October 26, 2021

How to Debloat Windows 11

How to Debloat Windows 11

Windows 11 is here and it comes with lots of new goodies filled here and there. But with each new Windows operating system, comes a new set of bloatware which is there just to annoy you. Moreover, it occupies disk space and shows up everywhere, for no good reason. Fortunately, we have a solution for how to debloat Windows 11 to improve its performance and speed up your newly upgraded Windows OS. Read till the end to know how to remove this pesky bloatware and enjoy a clean Windows 11 environment.

How to Debloat Windows 11

How to Debloat Windows 11

Preparatory Steps

Before you go ahead with debloating Windows 11, there are a few prerequisite steps to be taken to avoid any mishap.

Step 1: Install Latest Updates

Update your Windows to the latest iteration to make sure you are up to date with everything. All the bloatware that comes in the latest iteration will also be deleted thereafter, leaving nothing to chance.

1. Press Windows + I keys simultaneously to open Settings.

2. Then, select Windows Update in the left pane.

3. Now, click on Check for updates button, as shown.

Windows update section in the Settings window

4. Install updates, if available, and click on Restart now after saving all your unsaved work.

Step 2: Create a System Restore Point

Creating a System Restore Point helps you create a save point in case, things go off track. So, that you can simply revert to the point where everything was working as it should have been.

1. Launch Settings app as earlier.

2. Click on System in the left pane and About in the right pane, as illustrated below.

About option in System section of the Settings window.

3. Click on System protection.

About section

4. Click on Create in the System Protection tab of System Properties window.

System Protection tab in System Properties window.

5. Enter a name/description for the new restore point and click on Create.

Name of the restore point |

Additionally, you can read Microsoft doc on Appx module here.

Also Read: Fix Windows 10 Update Pending Install

Method 1: Through Apps and Features

You could find most of the bloatware in your Apps & features list from where you can uninstall it, just like any other application.

1. Press Windows+X keys together to open the Quick Link menu, formerly known as Power User Menu.

2. Select Apps and Features from this list.

select apps and features option in Quick Link menu

3. Click on the three dotted icon next to the app and select Uninstall option to remove it, as illustrated.

Uninstall option in the Apps & features section.

Also Read: Force Uninstall Programs which won’t Uninstall In Windows 10

Method 2: Using Remove AppxPackage Command

The answer to the question: How to debloat Windows 11? lies with Windows PowerShell which can be used to automate tasks by using commands. There are numerous commands which would make debloating a breezy process. So, let us begin!

1. Click on the Search icon and type Windows PowerShell.

2. Then, select Run as Administrator, to open elevated PowerShell.

Start menu search results for Windows PowerShell

3. Click Yes in the User Account Control dialog box.

Step 4: Retrieving the List of Apps for Different User Accounts

4A. Type the command: Get-AppxPackage and press the Enter key to view the list of all pre-installed apps on your Windows 11 PC for current user viz Administrator.

Windows PowerShell running Get-AppxPackage | How to debloat Windows 11

4B. Type the command: Get-AppxPackage -User <username> and hit Enter to get a list of installed apps for a specific user.

Note: Here, write your username in place of <username>

command to get a list of installed apps for a specific user

4C. Type the command: Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers and press Enter key to get a list of installed applications for all users registered on this Windows 11 PC.

Windows PowerShell command to get a list of installed applications for all users registered on the computer. How to debloat Windows 11

4D. Type the command: Get-AppxPackage | Select Name, PackageFullName and hit Enter key to get a scaled-down list of installed apps.

Windows PowerShell command to get a scaled-down list of applications installed. How to debloat Windows 11

Step 5: Uninstalling Apps for Different User Accounts

5A. Now, type the command: Get-AppxPackage <AppName> | Remove-AppxPackage and hit Enter to delete an app from current user acoount.

Note: Here, replace the name of the application from the list in place of <AppName>.

Windows PowerShell command to delete particular app. How to Debloat Windows 11

5B. Alternately, use wildcard operator (*) for <AppName> to make running this command easier. For example: Executing Get-AppxPackage *Twitter* | Remove-AppxPackage command will find all the apps containing twitter in its package name and remove them.

Windows PowerShell command to find all the apps containing twitter in its package name and remove them. How to debloat Windows 11

5C. Execute the following command to uninstall a particular app from all user accounts:

Get-AppxPackage -alluser *<AppName>* | Remove-AppxPackage

command to uninstall an application from all the users Windows PowerShell. How to debloat Windows 11

5D. Type the command given below and press Enter key to remove all pre-installed apps from the current user account: Get-AppxPackage | Remove-AppxPackage

command to remove all pre-installed apps from the current user Windows PowerShell

5E. Execute the given command to remove all bloatware from all user accounts on your computer: Get-AppxPackage -allusers | Remove-AppxPackage

command to remove all in built apps for all users. How to Debloat Windows 11

5F. Type the following command and press Enter key to remove all in-built apps from a specific user account: Get-AppxPackage -user <Username> | Remove-AppxPackage

command to remove all inbuilts apps from specific user account in Windows PowerShell. How to debloat Windows 11

5G. Execute the given command to uninstall in-built apps while retaining a particular app or a few specific apps, respectively:

  • Get-AppxPackage | where-object {$_.name –notlike “*<AppName>*”} | Remove-AppxPackage
  • Get-AppxPackage | where-object {$_.name –notlike “*<AppName>*”} | where-object {$_.name –notlike “*<AppName>*”} | where-object {$_.name –notlike “*<AppName>*”} | Remove-AppxPackage

Note: Add a where-object {$_.name –notlike “*<AppName>*”} parameter in the command for each app you want to keep.

command to uninstall apps but keep one app in Windows PowerShell. How to Debloat Windows 11

Method 3: Run DISM Commands

Here’s how to debloat Windows 11 using DISM i.e. Deployment Image Servicing & Management commands:

1. Launch Windows PowerShell with administrative privileges, as depicted below.

Start menu search results for Windows PowerShell. How to Debloat Windows 11

2. Click on Yes in the User Account Control prompt.

3. Type the given command and press the Enter key to execute:

DISM /Online /Get-ProvisionedAppxPackages | select-string Packagename 

Windows PowerShell running DISM command to remove apps

4. From the list of applications installed, copy the package name of the application you want to uninstall.

5. Now, type the following command and hit Enter to run it:

DISM /Online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:<PackageName> 

6. Here, paste the copied package name replacing <PackageName>.

Windows PowerShell running dism command to remove built in apps.

Also Read: Fix DISM Source Files Could not be Found Error

Direct Commands to Uninstall Common Bloatware Apps

In addition to the methods listed above to uninstall unrequired apps, here’s how to debloat Windows 11 by uninstalling commonly found bloatware:

  • 3D Builder: Get-AppxPackage *3dbuilder* | Remove-AppxPackage

Windows PowerShell command to remove 3dbuilder app

  • Sway: Get-AppxPackage *sway* | remove-AppxPackage

Windows PowerShell command to remove sway app

  • Alarms & Clock: Get-AppxPackage *alarms* | Remove-AppxPackage

Windows PowerShell command to remove alarms app

  • Calculator: Get-AppxPackage *calculator* | Remove-AppxPackage

Windows PowerShell command to remove calculator app

  • Calendar/Mail: Get-AppxPackage *communicationsapps* | Remove-AppxPackage

Windows PowerShell command to remove communicationsapps. How to debloat Windows 11

  • Get Office: Get-AppxPackage *officehub* | Remove-AppxPackage

command to delete officehub app

  • Camera: Get-AppxPackage *camera* | Remove-AppxPackage

Windows PowerShell command to remove camera app

  • Skype: Get-AppxPackage *skype* | Remove-AppxPackage

command to delete skype app

  • Movies & TV: Get-AppxPackage *zunevideo* | Remove-AppxPackage

Windows PowerShell command to remove zunevideo. How to debloat Windows 11

  • Groove Music & TV: Get-AppxPackage *zune* | Remove-AppxPackage

Windows PowerShell command to delete zune app

  • Maps: Get-AppxPackage *maps* | Remove-AppxPackage

Windows PowerShell command to delete maps.

  • Microsoft Solitaire Collection: Get-AppxPackage *solitaire* | Remove-AppxPackage

Windows PowerShell command to remove solitaire game or app

  • Get Started: Get-AppxPackage *getstarted* | Remove-AppxPackage

Windows PowerShell command to remove getstarted app

  • Money: Get-AppxPackage *bingfinance* | Remove-AppxPackage

Windows PowerShell command to remove bingfinance app

  • News: Get-AppxPackage *bingnews* | Remove-AppxPackage

Windows PowerShell command to remove bingnews

  • Sports: Get-AppxPackage *bingsports* | Remove-AppxPackage

Windows PowerShell command to remove bingsports

  • Weather: Get-AppxPackage *bingweather* | Remove-AppxPackage

Windows PowerShell running Get-AppxPackage *bingweather* | Remove-AppxPackage

Windows PowerShell command to remove bing

  • OneNote: Get-AppxPackage *onenote* | Remove-AppxPackage

Windows PowerShell command to remove one note app

  • People: Get-AppxPackage *people* | Remove-AppxPackage

Windows PowerShell command to remove people app

  • Your Phone Companion: Get-AppxPackage *yourphone* | Remove-AppxPackage

Windows PowerShell command to remove yourphone app

  • Photos: Get-AppxPackage *photos* | Remove-AppxPackage

Windows PowerShell command to remove photos app

  • Microsoft Store: Get-AppxPackage *windowsstore* | Remove-AppxPackage

Windows PowerShell command to remove windowsstore

  • Voice Recorder: Get-AppxPackage *soundrecorder* | Remove-AppxPackage

Windows PowerShell command to remove soundrecorder

Also Read: How to Enter BIOS on Windows 10

How to Reinstall In-built Apps

Now that you know how to debloat Windows 11 to improve it’s overall performance, you might need the in-built uninstalled apps at a later stage. Hence, you can use the Windows PowerShell commands to reinstall the built-in apps as well. Read below to know how.

1. Press Windows + X keys simultaneously to open the Quick Link menu.

2. Select Windows Terminal (Admin) from the list.

click on Windows terminal admin in Quick link menu

3. Click on Yes in the User Account Control prompt.

4. Simply, execute the given command:

Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers| Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml"}

Windows PowerShell running command to install built in apps.

Pro Tip: Windows PowerShell is now integrated into all new Windows Terminal which is accompanied by Command Prompt. Hence, users can now execute other Shell commands in terminal applications. 

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