Debloating Windows 11 means removing the preinstalled apps, trial software, and background processes you don’t use so your PC starts faster and feels less cluttered. You don’t need a risky third-party tool to do most of this: Windows 11 includes its own built-in options for uninstalling apps, trimming startup programs, and turning off optional features.
This guide walks through the built-in methods first, since they’re the safest way to clean up your system, then covers what to know if you’re thinking about using a debloat script or doing a clean install. Exact menu wording and options can vary slightly between Windows 11 versions and editions, so use this as a general route rather than an exact screen-by-screen match.
Quick steps
- Open Settings and look under Apps for a list of installed applications.
- Find the app you want to remove and use its menu or options to choose Uninstall.
- Confirm the prompt and repeat for any other apps you don’t need.
- Restart your PC once you’ve removed everything you want gone.
Before you start
A few things to check before you start removing apps or changing settings:
- You’ll need an account with administrator rights on the PC to uninstall most apps and change system-wide settings.
- Some preinstalled apps are tied to core Windows features and either can’t be removed through Settings or may come back after a major feature update.
- Back up anything important first. Uninstalling an app usually removes its local data too.
- If your PC is managed by an organization (work or school account), some apps and settings may be locked down by your IT admin and won’t be removable from your end.
- Microsoft doesn’t publish or endorse specific third-party “debloat scripts.” If you choose to use one, understand that it’s running outside official support and could affect future updates.
Remove preinstalled apps from Settings
This is the main, Microsoft-supported way to uninstall apps on Windows 11, including most preinstalled ones.
- Open Settings (you can search for it from the Start menu).
- Go to the Apps section, where Windows lists the applications installed on your PC.
- Use the search box or sort options to find the app you want to remove.
- Use the menu next to the app’s entry to select Uninstall.
- Confirm the action if prompted. Some apps close and remove immediately; others may walk you through a short uninstall wizard.
- Repeat for each app you want to remove, then restart your PC so changes fully apply.
Remove apps from the Start menu
If you’d rather not go through Settings, many apps can also be uninstalled directly from the Start menu.
- Select Start and find the app, either by scrolling the app list or searching for its name.
- Right-click (or press and hold on a touchscreen) the app’s icon.
- Choose the uninstall option from the menu that appears.
- Confirm the prompt to remove the app.
This shortcut works for many preinstalled Microsoft apps and third-party apps alike, but it won’t appear for apps that are protected system components.
Remove stubborn apps with advanced tools
A handful of built-in apps don’t offer a simple uninstall option in Settings or the Start menu. For these, advanced users and IT pros sometimes turn to command-line tools included with Windows, since these can manage app packages at a lower level than the Settings app.
This approach is more technical and carries more risk than using Settings or the Start menu. Removing the wrong package, especially anything tied to core system functionality, can cause problems that are hard to reverse without a reset or reinstall. If you’re not confident identifying exactly what a package does, it’s safer to stick with the Settings or Start menu method and leave command-line removal to someone comfortable troubleshooting Windows at that level.
Turn off optional Windows features you don’t use
Beyond apps, Windows 11 also includes optional features and capabilities you can disable if you don’t need them. In Settings, under Apps, look for an area that lists optional or additional features. From there you can review what’s installed and remove anything you don’t use.
This won’t make a huge difference to performance on its own, but it’s a tidy way to pare down components you never touch.
Disable unnecessary apps from starting up automatically
A big part of making Windows 11 feel faster is cutting down what launches automatically when you sign in, rather than just removing apps.
In Settings, under Apps, look for a startup section that lists apps set to launch at sign-in along with their relative impact on startup time. Turn off anything you don’t need running automatically. You can also review and adjust startup items from Task Manager, which typically includes a tab for managing startup apps.
If Microsoft Teams or OneDrive is one of the apps slowing down your sign-in, our guides on stopping Teams from loading after login and disabling OneDrive on Windows 10 and 11 cover those specifically.
Reducing bloatware with a clean install
If you’re setting up a new PC or reinstalling Windows 11 from scratch, you have a bit more control over what ends up on the machine compared to trimming an existing install.
- Back up your files before starting, since a clean install removes existing apps and data from the drive.
- Boot from Windows 11 installation media and follow the setup prompts.
- During setup, review the sign-in options available to you. Depending on your edition and how you’re setting up the PC, you may or may not be offered a local account instead of a Microsoft account, and some setup paths require an internet connection to complete.
- Once Windows 11 is installed, go through the same app removal and startup trimming steps above to clear out whatever preinstalled apps and trial software are still present.
Keep in mind that a clean install of Windows 11 still comes with a set of default Microsoft apps and services out of the box. A fresh install reduces third-party trial software a manufacturer might have added, but it doesn’t skip Microsoft’s own preinstalled apps automatically.
Third-party debloat tools and scripts
Searching for a “Windows 11 debloat tool” or “debloat script” will turn up various community-made utilities that promise to strip out bloatware in one pass. These aren’t built or supported by Microsoft, so there’s no official guidance confirming what each one changes or how safe it is for your specific setup.
If you still want to try one, create a system restore point first, read exactly what the tool plans to remove or disable before confirming, and avoid tools that ask you to disable security features like Windows Defender or Windows Update as part of the “debloat” process. When in doubt, the manual Settings method above gives you a similar end result with far less risk.
If it doesn’t work
An app has no Uninstall option
Some apps are protected system components and genuinely can’t be removed through Settings or the Start menu. If the app still won’t budge after trying both, it’s likely tied to a Windows feature that’s meant to stay installed.
A removed app comes back after an update
Major Windows updates can reinstall some default apps as part of the update process. This is expected behavior for certain system apps and isn’t a sign that something went wrong. You can simply uninstall it again afterward.
Your PC still feels slow after removing apps
If performance hasn’t improved much, check Task Manager for processes using high CPU, memory, or disk, and review your startup items again, since background apps often have more impact on speed than preinstalled apps that you never open.
You can’t uninstall apps because of organization policy
On a work or school managed device, your organization’s IT policies may block uninstalling certain apps or changing certain settings. Contact your IT admin if an app you need removed won’t budge.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to debloat Windows 11?
Using the built-in Settings and Start menu options to remove apps and disable startup items is safe and reversible in most cases. Third-party debloat scripts carry more risk since they aren’t reviewed or supported by Microsoft.
What’s the best Windows 11 debloat tool?
Microsoft doesn’t officially recommend any third-party debloat tool. The built-in Settings app gives you the ability to remove preinstalled apps without relying on unsupported software.
Will removing preinstalled apps break Windows 11?
Removing apps through the supported Settings or Start menu uninstall option shouldn’t break anything, since Windows generally prevents you from removing core system components this way. Using advanced, lower-level tools to force-remove unfamiliar packages carries more risk of unexpected side effects.
Can I get a removed app back later?
Most preinstalled Microsoft apps can be reinstalled later from the Microsoft Store if you change your mind. Some apps may also reappear automatically after a major Windows update.
Does removing bloatware actually improve performance?
Removing apps frees up storage space, but the bigger performance gain usually comes from disabling unnecessary startup programs and background processes, not just uninstalling apps you never open.
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