How to Remove Bloatware and Preinstalled Apps on Windows 11
Safely uninstall preinstalled apps and bloatware on Windows 11 using the Start menu and Settings, see which apps are safe to remove, and disable startup clutter.
You can remove most preinstalled Windows 11 apps two ways: right-click the app in Start and choose Uninstall, or go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps and use the same option there. Stick to those two built-in tools, skip anything you can’t uninstall (that’s Windows protecting a core component), and handle the apps that merely launch at sign-in through the Startup settings instead of removing them.
Uninstall from the Start Menu
Select Start, then All apps, find the app you want gone, and press and hold or right-click it. If Uninstall appears in the menu, select it and confirm the prompt. This works for most Microsoft Store apps and third-party programs pinned or listed in Start. If the option is grayed out or missing, that app is built into Windows and isn’t meant to be removed this way.
Uninstall from Settings > Apps > Installed Apps
This is the more complete list, since it also shows desktop programs that don’t always appear in Start. Open Settings, select Apps, then Installed apps. Use the search box or sort by size if you’re hunting for space hogs. Next to each entry, select the three-dot More menu and choose Uninstall, then follow any confirmation prompts. For apps that misbehave but won’t fully uninstall, check Advanced options on that same app’s page first: Repair or Reset can fix a broken app without removing it. If an app has no Uninstall option here at all, it’s a protected system component and Windows won’t let you remove it through the Settings UI.
What’s Safe to Remove vs. What to Leave Alone
Most of what ships on a new Windows 11 PC falls into one of two buckets: optional Microsoft apps you’ll never open, or manufacturer trialware that duplicates something Windows already does. A smaller set of items are system components that keep Windows Update, security, or File Explorer working, and those either won’t offer an Uninstall button or will warn you before removing them.
| Item | Safe to remove? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Solitaire Collection, News, Weather, Maps | Yes | Standalone Store apps with no ties to core Windows features |
| Mail and Calendar | Yes, if you use the new Outlook or a web-based email client | Replaced by the built-in Outlook app on most current builds |
| Clipchamp, Xbox app, Phone Link | Yes, if unused | Optional apps; removing them doesn’t affect other features |
| Manufacturer trialware (McAfee/Norton trial, random toolbars) | Yes | Bundled by the PC maker, not part of Windows itself |
| OEM driver/utility apps (Dell Update, Lenovo Vantage, HP Support Assistant) | Be selective | Some manage drivers and firmware updates; check what each one does before removing |
| Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Store, Settings | No | Core system components; Windows blocks removal through Settings |
| Windows Security | No | Handles built-in antivirus and firewall protection |
| .NET Framework / Visual C++ Redistributables | No | Runtime libraries other installed apps depend on to run |
When an app’s purpose isn’t obvious, search its exact name before removing it rather than guessing.
Disable Startup Items Instead of Uninstalling Them
Plenty of “slow boot” complaints have nothing to do with installed apps and everything to do with what launches automatically at sign-in. You don’t need to uninstall these programs, just stop them from starting with Windows. Go to Settings > Apps > Startup and toggle off anything you don’t need running immediately after login; select the chevron next to an entry for its advanced settings if available. Task Manager offers the same control with more detail: press Ctrl+Shift+Esc, open the Startup apps tab, and select Disable on anything you don’t need, using the listed startup impact (Low, Medium, High) to prioritize.
For a deeper walkthrough of that process, see our guide on how to stop startup programs on Windows 11. If the goal is reclaiming disk space rather than trimming startup time, our guide to freeing up space on Windows 11 covers storage-specific cleanup the Apps list doesn’t touch.
Skip Third-Party Debloat Scripts
Search results for “Windows 11 debloat” turn up plenty of PowerShell scripts and one-click tools that strip dozens of components at once. Avoid them. These scripts often remove packages that Windows Update, the Microsoft Store, or File Explorer quietly depend on, and undoing the damage can mean a full reinstall. The built-in Uninstall option in Start and Settings only offers to remove apps that are actually safe to remove; if Windows won’t offer an Uninstall button for something, that’s your answer, not an obstacle to script around. If your PC still feels sluggish after cleaning up apps, our guide on why your Windows PC is running slow covers the other usual culprits.
Removing a dozen unused apps and turning off a handful of startup entries typically takes less than ten minutes and won’t touch anything Windows needs. Do the obvious removals first, reboot, and only chase smaller startup-impact items if things still feel slow.