How to Remove Unwanted Apps/Bloatware from Windows 11?
Asked by
TechieExplorer92
Hey everyone! I've recently put together a simple PowerShell script to help remove unwanted apps, commonly referred to as bloatware, as we prepare for our upcoming summer transitions. The script utilizes the command `Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online` to list out all the apps I want to target. Here's a snippet of the script:
```powershell
$Appnames = @(
"Microsoft.BingNews",
"Microsoft.BingWeather",
"Microsoft.Getstarted",
"Microsoft.WindowsAlarms",
"Microsoft.WindowsMaps",
"Microsoft.YourPhone",
"Microsoft.WindowsFeedbackHub",
"Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay",
"Microsoft.GamingApp",
"Microsoft.Xbox.TCUI",
"Microsoft.XboxIdentityProvider",
"Microsoft.XboxSpeechToTextOverlay",
"Microsoft.Edge.GameAssist",
"Microsoft.MicrosoftSolitaireCollection")
foreach ($Appname in $Appnames) {
$AppProvisioningPackageName = Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Where-Object {$_.DisplayName -Like $Appname} | Select-Object -ExpandProperty PackageName
Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -PackageName $AppProvisioningPackageName -Online -AllUsers
}
```
I'd love to hear your thoughts or any other methods you might be using for the same purpose! Cheers!
Answers
To be honest, I've found simply uninstalling what I can through Intune to be more effective. It saves me the risk of dealing with all these debloat scripts.
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Be cautious with removing default apps; some of them might actually be necessary. Removing things like the load-bearing clown pictures could cause issues down the line! Just something to keep in mind.
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Another good option is to use the `UnattendedWinstall` script from GitHub. It's super handy for fresh installs too, just drop it on your USB!
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I've relied on this method for years, and it works flawlessly! Here’s a link to my go-to guide: https://ccmexec.com/2022/09/remove-built-in-apps-in-windows-11-22h2-during-osd/. Flexible and can adapt to different versions too!
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Instead of removing apps, have you considered using an allowlist? This way, you only keep the applications you want active. Here’s a basic framework for that:
```powershell
# Get installed appx packages
$Packages = Get-AppxPackage
# Define your allowlist
$AllowList = @(
'*WindowsCalculator*',
'*Microsoft.net*',
'*WindowsStore*'
)
# Process packages to keep only what's on your allowlist.
ForEach($App in $Packages) {
if(-not ($AllowList -contains $App.Name)) {
Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers -Name $App.Name
}
}
```
You might find it cleaner and safer to manage!
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I've had good luck with this script for removing bloatware: https://andrewstaylor.com/2022/08/09/removing-bloatware-from-windows-10-11-via-script/. It's pretty straightforward and effective!
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If you're looking to streamline your installs even further, consider building your unattend file with a generator—it's super helpful for removing those pesky bloatware apps right during installation! Check this out: https://schneegans.de/windows/unattend-generator.
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Don’t overlook tools like W10Privacy or Privacy.sexy; they do wonders for managing your applications! I recommend checking them out.
CleverUser82: That sounds promising! I'll definitely give that a shot.
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SleekScripter45: I used that for our latest setup and it was a lifesaver! I'm still learning everything it can do, but it really smoothed out the installation process.