I'm trying to set up a new Windows 11 build in 2026, and I want to make sure it's stripped down to just the essentials. There's a ton of conflicting information out there, and I'm wondering if there's a reliable, up-to-date guide—either text or video—that can help me debloat my system, remove or disable any AI features, and ensure it's set up for gaming with just Steam. Essentially, I want to avoid all the unnecessary cloud features and get a simple search bar that only looks through my local files. Has anyone found a solid resource for this?
5 Answers
It's pretty easy to strip things down. Log in with a local account, uninstall Copilot, and disable OneDrive from startup in the Task Manager. The web search results are a bit tricky, but you can hide the search bar and just use Windows Explorer to look through your files directly. That should do it!
You might want to try using ShitUp10 to toggle off annoying features. It's effective after each major update too. Just remember, always use a local account with Windows! For a better searching experience, programs like 'Everything' can be a great addition, or use a launcher like 'Flow Launcher' to replace the Start menu.
If possible, go for the LTSC version of Windows—it’s more focused and avoids a lot of the online fluff. Just a word of caution: stay away from online scripts that claim to debloat Windows, as they can mess with your updates permanently.
One straightforward approach is to set your PC to launch Steam automatically when it starts up. That way, you dive right into gaming! Just a heads up though, I wouldn't trust social media advice on debloating Windows because it can be hit or miss.
If you're open to it, consider installing Linux instead of Windows. There are some great variants out there that run games well without all the baggage of Windows 11.
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