How to quickly remove Bloatware from Windows 11

When buying a new PC - whether a high-end gaming rig or a low-end laptop - you expect it to be "clean" from the start. However, Windows 11 usually comes with at least some unwanted pre-installed apps, known as bloatware. How should you remove bloatware from your PC?

Uninstall Bloatware using Windows 11 Settings

The easiest way to remove bloatware is through the Windows 11 Settings app. As long as you know where to go, uninstalling bloatware (or any app) on Windows 11 is quick and simple:

1. Press Win + I or click the Cog icon on the Start menu to open Settings.

2. In the sidebar, click Apps, then select Installed apps.

 3. In the Installed apps window, find the app you want to remove.

4. Once you've found the app you want to remove, click the three-dot menu and select Uninstall.

5. A small pop-up window will appear after you click Uninstall; Click Uninstall again to confirm your choice.

With this feature, you can quickly remove pre-installed apps manually because the Settings window does not close after uninstalling an app. Note that you cannot delete some apps like Photos and Microsoft Store using this method.

Remove pre-installed Windows 11 apps from the Start menu

Another way to remove unwanted applications is to remove them right from the Start menu. While tedious if you're planning to remove several programs, it's quick if you just need to uninstall one or two apps:

1. Open the Start menu and click All apps in the upper right corner.

2. Find the app you want to remove by scrolling the app list or entering the app name in the search bar.

3. Right click on the application and select Uninstall.

4. You will then see a pop-up box asking you to confirm uninstalling the app; Click Uninstall again and the app will be removed.

This is great if you notice an app you're not using while scrolling through the Start menu because you don't have to dive into the Settings app to uninstall it.

Remove Bloatware with Win11Debloat

Manually selecting and uninstalling bloatware is easy for those familiar with such applications. However, if you're not sure which apps to remove or want to automatically remove bloatware, the Win11Debloat app will help you:

1. Download the Win11Debloat script from GitHub.

2. Go to the folder where you downloaded it and extract the ZIP file.

3. After extracting, open the Win11Debloat folder and double-click the Run.bat file.

4. Windows Defender may warn you about running an unrecognized application. If so, click More Info, then select Run anyway.

5. User Account Control will then ask if you want the app to make changes to your device; Select Yes to run it.

6. Win11Debloat – Setup will then open in a new Windows PowerShell window. Enter 1 or 2 to select the bloatware removal method, then press Enter.

7. Once you've made your selection, remember to follow the on-screen instructions to run the uninstallation process successfully.

Win11Debloat is a third-party script that automates the cleaning process of your PC, making it useful if you want to remove certain applications or if you're setting up multiple PCs.

Try a clean install of Windows 11!

If your computer has a particularly severe case of bloatware and you think Win11Debloat isn't working, a clean install of Windows 11 will remove most unwanted apps. This is especially true if your computer has a lot of third-party applications that your PC manufacturer added from the manufacturer.

Windows 11 Clean Settings is a great choice if you haven't installed any apps or barely use your PC. But if you have already started configuring the system to your liking, this will be inconvenient because you will have to reinstall all your desired applications.

If you're ready to clean install Windows 11, here's how to do it:

1. Open the Windows Settings application.

2. In the sidebar, click System, then select Recovery.

 3. Click Reset PC.

4. In the Reset this PC window, select Remove everything.

5. To ensure you get the latest version of Windows, select Cloud download in the next window. If you don't have a reliable Internet connection, select Local reinstall instead.

6. In the Additional settings window, click Change settings to customize your settings.

7. If you install any unwanted applications on other drives, make sure the slider under Delete files from all drives? is set to Yes, all drives. Be careful, however, as this will erase all drives connected to your PC. Don't accidentally delete external hard drives where you store photos and the like!

8. Once you have confirmed this setting, press Next.

9. When your computer is ready to reset, click Reset.

When you click the reset button, your computer will perform a clean install of Windows 11. This will remove most third-party bloatware, although you'll still need to remove unwanted Windows apps accordingly. manual way. Additionally, you can cleanly install Windows 11 from the ISO file to ensure a truly fresh installation.

While bloatware isn't usually dangerous, these apps are annoying because they can slow down your PC, especially if they all launch when you turn on your computer. So, by removing these applications, you will reduce your PC's workload, allowing it to run better.

David Pac

Update 18 February 2024