How to uninstall pre-installed apps and bloatware in Windows 11

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If you've just started using a Windows 11 PC and found your desktop cluttered with icons you don't even know the purpose of, you're not alone. Many of these apps come pre-installed and are considered bloatware —software that offers no benefit to most users but does take up space, consume resources, and sometimes runs in the background without you even noticing.

Furthermore, in more professional environments like an Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) , this problem is amplified: even if you manually delete some applications, each new user who logs in sees the same catalog of integrated apps. That's why more and more people are looking for ways to truly uninstall pre-installed applications in Windows 11, both on home computers and in corporate infrastructures.

What is bloatware in Windows 11 and why is it a problem?

When we talk about bloatware in Windows 11, we're referring to all the software that comes pre-installed , whether by Microsoft or the computer manufacturer. This category includes everything from a weather app you never use to a trial antivirus, a collection of promotional games, or utilities that duplicate features already offered by the system.

On new computers, it's common for the home screen to be filled with shortcuts to commercial programs : security suites, multimedia tools, alternative stores, free-to-play games, and so on. These aren't malware, but rather software designed to be there from the first boot, usually the result of commercial agreements between PC manufacturers and software developers.

The problem is that all that extra load ends up affecting performance . Many pre-installed applications reserve RAM, perform periodic checks, display notifications, or load components at startup. If your hardware is modest, the difference between a clean system and one full of bloatware is noticeable when opening resource-intensive programs or working with multiple applications simultaneously.

In the specific case of Windows 11, we must also consider proprietary services such as widgets, Xbox integrations, and features like Copilot, which not everyone wants to use. These are deeply integrated into the system and cannot always be uninstalled through the classic Settings app, so they end up taking up space and resources even if you never open them.

Besides performance, there's another important aspect: privacy and the use of your data . Certain pre-installed software can collect information about your usage habits to show you personalized recommendations, ads, or suggestions. We're not talking about viruses, but rather applications whose real purpose is to collect data or promote paid services, something many users want to avoid.

Limitations of classic uninstallation in Windows 11

If you try to clean your system using only the default Windows options, you'll quickly see their limitations. The Settings menu allows you to uninstall many applications , but some of the built-in ones appear grayed out or simply don't offer the option to remove them.

Microsoft considers certain apps to be "core" system components , so it doesn't allow them to be easily removed. This affects several native tools geared towards content consumption, cloud integration, and proprietary services such as the Xbox experience or certain Microsoft Edge features.

Furthermore, in scenarios like an Azure Virtual Desktop or a corporate image , even if you delete applications from a profile, when you create a new user, most of the pre-installed apps reappear as if you hadn't done anything. This is because they are part of the base image used for all desktops, and Windows re-provisions them for each new account.

Therefore, many administrators wonder if there's a way to selectively remove these built-in apps so they aren't reinstalled every time a new user logs in. The answer lies in going beyond the Settings panel and using specialized tools, either in the form of a script or through third-party applications.

Windows' own advanced tools, such as PowerShell or Windows Terminal, allow you to manipulate application packages (Appx and AppxProvisionedPackages), but for the average user, working directly with commands can be cumbersome or dangerous if they don't know exactly what they're doing.

Uninstall preinstalled apps with a debloat script

A common way to clean Windows 11 of bloatware is to use a community-developed debloat script . This is a set of instructions that automates the uninstallation of pre-installed apps and the disabling of certain services, so you don't have to do it one by one or struggle with lists of commands.

Specifically, one of the most well-known methods involves opening the Windows Terminal application in Windows 11 (or Command Prompt/PowerShell in Windows 10) and running a command that automatically downloads and launches a cleanup tool. The typical command used is:

iwr -useb https://git.io/debloat | iex

This command uses PowerShell to download the script from a short URL and run it instantly. You don't have to manually download files or navigate through complicated folders: simply paste it into the Terminal and press Enter. From there, the application downloads and a graphical interface opens with all the available options.

Once the process finishes preparing the environment, a window opens with different tabs and settings. From there, you can apply granular changes to your system : disable Cortana, change Microsoft Edge behavior (such as the PDF reader), modify dark mode, adjust certain background services, and, of course, remove OneDrive or other integrated components you don't want on your computer.

The star feature is usually a large, eye-catching button like "Remove all bloatware" or something similar , which instantly deletes most of the pre-installed apps that the script deems unnecessary. Next to this button, there are usually options to generate custom lists of apps to remove, so you're not forced to follow a generic profile if you want more control.

It's important to note that these tools are open source and require administrator privileges . The fact that the code is public allows anyone to review it, increasing transparency and security compared to opaque solutions. Even so, because you're granting high-level access to the system, there's always some risk if used irresponsibly or without understanding what's being uninstalled.

Therefore, before you start pressing buttons, it's advisable to create a system restore point or a backup of your important data. This way, if after cleaning the bloatware you notice strange behavior or accidentally delete something you needed, you can revert the changes without much trouble.

Winhance: a graphical tool for removing bloatware in Windows 11

If scripts intimidate you a bit, or you simply prefer something more visual, Winhance is a very interesting alternative . It's a free, open-source tool created by a group of tech enthusiasts to simplify the uninstallation of pre-installed applications in Windows 11 and apply certain optimization settings.

Windows 11 is increasingly making it difficult to completely remove some of its native apps, especially those related to new experiences like Copilot or certain widgets. While not dangerous, they consume resources and space, and there's no easy way to remove them from Settings . Winhance was created precisely to fill this gap and offer a practical way to uninstall many of these applications in bulk.

Winhance is currently available from trusted repositories like GitHub , but its developers have also created a dedicated website with the main download button. The process is simple: go to the site, click "Download," and you'll get an executable file (.exe) that you'll need to run with administrator privileges.

After running the installer and following the on-screen instructions, Winhance performs an initial system scan . This phase may take a while, as the tool checks which programs you have installed and verifies if System Restore is enabled, which is crucial if you need to revert to a previous state later.

Once you open the application, you'll see a list of all the pre-installed applications it detects on your PC . You can select the ones you no longer want to keep and then click the "Remove selected items" option. From that moment on, Winhance will handle the uninstallation with the appropriate parameters, even for apps that Windows protects from standard uninstallation.

The program itself uses a system of indicators to show the status of each application. For example, when an app has been removed, its name appears with a red dot confirming the uninstallation . In other cases, a red cross may appear, indicating that the application cannot be easily reinstalled from within Winhance, and a blue recycling icon means that you can reinstall it if you change your mind.

In addition to the native apps, Winhance includes a tab called “External Software .” This is where all the third-party applications installed on your computer are grouped, from office suites to games and specialized tools. The process is the same: you check the boxes for the applications you want to remove and click “Uninstall Selected Items” to let the program do the work.

In the left panel, you'll also find a section called "Optimize ." This section brings together various settings related to security, ad handling, promotional content, and other options that affect the overall system experience. It's not just for removing bloatware, but also for reducing certain features that many consider annoying or superfluous.

Due to Winhance's power, its creators and the community recommend using it with caution. Removing the wrong application or altering a critical setting can destabilize parts of the system, cause boot errors, or lead to unexpected behavior. While this is uncommon if you proceed carefully, it's important to remember that it is still an advanced tool.

Therefore, especially if you don't consider yourself a very experienced user, it's wise to back up your important data and, if possible, create a system image or restore point before you start checking boxes without reviewing them. This way, even if something goes wrong, you can always revert to a previous state without losing your personal information.

Corporate environments and virtual desktops (VDs)

In enterprise environments, bloatware ceases to be merely an aesthetic annoyance and becomes a management problem. When you prepare a Windows 11 image for an Azure Virtual Desktop , any built-in applications that remain in the base image will consistently appear for all users who log in to that environment.

This means that even if a user manually uninstalls apps like 3D Builder, Mail, Weather, or Xbox , when a new profile is created or another employee logs into the same desktop pool, the system will re-provision those applications as if nothing had happened. From an administrator's perspective, this is a waste of time and a constant source of complaints.

The key in these cases is to work on the reference image before deploying it . There are methods to remove provisioned Windows packages so that integrated applications are not automatically installed when a new profile is created. This can be done with PowerShell, using commands targeting AppxProvisionedPackages, or by using more user-friendly debloat tools that allow you to generate a standard configuration for all workstations.

However, because this is a shared environment critical to productivity, it's essential to thoroughly test changes in a test environment before rolling them out to the entire organization. Removing the wrong app could affect Microsoft Store dependencies, security components, or features that other business applications take for granted.

Regarding the possibility of completely and selectively removing integrated applications so they don't reinstall , it is indeed possible, but a distinction must be made between truly dispensable apps and elements that the system considers essential. The responsibility lies with the administrator, who should thoroughly research and follow the official recommendations from Microsoft and the technical community.

Which apps should you uninstall… and which ones should you leave alone?

One of the most common questions among Windows 11 users is which applications can be uninstalled without breaking anything . Generally, anything purely promotional, trial, or that duplicates functions you already use with other tools is a good candidate for removal.

For example, many entertainment apps, pre-installed games, or manufacturer utilities that you never use can be removed without serious consequences , beyond freeing up space and reducing annoying notifications. This group also includes certain native applications that aren't part of the critical system core, such as some content apps that don't affect authentication, the store, or security.

However, in practice, there are some tricky cases. It's often been mentioned that aggressively uninstalling the Xbox app can cause problems with the Microsoft Store in certain configurations, especially if you also remove everything related to connected services that share components with the store. Therefore, even if you're sure you won't be playing games, it's not advisable to blindly delete everything with the word "Xbox" in it without first checking for potential dependencies.

Ideally, you should follow up-to-date lists and the experiences of other users , whether in documentation for tools like Winhance, technical forums, script repositories, or communities specializing in Windows 11. These sources usually indicate which packages are safe to remove and which ones are best left alone or, at the very least, tested first on a secondary computer.

Furthermore, it's always advisable to consider whether you'll actually gain anything by deleting a specific app. If the app only takes up a few megabytes and doesn't run in the background , the benefit of deleting it will likely be minimal. On the other hand, focusing on those that do consume CPU, memory, or display ads will be much more effective in making a real difference in your daily experience.

Ultimately, the approach must be practical: remove what is clearly unnecessary and be conservative with what is part of the internal workings . And when in doubt, back up your system and perform preliminary tests before cleaning up the main machine or an entire virtual desktop infrastructure.

With all these tools and precautions in mind, it's possible to make Windows 11 significantly lighter and better suited to your needs, whether you use your PC for gaming and work or manage a corporate environment. Reducing bloatware improves performance, declutters your desktop, and limits software that collects data or displays ads , provided it's done sensibly and using reliable solutions like well-known debloat scripts or graphical utilities such as Winhance.