If you've just got a new PC with Windows 10 or 11 and the first thing you see is a string of trial applications, games, and tools you never asked for, don't worry: you're not alone. These types of programs are known as Windows bloatware And besides taking up space, they can slow down your system and add clutter to an otherwise clean installation. That's why it's important to know how to remove bloatware from Windows using PowerShell.
In home environments it's a nuisance, but in businesses it can become a serious problem: dozens or hundreds of computers with the same bloatware apps, extra services running in the background, and users distracted by software that has nothing to do with their work. Luckily, there are very effective ways to remove bloatware from Windows using PowerShell and other tools, from simple graphical interfaces to very powerful scripts that leave the system practically "brand new".
What exactly is bloatware in Windows 10 and Windows 11?
When we talk about bloatware we refer to pre-installed software that you did not request These are included by Microsoft or the computer manufacturer (Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc.). They are not malware: they are legitimate applications, often trial versions or utilities promoted to encourage you to try them before switching to a competitor.
The problem arises when those applications expire, become obsolete, or you simply will never use them. At that point, They continue to occupy space and consume resourcesThey can display annoying notifications and even create risks if they stop updating or include components that are too integrated into the system.
Among the most typical bloatware in Windows 10/11 we usually find Microsoft and third-party apps such as OneNote in regional versions, integrated games, Xbox Game Bar, promoted video or music apps, support and help utilities, or tools that come pinned to the Start menu and don't contribute anything to your daily work.
On brand-name computers, in addition to Microsoft bloatware, the so-called OEM utilitiesManufacturer control panels, optimizers, peripheral managers, remote support tools, etc. In many cases they are harmless, but they often duplicate functions that Windows already performs and remain resident in memory without providing a clear advantage.
Real-world example: bloatware on Dell laptops with Windows 11 Pro
A very common case in modern companies is that of organizations that use Microsoft 365 with Intunewithout local servers or on-premises Active Directory. They receive laptops like the Dell Latitude 5440 with Windows 11 Pro preinstalled from the factory and they take advantage of subscription activation (Windows Enterprise per user) instead of maintaining a corporate image infrastructure.
Until recently, Intune allowed for the easy management of many of these apps thanks to its integration with Microsoft Store for BusinessYou could select certain packages (for example, Microsoft Solitaire, Xbox, Mail and Calendar, Dell agents, etc.) and mark them to be uninstalled instead of installed. But that The Microsoft Store for Business option has disappearedTherefore, it is no longer possible to rely on that workflow to automatically clean the equipment.
In these cloud-only environments, many companies find that their Dell laptops come with utilities such as Dell Display Manager 2.1, Dell Optimizer Core, Dell Pair, Dell Peripheral Manager and various Microsoft 365 and OneNote packages in several languages ​​(Spanish-Spanish, Spanish-US, French-French, Portuguese-Brazilian) that aren't always necessary. These apps don't appear in the current Microsoft Store, so They cannot be managed as Store apps from Intune.
The obvious alternative is to use DISM and PowerShell to remove packages directly from the image or the system, which gives total control but also requires more work: maintaining scripts, testing them with each version of Windows, documenting changes, and minimizing the risk of breaking critical organizational functions.
Basic Windows options for removing bloatware without scripts
Before we delve into advanced commands or automated scripts, it's worth remembering that Windows 10 and Windows 11 include several built-in methods for uninstalling applications without needing to touch PowerShell if you don't want to complicate things too much.
The quickest way, if the app allows it, is to use your own start menuIn Windows 11, all applications are listed there. Just click Start, locate the app (either in the pinned apps or in "All apps"), right-click on it, and choose the option "Uninstall"That launches the classic elimination process.
Some more traditional applications are still managed from the Control panelIf you type "Control Panel" in the search box, you will enter the "Programs > Programs and Features" section, and from there you can locate the program, right-click on it, and select "Uninstall" again to follow the corresponding wizard.
In modern versions of Windows, the increasingly recommended route is to use the app of ConfigurationFrom Start > Settings > Apps > "Apps & features" you have the complete list of programs. Simply find (or scroll to) the app you want to remove, tap the three dots on the right, and select "Uninstall" to let the system do the rest.
Remove bloatware directly using Windows PowerShell
When the previous options don't allow you to uninstall an app (or when you want to automate and be more aggressive), this comes into play Windows PowerShellThis console is a very powerful tool that comes pre-installed on both Windows 10 and Windows 11, and allows you to manipulate UWP application packages at a low level.
To use it with sufficient permissions, go to the Start menu, type "PowerShell" or "Windows PowerShell", and select the option "Execute as an administrator"Accept user account control when prompted, because removing apps from the system requires elevated privileges.
Once the window is open, the basic command to uninstall a pre-installed Appx application is:
Get-AppxPackage *NombreDeLaApp* | Remove-AppxPackage
The key here is to replace AppName by a significant part of the package identifier. For example, if you want to remove the Xbox Game Bar, you can use something like *Xbox*If you need to locate the exact name, you can run Get-AppxPackage without filters and review the list, or search by specific patterns until you find the right package.
If you want to perform a more thorough cleanup, you can run variations of the command that affect all user accounts or even the base image, but that requires much more care, especially on machines that will be used in production or in corporate environments where Any change can disrupt workflows.
Automate cleanup: Debloat scripts from PowerShell
For users who prefer a more guided approach, there are open-source community scripts and tools that allow Remove a large amount of bloatware with just one commandOne of the best known is the set of "Windows Debloater" type scripts, which are downloaded and run from PowerShell.
The most common way to use it, as shown in many tutorials, is to open Windows PowerShell (or Windows Terminal in Windows 11) as administrator and type the command:
iwr -useb https://git.io/debloat | iex
With this instruction, PowerShell uses Invoke-WebRequest (iwr) to download the script directly from the Internet and run it in memory with Invoke-Expression (iex)This way you don't even have to save the file manually: just run the command, wait a few seconds and a window with a simple interface will open to apply changes.
In that graphical interface you will see several options to adjust Windows behavior: for example, disable CortanaDisable the built-in PDF reader in Edge, force dark mode, remove OneDrive, or change privacy and telemetry settings. The most striking part is usually the button for "Remove all bloatware", which attempts to remove most pre-installed applications considered junk in one fell swoop.
In addition, there is usually the possibility of using a custom blocklistThis option lets you specify which apps you want to remove and which you prefer to keep. It offers more control, but requires a good understanding of the packages and dependencies to avoid accidentally removing something important.
Windows 10 Debloat Scripts: What They Do and Why They Are So Sensitive
Another family of very popular solutions are the so-called Debloat Windows 10 scriptsThis is a set of PowerShell and CMD files and registry modifications that go far beyond simply removing applications. They are intended for clean Windows installations, where the system is freshly installed and not many programs or personal data have been added yet.
The author of these scripts himself recommends using them only on newly installed systemsThe reason is simple: as you use Windows, services, programs, and dependencies are added that may rely on functions that these scripts disable or remove. If you apply aggressive changes to a system you've already been using, it's easier for this to happen. break something you'll need later.
The Debloat package usually includes around nine main scripts, designed to:
- Block telemetry.
- Disable Windows Services.
- Completely disable Windows Defender.
- Remove feedback tools.
- Adjust privacy options.
- Optimize the Windows interface.
- Optimize Windows updates.
- Remove pre-installed apps.
- Turn off OneDrive.
Many users choose to run only some of these scripts, for example, the one that disables OneDrive or the one that removes pre-installed apps, leaving the others untouched. Since they are plain text files, you can always... Open them in Notepad and decide which lines to leave active and which to comment on to adapt the behavior to your needs.
Other advanced settings included in the Debloat packs
In addition to the main scripts, Debloat packs typically include a set of additional utilities in the form of PowerShell, CMD, or .reg files. These small extras allow you to change very specific system behaviors without being as aggressive as kernel scripts.
For example, you can find scripts for enable advanced startup Windows, facilitating access to recovery environments, or to quickly switch to the system's dark mode without having to search for the option in Settings.
Adjustments are also frequent for disable internal features such as memory compression, file prefetching, scheduled tasks that are considered dispensable, or the Start menu search bar, as well as utilities to enable the classic image viewer, activate the so-called "God Mode," or apply small performance tweaks to SSD drives.
In all cases, these additional scripts also require run as administrator to modify the registry, services, or scheduled tasks. However, being less invasive than the main ones, their use is generally considered safer, provided you know exactly what they do and why you are using them.
Prepare PowerShell before running third-party scripts
If you decide to use scripts downloaded from GitHub or other repositories, there are several recommended preliminary steps to Prepare your system and minimize risksThe first thing is to always download the latest version directly from the original source, avoiding third-party copies.
Once you have the package on your PC, open PowerShell as administrator and adjust the script execution policy for your current user. A typical command to allow the execution of unsigned scripts in your session is:
Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Scope CurrentUser
This command lifts the restrictions that prevent running PowerShell scripts downloaded from the internet, although it should be used judiciously and reverted afterward if the environment is sensitive. Additionally, to avoid security warnings about downloaded files, you can unblock all scripts in the package at once with:
ls -Recurse *.ps*1 | Unblock-File
After this, you will be ready to Run the scripts with a double-click or by dragging them into the PowerShell window. If any of them close prematurely, for example the one that tries to disable Windows Defender, it's best to restart your computer and run it again until it completes without errors.
Once the script finishes its work and the system restarts, all the changes should be applied. It's normal to notice that on the first subsequent boot... Windows takes a few extra seconds. in reorganizing services and components before returning to normal.
Common problems and risks when using aggressive scripts
It's important to understand that Windows doesn't natively offer a simple option for disable certain internal functions (telemetry, Defender, deep integrations, etc.). Therefore, many of these scripts resort to quite aggressive techniques, such as deleting sensitive registry keys, replacing system components, or forcing policies not intended for the end user.
All of this can lead to unwanted side effects If you don't know exactly what you're doing. Among the most frequent errors reported after using these types of packs are, for example, the Start menu search function stopping, the sysprep process breaking (key in corporate image environments), or failures appearing with Xbox wireless adapters and other peripherals that integrate with system services.
It is also relatively common to encounter Skype compatibility issuesor that modern authentication methods such as facial recognition or fingerprint scanning stop working, if the scripts have disabled services related to biometrics or modern login.
Therefore, the recommendation is very clear: use these scripts under your responsability And always starting from a manually created restore point or a system image if the computer is critical. This way, if something goes wrong, you can revert Windows to its previous state and continue working normally without having to reinstall from scratch.
Reinstall Windows keeping files, but without factory applications
In some cases, especially when the system is already heavily modified or full of program remnants, it might be wiser to opt for a clean Windows reset Instead of going app by app with PowerShell or third-party scripts, Windows 10 and 11 include a recovery option that reinstalls the system, keeps your personal files, and removes most applications, including many pre-installed ones.
In Windows 10, a classic approach was to use the "Fresh Start" option within Windows Security, under the Device Health and Performance section. From there, you could initiate a process that reinstalled the operating system without touching documents or photos, but removing all the software that the manufacturer or you yourself had added.
Regardless of the version, these recovery features always show you a list of applications that will be removed Before starting the reinstallation, you can decide if you're willing to lose them. Once you confirm, Windows takes care of the rest, and after a short reinstallation and restart process, you'll boot into a much cleaner system.
This method is less granular than running specific commands, but it can be ideal for restoring a PC to its factory settings without having to completely format it, and it's especially useful when bloatware has crept back in after a major system update and you don't feel like repeating the manual process again.
Are these methods useful for Windows 11, or is it better to stick to the basics?
The issue of bloatware hasn't disappeared with Windows 11, although it's true that the new system generally comes without it. Something lighter than Windows 10Even so, it still comes with pre-installed applications that many users will never use, and Microsoft continues to argue that many of them "improve the experience" even though for a large part of the community it is just the opposite.
Regarding the use of Debloat-type scripts originally designed for Windows 10 on Windows 11, the most sensible thing to do is do not use them directlyAlthough both systems share many components, there are enough internal differences that some scripts may malfunction, fail to complete, or render your PC unusable.
The developer ecosystem itself usually recommends waiting to specifically adapted versions For Windows 11, you can either manually uninstall apps you don't need from Settings, the Start menu, and PowerShell, without touching low-level services or Defender unless you know exactly what you're doing.
Meanwhile, in professional settings, the wisest course of action is to combine Intune policies, carefully tested custom scripts and, when appropriate, reference images or solutions like Autopilot, but always avoiding applying generic packages found on the Internet that promise to "clean Windows 11 with one click" without checking.
When it comes down to it, all these methods—from right-clicking in the Start menu to the most advanced PowerShell scripts—all aim for the same thing: return system control to the userFreeing up resources, reducing noise, and tailoring Windows to your actual needs. Whether on a newly purchased personal laptop or a massive deployment of Intune-managed PCs, understanding what bloatware is, how to identify it, and the risks involved in removing it allows you to make more informed decisions and keep your PCs clean, fast, and free of unnecessary software.