To prevent Dev Home from being automatically installed on Windows 11, open Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\Orchestrator\UScheduler_Oobe, right-click the DevHomeUpdate key, and delete it. Removing this key removes the installation instruction that Windows Update uses to force-install Dev Home on your PC.
Applies to: Windows 11 (22H2, 23H2, 24H2, 25H2) | Last updated: May 27, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Dev Home is force-installed via a registry key under
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\Orchestrator\UScheduler_Oobe— deleting theDevHomeUpdatekey stops the installation permanently - The fix is permanent until a major Windows update — Microsoft occasionally re-adds these keys during feature updates, so you may need to delete it again after upgrading Windows
- If Dev Home is already installed, uninstall it from Settings > Apps first, then delete the registry key to prevent reinstallation
- Winhance handles this automatically — my free Winhance utility blocks unwanted app installations without any manual registry editing
Quick Steps
- Press Windows + R, type
regedit, and press Enter - Navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\Orchestrator\UScheduler_Oobe - Right-click the
DevHomeUpdatekey and select Delete - Click Yes to confirm, then close Registry Editor
- Restart your PC
Why Does Windows 11 Install Dev Home Without Permission?
Dev Home is a developer-focused dashboard app that Microsoft started pushing through Windows Update as a force-installed package. It shows up on your PC after an update even if you never asked for it. The app is designed for developers who want to set up coding environments and monitor system performance — for most everyday users, it’s just unnecessary bloatware.
The mechanism behind this is a registry key under the UScheduler_Oobe path. This key acts as a scheduled installation instruction — Windows Update reads it and installs the corresponding app automatically. Deleting the key removes the instruction, so the installation never triggers. I’ve used this same method to prevent the New Outlook app from being force-installed on Windows 11 as well. Microsoft uses this pattern for several apps it pushes through updates, and the registry fix is the same approach each time.
How to Prevent Dev Home Installation on Windows 11 (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Open Registry Editor
Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog. Type regedit and press Enter. If User Account Control prompts you, click Yes to allow Registry Editor to open.
Step 2: Navigate to the UScheduler_Oobe Path
In Registry Editor, navigate to the following path. You can paste it directly into the address bar at the top and press Enter — that’s much faster than clicking through each folder manually.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\Orchestrator\UScheduler_OobeStep 3: Delete the DevHomeUpdate Key
Once you’re at the UScheduler_Oobe path, look for a key called DevHomeUpdate in the left panel. Right-click it and select Delete. A confirmation dialog will appear — click Yes to confirm the deletion.
Prefer the command line? You can run this command in an elevated Command Prompt or PowerShell instead of using Registry Editor manually:
reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\Orchestrator\UScheduler_Oobe\DevHomeUpdate" /fStep 4: Close Registry Editor and Restart
Close Registry Editor and restart your PC. After the restart, Windows Update will no longer have the instruction to install Dev Home, and the app will not appear on your system.
What If Dev Home Is Already Installed?
If Dev Home has already been installed on your PC, you’ll need to uninstall it first before the registry fix will prevent it from coming back. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, search for “Dev Home,” click the three-dot menu next to it, and select Uninstall. Once it’s removed, follow the registry steps above to delete the DevHomeUpdate key and stop it from being reinstalled.
Want an Easier Way to Stop Unwanted Windows Apps?
If you’re tired of hunting down registry keys every time Microsoft pushes a new app you don’t want, I built Winhance to handle exactly this kind of thing. It’s a free Windows enhancement utility that lets you remove bloatware, block unwanted app installations, and manage privacy settings through a clean interface — no manual registry editing needed. You can also use it alongside the official Windows method to remove bloatware for a more complete cleanup.
There’s also a broader pattern worth knowing about: Microsoft uses the UScheduler_Oobe registry mechanism for several apps beyond Dev Home. I’ve covered how to block the New Outlook force-installation using the same approach, and there are similar fixes for disabling Cortana and disabling the News and Interests widget via the registry as well.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
The DevHomeUpdate key doesn’t exist. If you don’t see the key at the UScheduler_Oobe path, Dev Home may have already been installed, or a previous Windows update already ran and removed the key on its own. Check whether Dev Home appears in Settings > Apps. If it’s there, uninstall it — you don’t need to delete a key that no longer exists.
Dev Home gets reinstalled after a Windows update. Microsoft occasionally re-adds these registry keys during major feature updates (like moving from 23H2 to 24H2). If Dev Home reappears after an update, just repeat the steps above to delete the key again. Using Winhance makes it easier to reapply these kinds of settings consistently after updates.
Can’t find the UScheduler_Oobe folder. Make sure you’re navigating under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, not HKEY_CURRENT_USER. The paths look similar but are entirely different branches. Paste the full path directly into the Registry Editor address bar to avoid any navigation mistakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dev Home on Windows 11?
Dev Home is a developer dashboard app made by Microsoft. It’s designed to help developers set up coding environments, manage GitHub repositories, and monitor system performance during development. For most regular users who aren’t writing code or managing dev environments, it’s unnecessary software that Microsoft shouldn’t be installing without asking.
Is it safe to delete the DevHomeUpdate registry key?
Yes, this is safe. The DevHomeUpdate key is not a system file — it’s purely an installation instruction that Windows Update reads to trigger the Dev Home install. Deleting it does not affect Windows functionality, system stability, or any other software. You’re only removing Microsoft’s permission slip to install an app you don’t want.
Will this stop all unwanted apps from being installed?
This fix is specific to Dev Home. Microsoft uses similar registry keys to push other apps like New Outlook, and each one needs to be handled individually. If you want a broader solution that covers multiple unwanted apps at once, Winhance handles bloatware removal and blocks a wider range of these forced installations through a single interface.
Does this work on Windows 10?
Dev Home is a Windows 11 app, so this specific registry key only exists on Windows 11. Windows 10 users don’t have Dev Home pushed through Windows Update, so there’s nothing to block on that version.
Can I undo this if I change my mind?
If you deleted the key and later want Dev Home installed, you can get it from the Microsoft Store directly by searching for “Dev Home.” You can also install it via winget in PowerShell with winget install Microsoft.DevHome. Deleting the registry key doesn’t permanently block the app — it just stops the automatic force-installation via Windows Update.
