Application Uninstallation

  • Article

The groundwork for uninstallation takes place during an installation, when the Configuration Manager saves an XML rollback document that contains information about any changes that are made. During an uninstallation, this rollback document is passed to the Uninstall Configuration Service Provider, which runs it as an uninstallation script.

When an application is uninstalled, the Configuration Manager removes the application according to the instructions in the uninstall document created during the installation process. This process is automatic, and requires no further action on the part of the application packager.

The following table shows how applications can be removed:

Platform type Description
Pocket PC Applications can be removed by the user through the Remove Program settings — ActiveSync uninstallation feature. A user can remove only one application at a time through the Remove Programs settings.
Smartphone Applications can be removed by:
  • The user through the Remove Program settings, which is the ActiveSync uninstallation feature.
  • The manager of the device through an uninstall XML configuration file. By sending the appropriate uninstall provisioning XML file to the Configuration Manager, an application's associated registry keys, files, and settings can be removed from the device remotely.

A user can remove only one application at a time through the Remove Programs settings.

See Also

Application Management for Windows Mobile Devices | ActiveSync Uninstallations

Send feedback on this topic to the authors.

© 2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.