Retrieve All SCCM/MECM Applications That Have No Active Deployments || ConfigMgr

 

Finding Unused SCCM Applications with SQL: A Quick Reporting Query

In every SCCM (Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager) environment, unused or unreferenced applications gradually accumulate over time. These unused applications clutter the console, consume storage, and complicate administrative tasks such as audits, cleanup, and migration.

To help identify such applications, here is a SQL query that lists SCCM applications that exist in the environment but are not deployed, not referenced in task sequences, and have no dependent relationships. This report is very useful for cleanup and housekeeping activities.

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SQL Query: Identify Unused/Orphaned SCCM Applications

select apps.DisplayName as 'ApplicationName',apps.Description, 
 apps.Softwareversion as 'Version',apps.Manufacturer,apps.createdby, apps.Datelastmodifiedby,
 pkg.PackageID,
 CASE pkg.PackageType
 WHEN 0 THEN 'Package'
 WHEN 3 THEN 'Driver'
 WHEN 4 THEN 'TaskSequence'
 WHEN 5 THEN 'SoftwareUpdate'
 WHEN 6 THEN 'DeviceSettings'
 WHEN 7 THEN 'Virtual'
 WHEN 8 THEN 'Application'
 WHEN 257 THEN 'Image'
 WHEN 258 THEN 'BootImage'
 WHEN 259 THEN 'OSInstall'
 END AS 'PackageType',
 apps.NumberOfDeploymentTypes as 'NoofDT',
 apps.NumberOfDeployments,
 apps.NumberOfDependentTs
 from fn_ListLatestApplicationCIs(1033) apps
 left join v_TaskSequencePackageReferences tspr on tspr.ObjectID = apps.ModelName
 left join vSMS_ApplicationAssignment ass on ass.AssignedCI_UniqueID = apps.CI_UniqueID
 left join v_Package pkg on pkg.SecurityKey = apps.ModelName
 where
 PackageType = 8
 and apps.IsLatest=1
 and ass.AssignmentName IS NULL
 and tspr.PackageID IS NULL
 and apps.NumberOfDeployments = 0
 and apps.NumberOfDependentTs = 0
 and apps.IsLatest=1
 order by apps.DisplayName

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What This Query Does

This SQL query helps you quickly identify SCCM applications that are:

✔ Not deployed to any collection

apps.NumberOfDeployments = 0

✔ Not referenced in any task sequence

tspr.PackageID IS NULL

✔ Not depended on by other task sequences

apps.NumberOfDependentTs = 0

✔ Not assigned to any users or devices

ass.AssignmentName IS NULL

✔ Latest version of the application only

apps.IsLatest = 1

✔ Applications only (not packages, drivers, OS images, etc.)

PackageType = 8

This gives you a clean, filtered list of orphaned or unused applications that can be reviewed for retirement or cleanup.

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Columns Returned by the Report

The result includes helpful administrative fields:

• ApplicationName – Display name of the application

• Description – App description (if provided)

• Version – Software version

• Manufacturer – Vendor or publisher

• CreatedBy / DateLastModifiedBy – Who created or modified the app

• PackageID – Package ID associated with the application

• PackageType – Interpreted using the CASE statement

• NoofDT – Number of deployment types

• NumberOfDeployments – Total deployments

• NumberOfDependentTs – Task sequences that depend on it

These fields help administrators understand the lifecycle and usage of each application.

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Why This Report Is Useful

1. Cleanup and Housekeeping

This report helps identify applications that can safely be deleted or reviewed because they are not actively used.

2. Migration Projects

Before migrating to:

• A new SCCM site

• Intune

• A new infrastructure
  This report helps detect unused apps to avoid migrating unnecessary content.

3. Compliance and Inventory

Auditors or admins can verify which apps are actively managed vs. inactive.

4. Environment Optimization

Removing unused apps improves:

• Console performance

• Content library organization

• Storage utilization

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How to Run the Query

1. Open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

2. Connect to the SCCM site database (e.g., CM_ABC)

3. Open a new query window

4. Paste the SQL query

5. Execute and review the output

How to Pull SCCM Application Content Information Using SQL

 How to pull SCCM application content data using SQL, how to report on SCCM application content through SQL queries: -

Introduction: Why Application Content Reporting Matters

• In SCCM/MECM environments, applications often contain multiple deployment types and associated content files.

• Understanding application metadata, deployment technologies, and content size/location is essential for:

  • Application audits

  • Content management and cleanup

  • Migration assessment (SCCM → Intune)

  • Troubleshooting deployment issues

  • Optimizing disk usage on Distribution Points

• SCCM does not include a built-in report that clearly correlates all this information, so SQL queries become highly useful.

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2. Purpose of the SQL Query

Explain what the query is designed to do:

• Pull a list of all latest SCCM applications.

• Display their deployment types and priority.

• Show technology type (MSI, Script, PowerShell, AppX, etc.).

• Fetch content source (network path or source folder).

• Retrieve content size from the content library.

• Provide a single consolidated view of all applications and their content.

This query is popular for application inventory, planning, cleanup, and documentation.

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3. SQL Query (Formatted for the Blog)

Select Distinct VApp.Manufacturer, VApp.Displayname, Dts.Displayname As Deploymenttypename, Dts.Priorityinlatestapp, Dts.Technology, V_Contentinfo.Contentsource, V_Contentinfo.Sourcesize From Dbo.Fn_Listdeploymenttypecis(1033) As Dts 
Inner Join Dbo.Fn_Listlatestapplicationcis(1033) As Vapp On Dts.Appmodelname = App.Modelname 
Left Outer Join V_Contentinfo On Dt.Contentid = V_Contentinfo.Content_Uniqueid
Where (Dts.Islatest = 1)

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4. Explanation of Each SCCM SQL Function/Table

▶ fn_ListLatestApplicationCIs (1033)

• Lists all latest application versions.

• Key fields:

  • Application Name

  • Manufacturer

  • Model Name (used for joining to deployment types)

▶ fn_ListDeploymentTypeCIs (1033)

• Returns deployment type CI information.

• Displays:

  • Deployment Type Name

  • Technology (MSI, Script, etc.)

  • Priority

  • Content ID

▶ V_ContentInfo

• Correlates deployment types to their content.

• Shows:

  • Content Source Path

  • Content Size

  • Unique Content ID

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5. What the Report Shows

The query returns:

Field	Description
Manufacturer	Vendor name (Adobe, Microsoft, etc.)
DisplayName	Application name
DeploymentTypeName	Install script, MSI installer, AppX package, etc.
PriorityInLatestApp	DT run order
Technology	MSI, Script, PowerShell, IntuneWin, etc.
ContentSource	Original file location used to create the app
SourceSize	Total size of the application content

This gives admins a complete view of application structure + content details.

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6. Use Cases for SCCM Admins

✔ Content Library Cleanup

Identify:

• Large applications

• Duplicate content

• Missing source paths

✔ Application Audit

Get clarity on how applications are built.

✔ Migration Planning

Helpful when moving to:

• Intune

• New SCCM infrastructure

• Application modernization projects

✔ Deployment Troubleshooting

Useful when apps fail because of:

• Wrong content source

• Missing files

• Incorrect deployment type priority

✔ Compliance & Documentation

Generate documentation for audit teams.

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7. How to Run the Query in SCCM

Provide steps:

1. Open SCCM Console

2. Navigate to Monitoring → Database → SQL Server Views

3. Open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

4. Connect to your SCCM site database

5. Paste the SQL query

6. Run the query to generate your report

(Optional: include screenshots in your blog.)

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8. Enhancing the Report (Optional)

Admins can modify the query to include:

• App creation date

• Last updated date

• User experience details

• Detection method type

• Content hash info

• Distribution status

Mention that these additions depend on needs.

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9. Conclusion

Summarize:

• SCCM does not provide a single built-in report for application + content data.

• This SQL query provides a clear, detailed overview of:

  • Application metadata

  • Deployment types

  • Technologies

  • Content source

  • Content size

• Essential for auditing, troubleshooting, and managing application lifecycle.

SCCM/MECM Package cleanup PowerShell automation scripts

 

Title Options

1. Automating SCCM Package Cleanup with PowerShell: Step-by-Step Script Explained

2. How to Remove Packages from MECM Automatically Using PowerShell

3. PowerShell Script to Clean Up SCCM Packages and DP Groups: A Complete Guide

4. Streamline Your SCCM Environment with This Package Removal Script

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SEO Keywords

• SCCM package cleanup

• MECM PowerShell scripts

• Remove-CMContentDistribution

• SCCM automation

• MECM package removal

• Cleanup unused packages in SCCM

• PowerShell SCCM examples

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Meta Description

Learn how to automate SCCM/MECM package cleanup using a PowerShell script. This guide walks you through removing Distribution Point groups, clearing content, and deleting packages from the MECM database.

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Automating SCCM/MECM Package Cleanup Using PowerShell

Managing and maintaining a clean Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MECM/SCCM) environment is essential for performance, disk optimization, and operational efficiency. Over time, unused or outdated packages accumulate in the SCCM database and Distribution Points (DPs), leading to unnecessary clutter.

To help streamline this process, here’s a PowerShell script that automates the cleanup of SCCM packages—removing DP group associations, clearing content distribution, and deleting the package from the MECM database.

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Why Automate SCCM Package Cleanup?

Manual cleanup takes time and is prone to errors. Automation helps you:

• Remove outdated packages quickly

• Maintain a clean MECM database

• Eliminate orphaned content on DPs

• Reduce overhead on administrators

• Improve overall SCCM environment performance

If you're dealing with a long list of packages, this script can save hours of manual work.

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PowerShell Script for SCCM Package Cleanup

Below is the script used for the cleanup operation:

$PKGID=get-content "C:\Cleanup\Package-List.txt"

Write-Host "Package removal initiated, Please wait**" -BackgroundColor -DarkMagenta
Remove-CMContentDistribution -Packageld $Packageid DistributionPointGroupName "Distribution Point Group1" -Force

foreach ($Packageid in $PKGID)
{

    # Removing associated DP's group from the Packages
    Write-Host "Removing associated DP's group from the Packages:-" -BackgroundColor Gray

    Remove-CMContentDistribution -Packageld $Packageid -DistributionPointGroupName "Enter the Dp group Name" -Force 
    Remove-CMContentDistribution -PackageId $Packageid -DistributionPointName "Enter the DP Name" -Force

    Write-Host "$Packageid, Associated DP's group removed" -BackgroundColor Green

    Write-Host "Please wait... " -BackgroundColor Gray

    # Removing the Packages from SCCM DB
    Write-Host "Removing Package from MECM DB......" -BackgroundColor Gray

    Remove-CMPackage -Id $Packageid -Force

    Write-Host "Successfully removed PackageID $Packageid from MECM..."  -BackgroundColor Green
}

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How the Script Works

1. Importing the Package List

The script begins by reading a text file that contains a list of Package IDs to remove.

$PKGID=get-content "C:\Cleanup\Package-List.txt"

This allows bulk operations instead of manually entering each package.

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2. Initial Cleanup Message

A simple status message notifies the admin that the removal process has started.

Write-Host "Package removal initiated, Please wait**"

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3. Removing Content Distribution

Before a package can be removed, you must clear it from Distribution Point Groups or individual DPs.

Remove-CMContentDistribution -PackageId $Packageid -DistributionPointGroupName "Distribution Point Group1" -Force

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4. Looping Through Each Package

The script iterates through every Package ID in the input file:

foreach ($Packageid in $PKGID)

Inside this loop, it performs:

a. Removing DP Group associations

Remove-CMContentDistribution -PackageId $Packageid -DistributionPointGroupName "Enter the Dp group Name" -Force

b. Removing DP-specific content

Remove-CMContentDistribution -PackageId $Packageid -DistributionPointName "Enter the DP Name" -Force

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5. Removing Packages from MECM Database

Once DP cleanup is complete, the script deletes the package entirely from MECM:

Remove-CMPackage -Id $Packageid -Force

This ensures a clean database without orphaned references.

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Benefits of This Script

• Time-saving: Removes hundreds of packages in minutes

• Prevents human error: Avoids accidental deletion of wrong packages

• Keeps DPs clean: Ensures no leftover content remains

• Improves SCCM performance: Reduced clutter leads to faster operations

• Fully automated: Run it once, and it handles everything

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Important Notes Before Running

✔ Ensure you have appropriate SCCM permissions
✔ Test in a LAB environment
✔ Backup package info before bulk deletion
✔ Verify Distribution Point names and DP group names
✔ Ensure the path to the package list file is correct

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Conclusion

A clean and optimized SCCM/MECM environment ensures smoother deployments and fewer system issues. This PowerShell script greatly simplifies the package cleanup process by automating removal from Distribution Points and the MECM database.

If you manage large-scale SCCM infrastructures, automating repetitive cleanup tasks like this can significantly reduce administrative overhead and improve overall environment health.