Microsoft has made it a lot easier to get rid of bloatware in Windows 11. Here's how.
Unneeded built-in apps can be a nightmare for PC performance, especially if running a low-end PC. Previously, Windows 10 users were particularly frustrated with so many pre-installed Microsoft apps, but luckily things have taken a turn for the better on Windows 11.
Microsoft has finally taken a step in the right direction by drastically reducing bloatware applications on Windows 11. The few pre-installed apps that do remain are very easy to remove. Read on as we explain how you can safely remove bloatware applications from your Windows 11 PC.
Uninstall Bloatware Using the Windows 11 Settings App
The most common method to remove unwanted Microsoft apps is through the redesigned Settings app. The all-new Settings app in Windows 11 makes it very easy to uninstall bloatware and other third-party applications. Here’s how to remove bloatware using the Settings app on Windows 11:
- Launch the Start menu and search for Settings.
- Click on the Best match to open the Settings app.
- Select Apps from the sidebar and then click on the Apps & features tab.
- Find the app you want to remove from the App list, click on the three dots menu, and click on Uninstall.
- You will then see a dialog box pop up; click on Uninstall once again to confirm your choice and remove the application permanently.
You cannot uninstall some pre-installed apps such as the Microsoft Store and Cortana through the Settings app.
Remove Pre-Installed Windows Apps Using the Start Menu
Another quick method to remove bloatware from your Windows 11 PC is to uninstall apps from the Start menu. Here’s how you can quickly remove pre-installed apps straight from the Start menu:
- Launch the Start menu and click on All apps.
- Find the app you want to remove by scrolling the app list or typing its name in the search bar.
- Right-click on the app and click on Uninstall.
- You will then see a pop-up box asking you to confirm app uninstallation; click on Uninstall once again, and the app will be uninstalled.
Remove Bloatware Using PowerShell
The above methods may not work for all pre-installed applications. Some apps require a more hardcore approach to be uninstalled, so we’re going to make use of Windows PowerShell. You cannot remove services and apps such as OneDrive and Cortana via the methods discussed above, but with the help of a Windows 11 debloating script, you can remove them too.
The script developed by Sycnex was initially intended to remove bloatware from Windows 10, but it also works successfully on Windows 11. In our test run, we were able to use Windows10Debloater to get rid of unnecessary packages. Still, it is not a Microsoft-recommended method for uninstalling applications and services, so proceed carefully and at your own risk.
To remove bloatware using the Sycnex script, we will use Windows PowerShell:
- Search for Windows PowerShell in the Start menu, right-click on the Best match and click on Run as administrator.
- In the PowerShell console window, type the below command and press Enter. It will download the necessary files from the repository and also create a System Restore Point.
iwr -useb https://git.io/debloat|iex - Once the program launches, you will see different debloat options. If you do not use Cortana and wish to remove it from your PC, click on Disable under the Cortana.
- Similarly, you can also remove Microsoft OneDrive. To do so, click on Uninstall OneDrive, and the debloated script will remove OneDrive from your PC.
- If you wish to stop tracking services running in the background, click on Disable Telemetry/Tasks.
To uninstall other applications, click on Customize Blocklist, and then only select the apps you want to be removed. Once you’ve made sure no necessary app is selected, click on Save custom Allowlist and Blocklist to custom-lists.ps1, then click on Remove Bloatware with Custom Blocklist. The debloater script will uninstall the selected apps from your PC.
We recommend restarting your PC once you’ve removed everything so that the changes can take effect.
Debloat Windows 11 for the Better
Windows 11 comes with considerably less bloatware compared to Windows 10, but there is bloatware nonetheless. Removing bloatware can free up precious storage and reduce background memory usage considerably.
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