Unexpected installation of Git and Node.js on Windows Server - Cannot be removed via Plesk Installer
By Guest on Saturday, 11 July 2026
Posted in Plesk
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Server operating system version Windows Server 2022
Plesk version and microupdate number 18.0.79
Hello,

We discovered that Git for Windows and Node.js hosting features (specifically the Node.js IIS module / iisnode) are installed on our server. We never explicitly chose to install these components, meaning they were automatically deployed during a Plesk update at some point without our active intent.

Our server environment does not require Git or Node.js hosting capabilities, so we attempted to uninstall them using the Plesk Installer (via Tools and Settings > Updates).

However, we found that we are completely blocked from doing so. In the Plesk Installer component selection menu, both components are locked out with a grayed-out "Cannot be removed" status message.

Why are these components treated as mandatory dependencies, and why is the option to uninstall them completely disabled in the Plesk UI?

Is there an official workaround or a specific CLI command to safely strip these unwanted modules from our Plesk installation without breaking core panel functionality?

Any insights or assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.
I don't have a windows vm set up to test or anything but usually it gets installed when something depends on it at some point (also git relies on node.js as well). If you want to uninstall it, then make sure node.js hosting completely disabled first (check all domains to make sure none of them is using node.js, uninstall any extensions that might use or manage node.js, and go to, I believe, tools & Settings > node.js and make sure node.js hosting is completely disabled there as well).

Once node.js is disabled and such, you should now be able to use the plesk installer to uninstall it.
Guest
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1 week ago
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Thank you for your suggestion.

We have already verified the following in our environment:
No domains or subscriptions are using Node.js at all. We confirmed that Node.js hosting is completely inactive across the entire server.
The only extension installed on this server are "Plesk Migrator" & "SSL It!". We checked the Extensions catalog and management pages, and there are absolutely no Git or Node.js related extensions installed.
If we check Windows "Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Programs and Features", we can clearly see "Git", "iisnode for iis 7.x (x64) full", and "Node.js" listed as installed programs.
Despite having zero active dependencies or sites utilizing these features, both "Git for Windows" and "Node.js IIS module (iisnode)" remain locked with the "Cannot be removed" status in the Plesk Installer UI.

Could the Plesk team clarify if there is a manual way (such as via plesk installer CLI) to force the removal of these specific components when they are not in use? Or is it safe to remove them via the Windows Control Panel directly?
Guest
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1 week ago
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@nethubonline , they need to be removed from Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features. However, please note a server reboot will be required.
Guest
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1 week ago
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