Windows 11 users who want to remove unwanted software from their systems should avoid aggressive one-click debloating utilities and instead combine manual uninstallation with careful settings changes and a script-based tool, according to guidance published by Engadget. Microsoft acknowledged in February 2026 that Windows 11 needs improvements, and the operating system has carried a reputation for bloat since its October 2021 release. The article describes the safest and easiest debloating approach as a mix of manual app removal, settings modification and surgical use of a custom tool.
In its default state, Windows 11 includes user tracking and data collection pipelines, adware and pre-installed third-party apps placed through deals between developers and either Microsoft or the hardware vendor. The article notes that only junk apps qualify strictly as bloatware, but all such unnecessary items are commonly grouped under the term bloat. Microsoft also ships many of its own apps that can be safely uninstalled, such as the Xbox app for people who do not play video games.
The first step is removing pre-loaded bloatware, including games, anti-malware trials and other software added by hardware vendors. The article says it is difficult to break Windows beyond repair through app uninstallation because Microsoft generally prevents crucial operating system parts from being easily removed, though going overboard is possible. The Windows Runtime programs, for instance, are necessary for running software, so unfamiliar users should start with obvious bloatware like casual games and third-party security tools. Apps can be removed through the Settings app using the Win + I shortcut, then Apps, then Installed apps, where each unwanted app offers a three-dot button with an Uninstall option.
The article cautions against one-click debloating tools, saying they use a sledgehammer on a problem best solved with a scalpel. Its recommended tool is Chris Titus Tech's WinUtil, described as a script with a graphical interface that runs from the command line. Users open Terminal (Admin) by right-clicking the Start button and then enter a command; the article advises never running internet commands without certainty about what they do, while stating this one comes from a trusted developer and is safe.
WinUtil is divided into five tabs, with Install, Tweaks and Updates as the main ones for most users. The Tweaks tab separates Essential Tweaks from Advanced Tweaks, and hovering over any tweak shows a description, with question marks leading to documentation and the exact commands each executes. Recommended profiles such as Standard and Minimal appear across the top, and the article identifies Minimal and Standard as the safest choices, while more aggressive options can remove core Windows components most people need. Creating a restore point before starting is advised so a stable state can be recovered if needed.
In the Advanced Tweaks section, the most likely useful change is the Microsoft OneDrive - Remove script, since OneDrive becomes a major annoyance on Windows 11 for those who do not use it. The Tweaks tab also includes Customize Preferences toggles, such as BSoD Verbose Mode for more crash information and Enable Long Paths for file and folder paths longer than the system default of 260 characters. A custom performance plan for desktop PCs removes power limitations, but the article says it should only be enabled on well-cooled systems that can absorb higher electricity costs, and not on laptops because it would hurt battery life.
On the Install tab, users can click Show Installed Apps, wait for programs to be highlighted, deselect anything worth keeping so only junk such as Microsoft Teams stays selected, then click Uninstall Applications. At that point, the article states, users have gone as far as possible without risking negative effects on the system.
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