How to remove pre-installed apps and bloatware in Windows 10 and 11

You've just got a new computer or a fresh Windows installation, and before you've even started, you're already faced with a bunch of applications you neither need nor want. You've probably wondered more than once how to remove pre-installed apps in Windows or get rid of that annoying bloatware that only takes up space and gets in the way. Today more than ever, having a clean and optimized system is key to avoiding unnecessary slowdowns and enjoying a user experience tailored to your needs.

In this guide, you'll discover all the current and effective ways to uninstall pre-installed apps, junk programs, and bloatware on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. We've compiled manual, automated, and third-party software methods, along with detailed guidelines, warnings to avoid surprises, and tips to get your computer running like new. You'll also have the option to recover deleted apps if you ever change your mind.

What are bloatware and pre-installed apps in Windows?

Before we begin with the uninstallation methods, it's important to understand what we're talking about. Bloatware is the collection of programs and applications that come pre-installed on your Windows computer by the computer manufacturer or Microsoft . Often, you don't need them; they might be trial versions, demos, useless utilities, promotional apps, or duplicate tools that only take up space and, in some cases, even consume resources in the background.

There are two main categories of pre-installed programs : those that come with Windows (Microsoft applications such as Mail, Calendar, OneDrive, etc.) and those added by the manufacturer ( Lenovo , HP, Dell, Asus, Acer, Toshiba, Sony…), which usually include specific utilities, games, management suites, antivirus demos or support tools.

Why should you remove bloatware and pre-installed apps? In addition to freeing up disk space and resources, you'll have a cleaner system startup, fewer background processes, a lower risk of vulnerabilities, and less data sent to third parties or Microsoft (telemetry).

Note that bloatware is generally not dangerous and does not contain malware , except in rare cases, but it can cause annoyances, advertising intrusion, slowdowns, and loss of privacy.

How to identify bloatware and unnecessary programs

It's not always obvious which apps you can remove without affecting Windows' performance. Programs that are often considered bloatware are those that:

• They bear the name or brand of the computer manufacturer (e.g., “Lenovo Solution Center”, “TOSHIBA Assist”).
• They include pre-installed games, demos, trial versions, and the manufacturer's own support utilities.
• Microsoft apps that you rarely use (e.g., Paint 3D, Xbox Game Bar, Movies & TV, etc.).

In many cases, simply reviewing the list of programs and applications in Settings or Control Panel is enough to identify what you don't recognize or use.

What about telemetry? Many pre-installed apps send usage and diagnostic data to Microsoft. If you're concerned about your privacy, you should review and disable all telemetry-related settings. You can disable the sending of optional data from Settings > Privacy & security > Feedback & diagnostics.

List of the most common bloatware and pre-installed programs

Depending on the make and model of your computer, you may encounter various annoying programs. Some classic ones, depending on the manufacturer, are:

• Lenovo: Lenovo PowerDVD, OneKey Recovery, Solution Center, Energy Management, Lenovo YouCam.
• Dell: Dell Support Center, DataSafe, Stage, Edoc Viewer, Roxio Creator, Bing Bar.
• Acer: Acer Updater, Welcome Center, eRecovery Management, Nero 9 Essentials, MyWinLocker Suite.
• ASUS: Asus WebStorage, Live Update, FancyStart, SmartLogon, Power4Gear Hybrid.
• Sony: VAIO Care, Media Gallery, PlayMemories, Gate, ArcSoft WebCam, VAIO Smart Network.
• Toshiba: Recovery Media Creator, Web Camera App, Bulletin Board, Face Recognition, ConfigFree.

There's also native Windows bloatware like Alarms & Clock, Calculator, Contacts, Mail & Calendar, Photos, Groove Music, Paint 3D, Xbox, Movies & TV, Your Phone, Microsoft Solitaire Collection, and more.

Manual methods to remove pre-installed applications in Windows

Let's now look at all the possible methods, from simplest to most advanced, for removing bloatware and native apps, both in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

1. Using Windows Settings (for basic users)

The most common option is from the Settings menu:

• Click the button Home and search Configuration ("the gear").
• Choose Applications and then Applications and features.
• Review the list of programs and locate the one you want to remove.
• Click on the app and press uninstall. Follow the instructions on the screen.

Some applications, especially those from Windows itself, cannot be uninstalled using this method : the button will appear grayed out or not at all. However, it works with many programs from the manufacturer and quite a bit of traditional bloatware.

2. From the Start menu (right click)

Another quick way is to right-click the app from the Start menu and choose Uninstall . This method is usually only available for certain UWP apps or those installed from the Microsoft Store.

3. Uninstall native Windows 10 and 11 apps using PowerShell

Here we get a little more technical, but the process is pretty straightforward:

• Click Start, search PowerShell, right click and choose Run as administrator.
• Run this command to see all installed apps:
  Get-AppxPackage
• Find the exact name of the app you want to remove in the list.
• Run the following to remove it (replace AppName with the actual name):
  Get-AppxPackage *NombreDeLaAplicación* | Remove-AppxPackage

For example, to remove Groove Music:
Get-AppxPackage zunemusic | Remove-AppxPackage

This command only affects the current userIf you have multiple users and want to delete the app for all of them:
Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage –Online –zunemusic

Important warning: Do not choose to remove system-critical apps, as this could make Windows unstable.

List of code names for native Windows 10 and 11 apps

• 3D Builder: 3dbuilder
• Alarms and clock: Alarms
• Calculator: calculator
• Calendar and Mail: communications apps
• Camera: room
• Movies and TV: Zunevideo
• Get Office: officehub
• Skype: skypeapp
• Get Started: getstarted
• Groove Music: ZuneMusic
• Maps: maps
• Posts: messaging
• Microsoft Solitaire Collection: click here.
• News: bingnews
• OneNote: OneNote
• Photos: gallery
• Voice recorder: sound recorder
• Weather: bingweather
• Xbox: xbox

4. Remove applications using the program's uninstall tool

Some programs, especially third-party or manufacturer-made ones, have their own uninstaller:

• Find the program in the Start menu, open its folder and locate the uninstaller (a file uninstall.exe or similar).
• Double-click and follow the instructions.
• You can also find these uninstallers in the installation folder, accessed through File Explorer.

5. Classic Control Panel

In Windows 10 and 11, you can still access Control Panel > Programs and Features , select the unwanted program, and click Uninstall . This is a traditional method that still works quite well with Win32 programs (not modern UWP apps).

6. Task Manager to close blocked processes

If a program refuses to uninstall because it is in use, you can:

• Open the Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+I).
• Locate the application process and choose Finish homework.
• Please try uninstalling again using any of the above methods.

7. Safe Mode

In very stubborn cases, restart in safe mode (from Settings > Update & Security > Recovery or by pressing F8 at startup) and try uninstalling the program from there.

8. System Restore

If you accidentally installed bloatware or your system is unstable, you can restore Windows to a previous point from Settings > System > About > System protection.

9. Clean up “ghosts” in the Control Panel

Sometimes, after uninstalling programs , orphaned entries remain in the registry. To clean up these remnants, it's recommended to carefully use registry cleaners, although it's best not to manually edit the registry unless you're an advanced user.

Third-party tools to remove bloatware on Windows

If manual methods don't appeal to you, there are specialized tools and third-party scripts that automate the process and allow you to remove applications that can't be deleted conventionally. Let's look at the most recommended and up-to-date ones:

1. Windows10Debloater and Win11Debloat

These are PowerShell-based scripts and small applications capable of instantly removing most of the typical bloatware from Windows 10 and Windows 11. They are free and open source.

How are they used?

1. Open PowerShell as administrator.
2. For Windows 10: You can use the command:
   iwr -useb https://git.io/debloat|iex
3. For Windows 11: Run:
   & ([scriptblock]::Create((irm "https://win11debloat.raphi.re/")))
4. A window will automatically appear with options to remove massive bloatware, disable telemetry, ads, and other intrusive features.
5. You can select Remove all bloatware to delete everything, or make a custom selection.

Caution: These scripts can delete important apps and services if the list isn't carefully reviewed. It's recommended to create a backup beforehand.

2. Bloatbox

Especially useful for Windows 10, Bloatbox is free, portable (no installation required), and extremely lightweight. It allows you to view all installed applications , both system and user-installed, and easily remove them selectively.

Advantages: You can add and remove apps from a list, view system applications, and delete many of them at once. However, if you don't recognize a name, it's best to search for it online first to avoid deleting critical apps.

3. 10AppsManager

Another very easy-to-use tool, also free and portable. Once you download and run it, you'll see a visual list of all the pre-installed Modern apps in Windows 10. You can remove them individually or all at once. It also allows you to restore the apps if you need them later.

4.chemo

Chemo goes a step further by allowing you to remove built-in features like Cortana, as well as classic bloatware. It's also portable and very lightweight. If the bloatware reappears after any update, simply run Chemo or 10AppsManager again.

5. CCleaner

A more general-purpose solution. CCleaner allows you to delete applications and programs, both native and third-party, and clean up traces left behind after uninstalling them. It's powerful and requires some practice to take advantage of all its features without removing unnecessary items.

6. Windows 10 App Remover

Specialized in removing preinstalled software on Windows 10. Just tap the app you want to remove and that's it. It's free, portable, and easy to use, even for novice users.

Deep Uninstall: Format your computer and reinstall Windows from scratch

In extreme situations, or if you want to restore your computer to its factory settings without any bloatware, the best option is to perform a clean installation of Windows . This removes all existing content, including programs added by the manufacturer, and allows you to install only what you actually need.

Windows has several tools for this:

• Refresh Windows Tool (on Windows 10): Allows you to reinstall the system by deleting non-native apps, including unwanted Microsoft apps (such as Office, OneDrive, etc.).
• Reset this PC: From Settings > System > Recovery you can choose to keep only your personal files or erase everything.
• Media Creation Tool: Recommended to reinstall Windows 10 or 11 from scratch using a USB or DVD.

Remember to have your Windows license or Microsoft account handy . Back up your personal files before performing a clean reinstall.

This method ensures that, after the reinstallation, the system only has the essential software that you deliberately choose to add. However, some Microsoft apps may be automatically reinstalled along with Windows 10 and 11 after the upgrade or installation.

Restore removed pre-installed apps in Windows

If you change your mind and want to recover the deleted Windows apps, you can reinstall them using PowerShell:

Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppxManifest.xml"}

This reinstalls all system apps for all users. Some third-party utilities, such as 10AppsManager, also allow you to easily restore individual apps.