows will eventually remove these files automatically, rendering immediate removal optional.

Compatibility and Limitations

Never10 is specifically designed for Windows 7 and 8.1 systems, informing users if run on other operating systems. If the latest GWX files are missing, Never10 will prompt you to download them to ensure proper functionality.

This may seem counterintuitive, but it’s due to Never10’s operational method: it doesn’t eliminate GWX entirely, but rather prevents its execution using Microsoft’s built-in settings.

Another program, GWX Control Panel, offers similar functionality. While we previously recommended it, Never10 is sufficient for most users. GWX Control Panel provides more extensive control but is more complex.

For the majority of users, Never10 provides a streamlined and effective solution.

Final Thoughts

We believe that if you are currently running a recent version of Windows (7 or 8.1), or even older versions like Vista or XP, now is an opportune time to consider upgrading. Windows 10 represents a significant improvement, successfully retaining the strengths of Windows 7 while addressing the shortcomings of Windows 8.1.

However, employing a separate application to encourage user adoption feels somewhat underhanded. The lack of a straightforward method to disable GWX, requiring modifications to the Task Scheduler or uninstallation through Windows Update, further raises concerns about Microsoft’s transparency.

Ultimately, the decision to use Never10 or upgrade to Windows 10 depends on your individual preferences and technical comfort level. Some users may prefer a clean install, rendering the upgrade process irrelevant.