Engadget
You can clean up a lot of Windows' pre-installed junk, but should do so methodically.
Since Windows 11 arrived in October 2021, the operating system has garnered a reputation for bloat, with Microsoft publicly admitting in February 2026 that Windows 11 needs some improvements.
While some people can abscond to Linux, many need Windows for work or to run a particular app. For those people, the optimal solution is to spend some time debloating Windows 11, which means clearing out the unwanted software and settings Microsoft and its corporate partners bundle into Windows 11.
In its default state, Windows 11 is loaded with user tracking and data collection pipelines, adware and pre-installed third-party apps whose developers have a deal with either Microsoft or the hardware vendor to be there uninvited.
No debloating process is without risk, but the safest and easiest method is a combination of manual uninstallation and settings modification, combined with the surgical application of a custom debloating tool.
The first step in slimming down Windows 11 is to remove the bloatware, adware and other junk that comes pre-loaded on a new install.
For example, the various Windows Runtime programs are necessary for running software.
In some cases, you need to confirm the choice by clicking a Windows system confirmation, while in others you'll need to click through a full uninstall process provided by the app you're uninstalling.
With the bloatware gone, the next step in safely trimming the Windows 11 fat is disabling Microsoft's prolific telemetry, tracking and advertising.