Solved Suggestions for Default Apps / Bloatware to Uninstall


lettersquash

Member
Local time
3:45 PM
Posts
44
OS
Windows 11 Pro
Hi,

I'm just starting out with Win 11 (coming from 7, so not even used to 10). I realise that one person's bloat is another person's can't-live-without app, so I thought I'd just ask for recommendations on what I might remove or what you personally ditch or consider vital (are there apps that might break the OS or other parts of the system if removed?). I'd rather not do a clean install. I looked for the relevant tutorials, but can't see any. I'm a fair power user of older Windows and know the basics of uninstalling, and I'll probably use Revo or similar.

It's Win11 Pro version 21H2 on a Lenovo L390 Yoga 8th Gen CPU, 8GB RAM, nominal 500GB storage. The most taxing use will likely be editing and rendering video, editing audio in Audacity, that kind of thing. I rarely bother with games. I try to keep data creep (theft!) to a minimum, so I only use a local account, Firefox with AdBlocker Ultimate, Thunderbird, etc., and sync virtually nothing (like calendars or other data) and thus have no use for the default cloud storage (I use MEGA and local storage for backups). I use a raft of freeware replacements for most stuff. My social media is limited to Facebook, which I browse to in FF with as much locked down as possible, Google you can hardly avoid, but again, minimum share options. I have a Youtube channel and a Wordpress blog.

Actually, looking at the Start menu, there's not a lot I'm likely to keep! But there might be a lot of hidden stuff I don't know about that more experienced users get rid of. Other tips on stopping data leaks would be great too. Is it best to stick with Windows Defender, or switch to something like BitDefender for my privacy?

Cheers
John
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinkpad L390 Yoga
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-8565U
    Motherboard
    20NT0019UK
    Memory
    8 GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14"
    Hard Drives
    500 GB SSD
are there apps that might break the OS or other parts of the system if removed?

If there is an app that will break the OS, you won't be able to remove it. In Settings, just go under Apps -> Apps Features and you will see all the apps that you can possibly remove. If an app is not removable, you will not be given the option to remove it.

There may be some third party apps that give you greater access, but I just keep my system with the basic stuff. With some apps, I don't care if an app stays in the menu and takes up some disk space, as long as it doesn't run.

My coworkers and I did an experiment one time with a Solaris 10 Unix system. We decided to see how many packages we could remove from the system and still have it operational. We go tired of the experiment after removing over 200 packages and we still had a usable system.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home, 23H2, 22631.3296, Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22687.1000.0
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP 15-dw0xx
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-8145U CPU @ 2.10GHz 2.30 GHz
    Memory
    8GB
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    930 GB
    Keyboard
    Built In
    Mouse
    Wireless Logitech
    Browser
    Chrome 120.0.6099.218
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Cygwin64
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Home, Version 22H2, Build19045.3693
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion
    CPU
    AMD E-300 with Radeon HD Graphics 1.30 GHz
    Memory
    10GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Radeon HD Graphics 1.30 GHz
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15"
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 1024
    Hard Drives
    700 GB
    Mouse
    Wireless
    Keyboard
    Wireless
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    This computer is connected to my IC-735 radio.
I'm just starting out with Win 11 (coming from 7, so not even used to 10). I realise that one person's bloat is another person's can't-live-without app, so I thought I'd just ask for recommendations on what I might remove or what you personally ditch or consider vital (are there apps that might break the OS or other parts of the system if removed?


I tend to remove just about everything I can. I use REVO Uninstaller (free).
It has a Windows Apps tab, for removing those pesky items.


You can pretty much remove all of them, except....

00000 REVO - Win 11-10.png


Paint, Paint 3D and Calculator can also be safely removed... but I've found it better to keep them for a rainy day. :-)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Home ♦♦♦22631.3374 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦23H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® [May 2020]
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
    Motherboard
    Asus Pro WS X570-ACE (BIOS 4702)
    Memory
    G.Skill (F4-3200C14D-16GTZKW)
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA RTX 2070 (08G-P4-2171-KR)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC1220P / ALC S1220A
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U3011 30"
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1600
    Hard Drives
    2x Samsung 860 EVO 500GB,
    WD 4TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    WD 8TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    DRW-24B1ST CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling 750W Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Cooler Master ATCS 840 Tower
    Cooling
    CM Hyper 212 EVO (push/pull)
    Keyboard
    Ducky DK9008 Shine II Blue LED
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-100
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox (latest)
    Antivirus
    Bitdefender Internet Security
    Other Info
    Speakers: Klipsch Pro Media 2.1
  • Operating System
    Windows XP Pro 32bit w/SP3
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® (not in use)
    CPU
    AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (OC'd @ 3.2Ghz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition
    Memory
    TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX (2 x 1GB, DDR2 800)
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA 256-P2-N758-TR GeForce 8600GT SSC
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic G90FB Black 19" Professional (CRT)
    Screen Resolution
    up to 2048 x 1536
    Hard Drives
    WD 36GB 10,000rpm Raptor SATA
    Seagate 80GB 7200rpm SATA
    Lite-On LTR-52246S CD/RW
    Lite-On LH-18A1P CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Generic Beige case, 80mm fans
    Cooling
    ZALMAN 9500A 92mm CPU Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-BT96a
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keybooard 200
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox 3.x ??
    Antivirus
    Symantec (Norton)
    Other Info
    Still assembled, still runs. Haven't turned it on for 13 years?
Thanks guys, useful info. I'm starting to realise I don't know which apps I might find useful, so I'll just do it a bit ad hoc. There's a bunch I know I won't want, and then I'll also run into those that want me to sign my life away when I open them, so they'll probably get the chop.

Edited to add: What do you reckon to Windows Defender?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinkpad L390 Yoga
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-8565U
    Motherboard
    20NT0019UK
    Memory
    8 GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14"
    Hard Drives
    500 GB SSD
Suggestions for Default Apps / Bloatware to Uninstall

Do consider what benefit you are hoping for.
The small amount of disk space you might reclaim is unlikely to make any difference to your computing work.

All the best,
Denis
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home x64 Version 23H2 Build 22631.3296
Do consider what benefit you are hoping for.
The small amount of disk space you might reclaim is unlikely to make any difference to your computing work.

All the best,
Denis
Yes, that's right. I'm hoping for the benefit of increased security, but I'm probably influenced by the Android phone experience, where apps just start up and run, call home, etc., which isn't the case here. I've only got a local account, and I use adblockers and opt-out settings. Cheers.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinkpad L390 Yoga
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-8565U
    Motherboard
    20NT0019UK
    Memory
    8 GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14"
    Hard Drives
    500 GB SSD
I remove all apps except store and then I go from there. 22H2 removes all, even inbuilt apps like your phone or Cortana.

 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 3600 & No fTPM (07/19)
    Motherboard
    MSI B450 TOMAHAWK 7C02v1E & IFX TPM (07/19)
    Memory
    4x 8GB ADATA XPG GAMMIX D10 DDR4 3200MHz CL16
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI Radeon RX 580 ARMOR 8G OC @48FPS (08/19)
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Z (11/16)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" AOC G2460VQ6 (01/19)
    Screen Resolution
    1920×1080@75Hz & FreeSync (DisplayPort)
    Hard Drives
    ADATA XPG GAMMIX S11 Pro SSD 512GB (07/19)
    PSU
    Seasonic M12II-520 80 Plus Bronze (11/16)
    Case
    Lian Li PC-7NB & 3x Noctua NF-S12A FLX@700rpm (11/16)
    Cooling
    CPU Cooler Noctua NH-U12S@700rpm (07/19)
    Keyboard
    HP Wired Desktop 320K + Rabalux 76017 Parker (01/24)
    Mouse
    Logitech M330 Silent Plus (04/23)
    Internet Speed
    400/40 Mbps via RouterOS (05/21) & TCP Optimizer
    Browser
    Edge (No FB/Google) & Brave for YouTube & LibreWolf for FB
    Antivirus
    NoAV & Binisoft WFC & NextDNS
    Other Info
    Headphones: Sennheiser RS170 (09/10)
    Phone: Samsung Galaxy Xcover 7 (02/24)
Edited to add: What do you reckon to Windows Defender?
As 'bloatware' to remove? Or as an AV?
Keep it, I do. These days as an AV it ranks as high as all the major alternatives.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 3 A315-23
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768 native resolution, up to 2560x1440 with Radeon Virtual Super Resolution
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung EVO 870 SSD
    Internet Speed
    50 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro (and all my Hyper-V VMs).

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 4GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Beta as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 4GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus the Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds as a native boot .vhdx.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Lattitude E4310
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5-520M
    Motherboard
    0T6M8G
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    (integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500GB Crucial MX500 SSD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround. In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround. Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro (and all my Hyper-V VMs).

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 4GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Beta as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 4GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus the Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds as a native boot .vhdx.
I agree with Bree it is the only AV I have on my computer and not let me down yet at all and I use Trojan Remover software for a once weekly scan but Windows Defender on os 11 is a different beast and good.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
One issue about "bloatware" is not just a bloated system, but an extremely messy scatty bloated Start menu ... some show direct program shortcuts, some in folders, some folders proprietary named rather than program named .... and so it goes on.

Uninstalling solves both issues

Recommend RevoUninstaller (freeware)
- run uninstall option
- don't reboot (even if prompted)
- choose Advanced option and run cleanup (never bothered with the system restore option, always selected every item listed)
- removes leftover files/folders/registry entries
- then may have to reboot

Revo also has a separate tab for removing Windows built-in bloaters.

I want a computer for work. I didn't buy an entertainment centre. Unnecessary bells and whistles should be offered as optional extras, not in-your-face clutter.
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 22H2 (latest update ... forever anal)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Slim S01
    CPU
    Intel i5-9400
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GT730
    Sound Card
    OOBE
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 32"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    2 x 1TB SSDs
    PSU
    OOBE
    Case
    OOBE
    Cooling
    OOBE
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    Classic Australian w.a.p.
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    KIS
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro (latest upadte ... anally always)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion 15
    CPU
    i7-1165G7 @ 2.80GHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Hard Drives
    Samsung NVMe 512GB
    + numerous/multiple SSD Type C USB enclosures
    Internet Speed
    NBN FTTN 50
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    KIS

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