How to remove a cached copy of an unpublished package in Microsoft App-V v5
This article describes how to remove a cached copy of an unpublished package in Microsoft App-V v5.
Applies to: Windows 10 - all editions
Original KB number: 2768945
Summary
When a previously published package is unpublished from the Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) Management Server, all entry points (for example, Shortcuts, FTA's, etc.) for that package are removed from the App-V client, however the cached copy of the package is not removed (deleted) from %programdata%\App-V\{PkGID}\{VerID}.
Also when a new version of a previously cached package is streamed, the older version of the cache is not removed. Instead, hard links are between the package files that have remained unchanged between the different versions.
Note
The folder %programdata%\App-V is the default path for PackageInstallationRoot. To check the path run Get-AppvClientConfiguration
and examine the value of PackageInstallationRoot.
At times, you might want to remove unpublished packages from the computer (for example, to reclaim lost disk space). You can remove packages by running the PowerShell command Remove-AppvClientPackage
. Much like uninstall native applications, the Remove-AppvClientPackage
must be run with administrative rights.
More Information
Remove-AppvClientPackage
supports the following inputs for the package:
- Name
- PackageID
- Version
- VersionID
To find the values the parameters listed above, you can make use of Get-AppvClientPackage -All
. The output is a list of all packages that are present on the computer.
Note
- The -All switch is needed to list the unpublished packages.
- Also the publishing status is checked for the user in whose context the command is being run.
- Virtual Applications which are installed via MSI should be removed from Add Remove Programs. You should not remove them by using Remove-AppvClientPackage.
From a PowerShell prompt run: Get-AppvClientPackage -all
. It should return something similar to the following:
PS C:\temp> Get-AppvClientPackage -All
PackageId : x1x1x1x1-x1x1-x1x1-x1x1-x1x1x1x1x1x1
VersionId : x2x2x2x2-x2x2-x2x2-x2x2-x2x2x2x2x2x2
Name : MyVirtualPackage
Version : 0.0.0.1
Path : c:\temp\MyVirtualPackage.appv
IsPublishedToUser : False
UserPending : False
IsPublishedGlobally : False
GlobalPending : False
InUse : False
InUseByCurrentUser : False
PackageSize : 1234567
PercentLoaded : 100
IsLoading : False
HasAssetIntelligence : True
PackageId : y1y1y1y1-y1y1-y1y1-y1y1-y1y1y1y1y1y1
VersionId : y2y2y2y2-y2y2-y2y2-y2y2-y2y2y2y2y2y2
Name : MyVirtualPackage
Version : 0.0.0.2
Path : c:\temp\MyVirtualPackage_2.appv
IsPublishedToUser : False
UserPending : False
IsPublishedGlobally : False
GlobalPending : False
InUse : False
InUseByCurrentUser : False
PackageSize : 1234900
PercentLoaded : 100
IsLoading : False
HasAssetIntelligence : True
To remove the older version of the MyVirtualPackage package, run the following:
To remove a package using the PackageID, run this:
Remove-AppVClientPackage - x1x1x1x1-x1x1-x1x1-x1x1-x1x1x1x1x1x1
Just be sure to modify the Version and Package IDs used above so that they reflect the correct package you are trying to remove.
To remove all packages, including all Versions of all packages irrespective of their publishing status run the following:
Get-AppvClientPackage -All | Remove-AppVClientPackage
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