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Tired of Windows 11 being filled with junk? Here's how to remove it
Bloatware has become an inevitability with most of our devices. Even the best laptops and phones come with at least a dozen apps we don't want or need these days, and Windows 11 isn't safe from it. Some might argue that it's worse than ever, considering that out of the box, your Start menu will be littered with app icons you'll probably never use, on top of features like Copilot that just aren't for everyone yet. Both Microsoft and hardware manufacturers install a bunch of things you might not want or need.
Thankfully, if you don't want any of this junk, you can get rid of it. There are a few methods to do it, so let's go over them.
Got a new laptop recently? Here are the first things you should do on your Windows PC to make it work better for your needs.
How to remove Windows 11 junk with xd-AntiSpy
One way to remove bloat from your Windows 11 installation is to use xd-AntiSpy, a tool from the developer of Bloatynosy, which was also briefly called Winpilot. Those projects were discontinued of a more straightforward tool with xd-AntiSpy, and that's only a good thing. Here's how it works:
- Download xd-AntiSpy from its GitHub page (the ZIP file). You can choose the regular version ot the "modern" version that fits in better with the Windows 11 design language.
- Extract the contents of the ZIP file into a folder of your choice, then run the xd-AntiSpy file in the folder you extracted.
- The main page allows you to disable various Windows features that may compromise your privacy or simply be annoying. You can disable ads, Copilot, and more. Select the settings you want to apply and then click Apply settings at the bottom.
Screenshot of xd-AntiSpy running on Windows 11
- To uninstall apps, click the Tools option (in the classic UI) or the puzzle piece icon (modern UI) and select Debloater.
Screenshot of the Tools menu in xd-AntiSpy with the Debloater option highlighted
- The app will check against a database of known bloatware apps, and you can select all the ones you want to remove.
- Click Remove selected apps when you've selected everything you want.
xd-AntiSpy (3)
There are a few more tools in xd-AntiSpy, but this should already allow you to get a much cleaner experience on Windows 11.
How to remove Windows 11 bloat using PowerShell (Windows Terminal)
If you like to get things done using PowerShell or Windows Terminal, there's another great option in the form of Win11Debloat, a PowerShell script that removes and disables all kinds of intrusive features and unnecessary apps included in Windows 11. Win11Debloat is a bit more thorough in terms of what it removes by default, too, so it's a great option if you want to be more extreme. Here's how it works:
- Download Win11Debloat from GitHub (use the Code > Download ZIP option at the top).
- Extract the contents of the file to a new folder.
- Launch the Run.bat file inside to launch the PowerShell script.
Screenshot of File Explorer showing the Win11Debloat batch file© Provided by XDA Developers
- Click Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
- Once PowerShell opens, you can Enter 1 to choose the default mode, or 2 to choose custom settings. We'll go with 1 here since the default method is already very comprehensive.
Option 2 allows you to select which apps you want to remove, so you're not stuck to the default list. There's also an option 3 that only removes preinstalled apps, making no changes to your privacy settings.Screenshot of Win11Debloat PowerShell script giving the user the option to run it in default or custom mode© Provided by XDA Developers
- Check the list of changes that will be made and press any key to start.
- Wait for the process to finish.
Screenshot of Win11Debloat removing multiple apps from Windows 11© Provided by XDA Developers
Your PC will now be free of all kinds of bloatware and unnecessary and invasive features. Using custom settings allows you to go further and remove the Mail and Calendar apps, Xbox apps, and more, but the default settings are already pretty extensive and avoid breaking certain core features you might not expect to lose.
How to install Windows 11 without bloatware
Here's a secret: It's possible to install Windows 11 without having all the bloatware you'd usually expect, and the way to do it is surprisingly simple. Of course, this is only a valid solution if you want to reinstall Windows 11, so it's not ideal if you want to keep using your PC as is. Still, it's a neat little trick to save you some time later on.
All you really need to do is follow the usual Windows 11 installation method with a single change: After booting from your USB drive to install Windows 11, instead of English (United States), set your region to English (World).
After that, follow the rest of the installation process as normal, and when you get to the desktop, you'll see that your Start menu looks much cleaner than normal. Note that this method won't remove everything bloating up Windows 11, but arguably, no method will.
: Windows 11 Major "Moment 4" Update - Best New Features (Viral Tech)
Another option if you want a clean Windows 11 experience out of the box is to install the Tiny11 fan project instead, which can be found on the Internet Archive. This is a project that removes a lot of unnecessary apps and features from Windows installations to make for a cleaner and faster experience, and the installation process is pretty much the same as standard Windows 11, too.
Keep your Windows 11 PC clean
Eliminating bloatware should be the first thing you do after purchasing a new computer. But that is just the first step. It's also on you to make sure your computer doesn't get bloated over time. Install only the programs and apps you need, and if you only need something momentarily, it's a good idea to uninstall it when you're done. We'd recommend checking your app list every now and then to make sure there's nothing taking up space that could be used for something else.
Is your computer getting a little too cluttered? Here's how you can uninstall apps you don't need on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC.
