How to Completely Disable ‘Quick Assist’ (Remote Support) in Windows 11

Windows 11 includes a built-in remote desktop utility called “Quick Assist.” Unlike the traditional Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) which is usually restricted to Windows Pro or Enterprise editions, Quick Assist is available on every version of Windows, including Home. It allows two people to share a screen over the internet, giving one person complete remote control over the other’s computer using a simple six-digit code.

While Microsoft designed this to help IT administrators assist remote workers, it has become one of the primary vectors for technical support scams. Malicious actors frequently use social engineering to convince non-technical users to open Quick Assist and hand over control of their machine, resulting in stolen banking credentials and installed ransomware. If you manage computers for vulnerable family members or maintain a strict corporate security posture that utilizes a different, managed remote support tool (like TeamViewer or AnyDesk), you must completely disable and remove the native Quick Assist application to close this attack vector.

Uninstalling Quick Assist via Windows Settings

In newer builds of Windows 11, Microsoft finally decoupled Quick Assist from the core operating system, turning it into a standard Store application. This means you can easily uninstall it from the graphical interface.

1. Click the Start button and select the Settings gear icon (or press Windows Key + i).
2. In the left-hand navigation sidebar, click on Apps.
3. In the main panel, click on Installed apps.
4. Use the search bar at the top of the app list and type Quick Assist.
5. The Quick Assist app will appear in the list. Click the three horizontal dots (⋯) on the right side of the entry.
6. Select Uninstall from the dropdown menu, and confirm by clicking Uninstall again on the popup prompt.

Blocking Reinstallation via Group Policy (Pro/Enterprise Only)

If you want to guarantee that a user cannot simply re-download the app from the Microsoft Store, you must block its execution at the OS level.

1. Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run dialogue box.
2. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
3. Navigate to this exact path:
   Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Software Restriction Policies
4. If no policies are defined, right-click the folder and select New Software Restriction Policies.
5. Expand the folder, right-click on Additional Rules, and select New Path Rule….
6. In the Path field, type exactly: *quickassist.exe*
7. Set the Security Level to Disallowed.
8. Click Apply and OK.

Your Windows 11 machine is now permanently immune to Quick Assist remote takeover scams, forcing all remote support sessions to route through your explicitly approved, third-party software.