Windows 11 Best Debloater

idgat · Apr 21, 2024

Flashorn said:
My question would be, why?

antspants said:
In my opinion; If you’re looking to save a little space,

My gripe is not with the drive space recovered but with a bloated Start menu convoluted with icons for apps I don't want and/or will never use, half of which are not even installed programs but simply links to installations and/or web sites. A proper dog's breakfast.

Uninstalling unwanted apps has the added benefit of presenting a much less cluttered Start menu.

@OldNavy I much prefer to make my own selection at what stays and what goes, so rather than use generic debloaters, I use RevoUninstaller (and sometimes GeekUninstaller)

To use Revo
- install > Options > Uninstaller > untick Make a Systems Restore Point before uninstall, tick Checkmark all leftovers by default > OK
- Windows Apps tab
- select a program to be removed > double click
- uninstall, DO NOT RESTART EVEN IF PROMPTED
- select the Advanced option button
- run and indiscriminately remove ALL leftovers presented; do NOT pick and choose
- do this for both files, folders and registry entries
- when complete, now reboot (if previously prompted)
- app gone, clean as a whistle
- repeat for each app

PITA but much more effective than perfunctory command line option of Get-AppxPackage etc

antspants · Apr 21, 2024

idgat said:
My gripe is not with the drive space recovered but with a bloated Start menu convoluted with icons for apps I don't want and/or will never use, half of which are not even installed programs but simply links to installations and/or web sites. A proper dog's breakfast.

Uninstalling unwanted apps has the added benefit of presenting a much less cluttered Start menu.

@OldNavy I much prefer to make my own selection at what stays and what goes, so rather than use generic debloaters, I use RevoUninstaller (and sometimes GeekUninstaller)

To use Revo
- install > Options > Uninstaller > untick Make a Systems Restore Point before uninstall, tick Checkmark all leftovers by default > OK
- Windows Apps tab
- select a program to be removed > double click
- uninstall, DO NOT RESTART EVEN IF PROMPTED
- select the Advanced option button
- run and indiscriminately remove ALL leftovers presented; do NOT pick and choose
- do this for both files, folders and registry entries
- when complete, now reboot (if previously prompted)
- app gone, clean as a whistle
- repeat for each app

PITA but much more effective than perfunctory command line option of Get-AppxPackage etc

I agree, as I mentioned, REVO would be my process

Flashorn · Apr 21, 2024

idgat said:
but with a bloated Start menu

Yeah but, we all know how easy it is to get a clean Start menu. This shouldn't be a thing.

idgat · Apr 21, 2024

Flashorn said:
Yeah but, we all know how easy it is to get a clean Start menu. This shouldn't be a thing.

To me that's the Start window (above image), as distinct from the Start Menu

ian50 · Apr 22, 2024

@siliconbeaver

... repair-install using latest Windows 11 version (23H2/24H2? ). this will make Windows 11 updated, while staying stripped except Edge

Yes, that's one way of updating the Win11 Lite(s) while staying stripped of useless bloat.

For myself, I tried KB5027397 (enabling msu for 22H2 to 23H2) after Win11 Lite installation and updates. Worked fine without Edge or other unwanteds. Just really simple to do.

This clean install Lite sequence, followed by updating, on older PC's is quite workable if one remains careful. Caveat emptor, but it worked without problems on an older laptop and without all unwanted Windows bloat. Even tried it on a mate's very old Sony laptop with only 2Gb RAM and a 300Mb HDD - Win11 Lite did install and boot but with only 2Gb of RAM it was too sluggish to be useful.