When you buy a new PC, whether it is a high-end gaming machine or an entry-level laptop, you expect it to be clean from the start. But Windows 11 often comes with at least a few unwanted preinstalled apps, commonly known as bloatware. So what is the best way to remove bloatware from your PC?
Uninstall Bloatware Through 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, in Windows 11 is quick and straightforward:
1. Press Win + I or click the Cog icon in 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 have found the app you want to remove, click the three-dot menu and choose 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 preinstalled apps manually because the Settings window does not close after you uninstall an app. Note that you cannot remove some apps, such as Photos and the Microsoft Store, using this method.
Remove Preinstalled Windows 11 Apps From the Start Menu
Another way to remove unwanted apps is to uninstall them directly from the Start menu. It can be tedious if you plan to remove several programs, but it is fast if you only 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 through the app list or typing its name into the search bar.
3. Right-click the app and select Uninstall.
4. You will then see a pop-up box asking you to confirm the app uninstall; click Uninstall again, and the app will be removed.
This is useful if you spot an app you do not use while scrolling through the Start menu, since you do not need to dig into the Settings app to uninstall it.
Remove Bloatware With Win11Debloat
Manually selecting and uninstalling bloatware is easy for people who are familiar with these apps. However, if you are not sure which apps to remove or want to automate the process, the Win11Debloat app can help:
1. Download the Win11Debloat from GitHub script.
2. Go to the folder where you downloaded it and extract the ZIP file.
3. After extracting it, open the Win11Debloat folder and double-click the Run.bat. file.
4. Windows Defender may warn you about running an unrecognized app. If it does, click More Info, then select Run anyway.
5. User Account Control will then ask whether 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. Type 1 or 2to choose the bloatware removal method, then press Enter.
7. Once you have made your selection, be sure to follow the on-screen instructions to run the uninstall process successfully.
Win11Debloat is a third-party script that automates the process of cleaning up your PC, making it useful if you want to remove several apps or are setting up multiple PCs.
Try a Clean Install of Windows 11!
If your computer has a particularly bad case of bloatware and you do not think Win11Debloat is working, a clean install of Windows 11 will remove most unwanted apps. This is especially true if your computer has a large number of third-party apps that your PC manufacturer added from the factory.
A clean Windows 11 Settings install is a great option if you have not installed any apps yet or have barely used your PC. But if you have already started configuring the system to your liking, it will be inconvenient because you will need to reinstall all the apps you want.
If you are ready to clean install Windows 11, here is how to do it:
1. Open the Windows Settings app.
2. In the sidebar, click System, then select Recovery.
3. Click Reset PC.
4. In the Reset this PC window, choose Remove everything.
5. To make sure you get the latest version of Windows, choose Cloud download in the next window. If you do not have a reliable internet connection, choose Local reinstall instead.
6. In the Additional settings window, click Change settings to customize your settings.
7. If you installed any unwanted apps on other drives, make sure the slider under Delete files from all drives? is set to Yes, all drives. Be careful, however, because this will erase all drives connected to your PC. Do not accidentally wipe external hard drives where you store photos and similar files!'
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 will still need to remove unwanted Windows apps manually. Alternatively, you can clean install Windows 11 from an ISO file to make sure the installation is truly fresh.
While bloatware is usually not dangerous, these apps are annoying because they can slow down your PC, especially if they all launch when you turn on the computer. By removing them, you reduce your PC's workload and allow it to run better.
