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Remove the Get Help app from Settings
This is the safest option if you simply do not want the Microsoft support app installed.
- Open Start and select Settings.
- Go to Apps > Installed apps.
- Search for Get Help.
- Select the three-dot More button beside the app.
- Select Uninstall, then confirm.
You can also open Start > All apps, right-click Get Help, and select Uninstall. If the Uninstall option is missing, that Windows installation may treat the app as a protected or provisioned component.
Uninstall Get Help with WinGet
WinGet is useful when the Settings option is unavailable or you prefer the command line.
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- Open Windows Terminal or Command Prompt.
- Run: winget uninstall –id Microsoft.GetHelp –exact –source winget
–id targets the Get Help package, –exact prevents a partial-name match, and –source winget avoids querying the Microsoft Store source.
WinGet can report that the package is not installed or cannot be found if Get Help is registered for another user, provisioned by Windows, or unavailable through the configured source.
Uninstall Get Help with PowerShell
To remove Get Help package instances visible across user accounts, open Windows Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin) and run: Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers *Microsoft.GetHelp* | Remove-AppxPackage
This removes installed package instances returned by Get-AppxPackage. It does not necessarily remove a provisioned copy from the Windows installation image, and an organization’s management software may reinstall the app later.
Disable or repair Get Help instead of uninstalling it
If Get Help is malfunctioning, removing it may not be necessary. Try repairing or resetting it:
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- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Find Get Help and select its three-dot More button.
- Select Advanced options.
- Select Terminate.
- Select Repair. This attempts to fix the app without removing its data.
- If the problem remains, select Reset.
Reset reinitializes the app and its data. These controls are not available for every Windows component.
Stop F1 from opening Windows help
Windows 11 Home and Pro do not include a normal Settings switch called “Disable F1 Help.” F1 is handled by the focused application, so its behavior depends on where you press it:
| Location | What may happen |
|---|---|
| Desktop or File Explorer | Windows may launch HelpPane.exe. |
| An individual application | The application may open its own help command. |
| Keyboard remapping software | F1 can be disabled or assigned another action, but this affects the key itself. |
Because applications can process F1 independently, uninstalling Get Help will not reliably disable every F1 help action.
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Last resort: block HelpPane.exe
If the problem is specifically F1 opening help from the desktop or File Explorer, you can block execution of the associated Windows component. This is an administrative workaround, not a standard Windows setting. Create a restore point first.
- Open Command Prompt as administrator.
- Run these commands: taskkill /f /im HelpPane.exe, takeown /f “%WinDir%\HelpPane.exe”, and icacls “%WinDir%\HelpPane.exe” /deny Everyone:(X).
The first command stops a running instance. The other commands take ownership of the file and deny execution to everyone.
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This does not disable help commands implemented inside applications. It can also be undone by Windows servicing or a feature update. Do not delete or rename C:\Windows\HelpPane.exe; modifying protected system files can make servicing and repair more difficult.
Restore HelpPane.exe permissions
To remove the deny rule and return ownership to Windows’ servicing account, run these commands from an elevated Command Prompt: icacls “%WinDir%\HelpPane.exe” /remove:d Everyone and icacls “%WinDir%\HelpPane.exe” /setowner “NT Service\TrustedInstaller”.
If the ownership command fails, open the file’s Properties > Security > Advanced dialog and restore the owner to NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller.
Registry workaround for HelpPane.exe
Another commonly published workaround uses Windows Image File Execution Options to redirect HelpPane.exe. It is intended as a debugging mechanism, not as an official way to disable help.
From an elevated Command Prompt, run: reg add “HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\HelpPane.exe” /v Debugger /t REG_SZ /d null_null.exe /f.
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Restart Windows afterward. To remove the value, run: reg delete “HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\HelpPane.exe” /v Debugger /f.
This is an unsupported workaround and can interfere with legitimate uses of HelpPane.exe. Avoid it on a managed computer unless your administrator approves the change.
WindowsF1 on enterprise and embedded editions
Microsoft documents a WindowsF1 setting for the Microsoft-Windows-Embedded-KeyboardFilterService component: <WindowsF1>Blocked</WindowsF1>.
This blocks the Windows logo key + F1 combination. The default is Allowed. The setting is intended for supported Windows image-customization and embedded configurations, not as a regular option in Windows 11 Home or Pro.
What does not reliably work
- Uninstalling Get Help and expecting F1 to stop: the app and HelpPane.exe are separate mechanisms.
- Looking for a “Disable Get Help” switch in Settings: standard Home and Pro installations do not provide one.
- Changing an old DisableF1Help registry value: this advice relates to older Windows Help and Support components and is not a current documented Windows 11 control.
- Deleting or renaming HelpPane.exe: this is riskier than a reversible permission change.
- Assuming F1 is controlled globally: individual applications can handle the key through their own help systems.
FAQ
Does uninstalling Get Help disable F1 in Windows 11?
No. Uninstalling the Get Help app removes that app, but desktop and File Explorer F1 actions may use the separate HelpPane.exe component.
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Can I disable Get Help from Windows 11 Settings?
You can uninstall the Get Help app through Settings if Windows exposes the Uninstall option. Windows 11 does not provide a standard Settings switch that disables every Get Help or F1 behavior.
What is the safest way to remove Get Help?
Use Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Get Help > More > Uninstall. If that option is unavailable, try the WinGet command with the exact package ID.
How do I stop F1 without removing application help?
Blocking HelpPane.exe can stop the desktop and File Explorer behavior while leaving application-specific F1 handling intact. It is an advanced, unsupported workaround, so create a restore point and keep the reversal commands.
Can I disable F1 with a keyboard remapping tool?
Yes, but remapping F1 changes the key for applications as well as Windows. It is not limited to the desktop help action.
The Bottom Line
For the Get Help app, use Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Get Help > Uninstall, or run winget uninstall –id Microsoft.GetHelp –exact –source winget.
If your real problem is F1 opening help, uninstalling the app may not solve it. Use a keyboard remap for the least invasive broad change, or block HelpPane.exe only after creating a restore point and recording how to reverse the permission change.
