12 ms·

Debloating Windows 10 with one command and no internet scripts

274 points by gjsman-1000 4y ago

vermaden 4y ago
Windows 10 user should ho 'all the way' and use Atlas OS - which is Windows 10 'redesigned for gaming' Atlas users can enjoy: - higher framerate - lowered input delay & latency Great for people on a low-end system or high-end gaming machine. Its for gaming but it has all the 'bullshit' cut out and/or disabled. Details here: https://atlasos.net/ https://atlasos.net/ Regards.
NayamAmarshe 4y ago
A wise man once said, "When you need debloating, you cannot debloat. For life is full of bloatware we cannot ever sense"
azeemba 4y ago
I hadn't heard of this command. `Get-AppxPackage` seems to enumerate all the packages that the post talks about so its a good way to explore in a non-destructive way. It does remove the Microsoft Store and WSL with it which is important to me. Maybe a safer strategy is to look through that list and remove specifically the ones that are annoying
- huslage 4y ago
  It's probably easier to just remove everything and then add back what you want.
  - Eisenstein 4y ago
    It is incredibly difficult to re-add the MS store if you remove it. Consider it non-revert-able. Just a warning in case someone thinks that is what you meant by your comment.
    - Kranar 4y ago
      Get-AppXPackage *WindowsStore* -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
      - metadat 4y ago
        Did you have this command memorized, or are you natively highly competent in PowerShell? (I'm a BASH loving freak and haven't spent any time learning WinPS.)
        spoils19 4y ago
        In my experience, most greybeards on this forum will be able to recall that command from memory. It's part of the reason why HN is the place to be, these days.
        sonofhans 4y ago
        Sheeeeeit, I had grey in my beard before the Windows store even _existed_.
        TeMPOraL 4y ago
        These days, if you're serious about tech in itself, and not just its money-making potential, you're bound to get stress-induced grey hair and beard very fast...
        kyriakos 4y ago
        Every time I tried to learn poweshell I am always put off by the capitalization and verbosity of commands. Not sure if I'd be feeling this way had I used poweshell first before being exposed to bash and windows cmd.
        abdusco 4y ago
        It's verbose, sure, but it has great autocomplete support to go along with it.
- Brian_K_White 4y ago
  The advantage of including everything, or the problem with trying to cherry-pick, is that many problems are only the result of the partial but incomplete sets of interoperating components. If service A is always trying to use service B, but you removed service B, you can have annoying problems caused by service A hanging and timing out behind the scenes or presenting buttons that don't work etc. One way to avoid that is never remove anything, but another way is to remove both A and B. One way to get both A and B without knowing what they are, is get everything. And this particular method, using an actually fairly managed and graceful command (managed/graceful meaning not just removing files and editing the registry, but only running a user-facing command and interface) is like an automatic filter to include only things that don't actually break the OS.
  - Godel_unicode 4y ago
    Have you tried this method yet? Appx packages tend to be very good about declaring their dependencies so that removal is easy and safe. They’re not suggesting deleting individual files or mucking with the registry, they’re talking about using a clean, user-facing tool just in a more surgical and thoughtful manner.
    - Brian_K_White 4y ago
      That's what I said? Did you mean to reply to the same parent comment I did? I fully agree this is a quite good trick, or at least is a solid theory, not claiming to have done it.
      - deleted 4y ago
        [deleted]
- Godel_unicode 4y ago
  Yeah, I don’t understand the laziness of this option. The list isn’t that long, just figure out which packages you don’t want, put them in a text file, then iterate over that file and remove them. Repeatable and easy to back out out because you know what you removed. All in you’re talking less than an hour if you decide to google every single package in the list.
pseufaux 4y ago
Did something similar at one point and found that this breaks the ability to install certain windows optional features.
- scotty79 4y ago
  Ouch, that's rough.
- lproven 4y ago
  You say that like it's a bad thing. ;-) Part of my idea of happiness on a Windows box is to look at the list of optional features and see only unticked boxes.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
javajosh 4y ago
DIRE WARNING: This will remove WSL and WSL2. If you use these packages, stop and do not execute.
- gjsman-1000 4y ago
  Added a notice about that, as I recommend using a fresh Windows install for a very specific purpose, not anything you are currently running or even necessarily a home system (as the context about it being a new setup would hopefully indicate). Though, to be fair, I did write originally "After running the command, you will just have the Windows folders, Microsoft Edge, and Settings. And that’s literally it – no Microsoft Store, no Apps, just Windows and a Web Browser." (WSL2 obviously included if you think about it...)
  - Dylan16807 4y ago
    > (WSL2 obviously included if you think about it...) It's not "obviously" included. WSL doesn't have any particular reason to need the store, and there used to be a version that didn't need the store. I don't know why you would expect people to know exactly what happens. It's not like all the other random console commands get removed.
    - prmoustache 4y ago
      AFAIK WSL doesn't need the store. Preconfigured WSL Linux images are distributed through it but that's it. Since I wasn't a fan of ubuntu, I exported a fedora docker image as tar file and imported it with wsl --import on my company's windows laptop. This is documented in numerous blogs and on the microsoft documentation website. Having said that, I still haven't found any good incentive to use WSL over say, a Linux VM. It is not like the integration is so much better done, I'd rather hide the terrible windows UI and use an X11 or wayland window manager in full screen.
- scotty79 4y ago
  But you can install it back again if you need it, right?
csdvrx 4y ago
One man's trash is another man's treasure? One user's bloat is another user's core feature!
- accrual 4y ago
  Reminds of me of a relevant XKCD: https://xkcd.com/1172/ https://xkcd.com/1172/ Interpretation: A bug causing the CPU to overheat when spacebar was pressed was removed, and of course, one user leveraged this as a feature.
syntaxing 4y ago
Installed windows on a computer for the first time in about 5 years. I was surprised to see how much bloatware were pre installed (Spotify, TikTok, Instagram, etc). It’s crazy what Windows have become.
- EugeneOZ 4y ago
  Really? Do they preinstall TikTok?
  - jaywalk 4y ago
    No. The listed software is not preinstalled by Microsoft. OP must have used an OEM version that includes it.
    - EugeneOZ 4y ago
      Thanks. It would be insane.
    - shaicoleman 4y ago
      TikTok comes as one of the pinned item on a clean Windows 11 Pro install downloaded directly from Microsoft. https://snipboard.io/6VgivQ.jpg https://snipboard.io/6VgivQ.jpg
    - Sakos 4y ago
      I installed W11 from the ISO I downloaded directly from Microsoft a few months back and it had all these apps pinned (though likely not actually installed).
  - urbandw311er 4y ago
    I installed Windows 11 for my mum last week and can confirm there was definitely a pinned link to TikTok in the start menu tiles. This was by default after a clean install. (Unclear if app was installed or a link to install, but I just nuked it obvs)
    - 4y ago
yuuta 4y ago
Better way: use Get-AppxProvisionedPackage and Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage during OOBE to remove them for all users. Bonus: Use these cmdlets on a offline mounted WIM image to build a custom image without bloats.
- yihanwu1024 4y ago
  Sounds like what I've done: https://github.com/yihanwu1024/Cleanup-Wim.ps1 https://github.com/yihanwu1024/Cleanup-Wim.ps1
Someone1234 4y ago
This will break a bunch of stuff. Microsoft has put some bloat in Appx packages, but this is definitely throwing the baby out with the bathwater, you're essentially nuking stuff based on its installation method rather than anything meaningful. But, sure, go right ahead remove .Net Native Runtime, VCLIbs, the ability to login to guest WiFi, and Parental Controls at minimum. Who needs THAT stuff? Then just go ahead and start changing random things in gpedit because a blog told you to. Honestly, my biggest pet-peeve with these debloating things (articles, scripts, tools) is that they never explain WHY for each thing. That is seemingly because the people building these things just copy/pasted someone else's without really understanding the original WHY of it. Multiple of them make Windows objectively less secure. Maybe someone should build a debloater that describes exactly what [thing] is and if you want [thing]. Then also confirm that removing or disabling [thing] won't cause Windows Update to get into an install/rollback/install death spiral.
- gjsman-1000 4y ago
  > is that they never explain WHY for each thing Hello, author here. I don't understand this criticism, because I specified in the article exactly why I was using this command, for this use case. I am setting up a computer specifically for CAD and CAM software, and it serves no other purpose - all I want it to do is run my industrial applications, and that's it, anything else is bloat to me. I don't advise everyone use it for every computer, but rather that it works for me very well when setting up PCs for industrial settings. As for the VCLibs, and .NET Native, they can be reinstalled afterwards from an Appx package, so if it ever became an issue, it's easier for me to nuke and add back, but that's just my opinion. Both, however, are libraries for running applications, not security updates, which are left intact by this method as this does not remove or affect Windows Defender or Windows Update. Therefore, if my CAD software doesn't need VCLibs or .NET Native to function, I don't have any loss in security - just in the number of apps I can run. > Multiple of them make Windows objectively less secure. I wrote this article because it does not mess with Windows Update, or run any random de-bloating scripts from the internet. For many people, not running a random internet script for de-bloating is a desirable attribute, and I don't see how this would make a PC less secure.
holsta 4y ago
> [..] it’s a great one-line, easily memorable tool for cleaning up a PC quickly for an industrial use case without any security risks. I deal with many OT/ICS vendors and they would all refuse to support their app on a Windows system modified in this manner. I think such an article should mention the -WhatIf option, so you get an idea of all the important things about to be removed. Get-AppxPackage | Remove-AppPackage -WhatIf On my systems that includes VCLibs, .Net frameworks. I would not do this.
- gjsman-1000 4y ago
  > On my systems that includes VCLibs, .Net frameworks. I would not do this. Edit: There was a long paragraph here, but I've decided to simplify. The AppX .NET Framework, AppX .NET Native, and VCLibs are all UWP support packages and Win32-inside-Microsoft-Store support packages. If you run this script, fully knowing that the Microsoft Store is being removed, you won't have any packages that need them, and their loss is almost certainly irrelevant.
  - crazygringo 4y ago
    That's a lot of "primarily", "most", "a very good chance", "if you have no"... :P So I get your point, but it also sounds awfully optimistic... ;) (I see you got downvoted, but it wasn't me.)
    - gjsman-1000 4y ago
      I keep saying primarily because I haven't actually run into any Win32 applications, even large ones (Fusion 360, FreeCAD, Steam), that don't run without them, which is a good sign. I keep saying that as a disclaimer just in case, because I don't want to be on the record saying "it won't" even if it has never happened thus far. So... that's why I recommend VM first. That's why it's important to keep in mind what VCLibs and .NET Native are for, which is UWP and Microsoft Store apps, not Win32 ones, which makes sense for why they wouldn't be affected.
      - 4y ago
kriz9 4y ago
I would happily pay Microsoft just to have the minimal Windows without all the bloat. Windows does window management well. That's good. That is all I need. Stop trying to shove these half finished applications with bad UX/ads down my throat and let someone else figure this out.
- accrual 4y ago
  You can in fact buy a minimal edition of Windows from Microsoft, e.g. Windows 10 LTSC. However, to buy it legally one needs to jump through some hoops (I think you need to have an Azure or enterprise account, or something) before being able to buy a license.
  - xist 4y ago
    Enterprise is more what you're looking for, LTSC is designed for special use cases only. https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/ltsc-what-is-it-and-when-should-it-be-used/ba-p/293181 https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/l... has some examples of why you don't want to use it except in cases. The most likely reason is a stripped down version of periphal support, no new feature releases etc. It's more of set and forget installations rather than a daily driver.
    - chii 4y ago
      which is actually good, i'd say, because i don't want my machine to suddenly stop working because some peripheral driver was updated and conflicts with some other driver, or cause system instability.
- encryptluks2 4y ago
  Wouldn't it be better to just give up on Microsoft and make a difference towards an OS that doesn't continuously implement shady practices?
  - kriz9 4y ago
    It would be better. If any other OS gets as good in window management as Windows is right now I would happily make the switch. MacOS is close (with extra apps) but it is not there yet unfortunately. And that is why MS can get away with this.
t0bia_s 4y ago
Thanks for this! I'll definitely use it during next OS reinstall. Togather with some telemetry remover.
jareklupinski 4y ago
I wish MS would allow at least some "technically difficult but still possible" side-channel for installing Windows Enterprise LTSC Builds. That version grants basically the same experience as the linked article, but out-of-the-box, and nothing is broken.
- Nextgrid 4y ago
  The blocker with Enterprise/LTSC is the cost and difficulty of obtaining a license to use it legally, not the installation. If you don't mind breaking the terms of the license and/or possibly the law it's trivial to obtain: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-10-enterprise https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-... and you just need to reinstall every 90 days when the evaluation period runs out.
- npteljes 4y ago
  In my region (Hungary, EU) you can buy keys for it for $50, all legal.
tremon 4y ago
> Get-AppxPackage | Remove-AppxPackage I figured it was this one. Note that this will remove Windows Store apps, including Edge (Chromium) plugins, which may not be what you want. So, it's safe to run on a fresh install to get rid of the preinstalled bloatware, but don't run it blindly on any system.
laurentlb 4y ago
Thanks for sharing the tip! It was hard for me to weigh the pros and cons based on the article. Some questions that you might want to answer in the blog post to make it more useful: - Will it make my computer noticeably faster? Or just the Windows startup? Or reduce the memory consumption? Or just simplify the UI? ("bloat" is not well defined) - How much disk space can I expect to get back? - How do I know if it will remove something that I find useful? - If I run the command, how can I revert it later? How can I install a package back?
- gjsman-1000 4y ago
  I mentioned this in the article but should probably emphasize it: I strongly recommend using a virtual machine, running it, and then trying it out and seeing how well it works for your use-case. If it works well for you, then use it on a fresh install. I never recommend using it on an existing installation. Ultimately, I don't know what apps you need or use or what features you need - so, trying it on an old computer, or in a VM, will best answer your question.
pleb_nz 4y ago
I tried this some years back with limited success. 1. Some apps were removed while some weren't 2. Some apps returned after updates. Now given up on windows.
SPBS 4y ago
I actually like Microsoft Store for its ability to update PowerShell for you.
- metadat 4y ago
  Is there a way to get a listing of what will be removed and then only wipe out selected egregious bloatware offenses like Candy Crush Saga, Xbox Console Companion, Mixed Reality Portal, Facebook, Instagram, Netflix, Prime Video, Skype, Hidden City: Hidden Object Adventure, Twitter , Print 3D, Fitbit Coach, Farmville 2, Adobe Express, 3D Viewer, Feedback Hub, OneDrive, MS Teams, ClipChamp, etc.
  - JoeyBananas 4y ago
    Am I understanding correctly that those apps are installed on Windows by default? That's crazy.
    - metadat 4y ago
      Correct. This isn't even the complete list. The bloatware bundled with Windows by default today is arguably worse and more extreme than at any point in the past, even compared to the bundling done in the early 2000s by Compaq and HP.
  - xist 4y ago
    On a vanilla windows installation, almost all of those are only shortcuts to install the application is included as a convenience to endusers who may want this. You can confirm this by looking at the size of the application when you goto uninstall it.
    - metadat 4y ago
      Interesting, though more irksome than wasting storage, these all congest and pollute the Start Menu.
- Dylan16807 4y ago
suby 4y ago
In my experience, attempts to debloat or fix Windows results in a broken system sooner or later, after a sufficient amount of updates have elapsed. Nowadays I treat Windows as I would a force of nature -- There's no negotiating or changing it, I just let it roll in and do whatever it's going to do.
- bipson 4y ago
  Well, there are alternatives...
  - sentientslug 4y ago
    This is such a trite and unhelpful comment. Everyone on HN knows there are alternatives (which are not even true alternatives as far as compatibility with most software is concerned)
    - bipson 4y ago
      Thanks for your comment. But I disagree -- almost no one has to "just accept his fate" and be stuck with Windows nowadays. Unless you are a gamer or you strictly work with Windows only software, there are plenty of alternatives. And just to be clear, nowadays you might not find everything for Linux or BSD, but there are quite a lot of perfectly fine MacOS alternatives for most Win tools.
- smt88 4y ago
  > attempts to debloat or fix Windows results in a broken system sooner or later My anecdotal experience is the opposite, after ~20 years of de-bloating and customizing Windows. The updates seem to just reset the de-bloating, rather than breaking things.
  - anfilt 4y ago
    I don't use windows as much I used to anymore, but this is my experience as well. Mainly, been using linux for the past 4 years. However, I say part of the problem is that windows updates are pushed out in a big blob instead the update being pushed in a more granular fashion. This ends up in with sometimes an update containing files or setting for something you removed. There is no reason it has be like this, but that is how updates work on windows, and I don't think Microsoft is going to change that any time soon. I am imagine in theory it would be possible for a community to break down each update into smaller discrete chunks. However, the community would have to be a decent size and dedicated enough to keep up with the rate MS rolls out updates. Also there some things like Edge and Cortana that current day windows is not very happy with if you nuke it from the system.
supermatou 4y ago
Alternatively, you could use a freeware from a reputable German company - O&O AppBuster - to uninstall (or reinstall previously removed apps) in a more visual, user-friendly interface. Don't forget to explore the View menu, where you can select Normal Apps, Hidden Apps, Store Apps, System Apps, Framework Apps. https://www.oo-software.com/en/ooappbuster https://www.oo-software.com/en/ooappbuster EDIT: While you're there, check their other freeware - O&O Shut Up10++ (i.e. also works for Windows 11) I've been using it for years, with zero problems (other than Windows resetting some policies after a major upgrade).
- alibert 4y ago
  Been using Shut Up 10 for a while and I confirm it's a great tool that doesn't nuke your system. My current Windows 11 (latest version) was upgraded since the first released version of Windows 10 (2015). It survived two CPU changes, one MB change and it's still working fine. Pretty amazed by that.
xnx 4y ago
One person's bloat is another's critical feature.
- 1vuio0pswjnm7 4y ago
  One person's critical feature is another person's bloat. Every user is different. By pre-installing "features" and setting defaults in ways that benefit the company, the "tech" company can effectively remove, hide and/or discourage user choice. What is the size reduction in Windows after using the method described here. Wouldn't there be many drivers still (pre-)installed that the user's single application or Edge would never need.
- unixbotnuke 4y ago
  One person's bloat is another Microsoft PM KPI target. This is great, if M$ is going to still be a defacto monopoly in the business world we need an OS that does what you tell it to, and nothing more.
mmphosis 4y ago
I have two lines: linux /@/boot/vmlinuz-x.x.x-x-generic root=UUID=x-x-x-x-x ro rootflags=subvol=@ quiet splash initrd /@/boot/initrd.img-x.x.x-x-generic
- maxicarlos08 4y ago
  Doesn't debloat windows and isn't helpful for people who have to use it
  - FrostKiwi 4y ago
    It was a joke about using linux instead...
Alifatisk 4y ago
This tool really improved my Windows 10 experience and lowered the idle load to 5% https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/winutil https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/winutil
imiric 4y ago
I might use this in a VM, where I typically only want the bare minimum of features. But this won't block all of the ~spyware~ telemetry built into Windows, and I definitely wouldn't run it on a real machine. Right now I'm using Windows 10 Ameliorated[1] in VMs, which is much more lightweight than the official builds. I haven't done any deep inspections to see if itself introduces some spyware, but it works fine for my purposes. Has anyone done any research into this build and know if it can be trusted? [1]: https://ameliorated.info/ https://ameliorated.info/
- Eisenstein 4y ago
  > I haven't done any deep inspections to see if itself introduces some spyware I have, in that you can build your own version using their instructions and scripts, and I have read the scripts thoroughly. There is a binary blob at the end of one of them which gets decoded and installed, but you can strip it out easily enough. As well there are a few downloads that it pulls and installs -- also easy to comment that out and affects very little. They like to mess with the GUI and that is a matter of taste (they make the new settings panel inoperable so I remove that part from the script). I have also checked network traffic on an edge device to see what an AME install sends out. It is fine.
gigel82 4y ago
Appx packages are not where the bloat is. These are "store" / UWP apps which are generally sandboxed / very restricted in API access - so they take up disk space but not much else after you close them. Sure, if your goal is to save a bit of disk space, this will help; but I suspect when most people think about "bloat" they think of things that slow down their computer (things that actively consume memory / cpu / network). In my experience, that bloat is mostly services and scheduled tasks. I started collecting scripts / documentation on debloating with a primary focus on restoring privacy here: https://github.com/TemporalAgent7/awesome-windows-privacy https://github.com/TemporalAgent7/awesome-windows-privacy (it's not very maintained but maybe someone finds something useful there)
EVa5I7bHFq9mnYK 4y ago
I use W10Privacy (does work with w11!). Takes 5 minutes. Default debloating and de-spying options are pretty good, but you can customize everything. I usually re-run it after every major update, but honestly haven't noticed that Windows tries to re-enable anything suspicious after updates.
shmerl 4y ago
A better way to debloat it - install Linux ;)
alerighi 4y ago
I do this for every Windows installation that is used for similar purposes, like embedded machines that has to run a single application, virtual machines, etc. For who says that this will break the system: it will not, provided that you only need to run win32 applications (as it's almost the case). It's basically the same thing that Windows 10 LTSC (or now Windows 10 IoT I think it was renamed) does, that is not have any appx package installed beside Edge and few system packages. You of course loose a couple of utilities, such as the calculator (but you can simply do calculations in powershell, python or whatever), the image viewer (you can view images in Paint) and audio/video player (just install VLC or open them with a browser). If you need the store you can reinstall it afterwards, and then use the store to reinstall any software you need, that is faster than manually removing all the bloatware that is installed (like Candy Crush and stupid stuff that shouldn't even be there in the first place!)
- gjsman-1000 4y ago
  > You of course loose a couple of utilities, such as the calculator (but you can simply do calculations in powershell, python or whatever), the image viewer (you can view images in Paint) and audio/video player (just install VLC or open them with a browser). This is, technically speaking, only if you run the script from Windows 11. Windows 10 still has Paint, WordPad, Windows Media Player, Remote Desktop, and some others as unpackaged system components that aren't in the Store. So, if you are still on 10, you won't have that issue.
- jakogut 4y ago
  > I do this for every Windows installation that is used for similar purposes, like embedded machines that has to run a single application, virtual machines, etc. Have you tried running Linux for these use cases? This sort of thing is an area Linux excels, in my experience. When you run Windows, you're in for the whole kit and caboodle. Most of the components are proprietary, closed-source black boxes. You can only poke and prod and test and hope things don't break in unexpected ways. Conversely, Linux can be easy stripped down to a bare bones kernel and a single statically-linked binary. I can run a useful application on top of Linux with the whole system weighing in smaller than bootmgfw.efi. Something more complex, but still custom, is easily crafted with Buildroot. https://buildroot.org/ https://buildroot.org/
xist 4y ago
A lot of people who run this commands don't actually know what happens under the hood, and the repercussions. Nor do they understand what this does. It's turned into internet folklore by people "just run this and good stuff happens, i don't know exactly what but trust me"
- gjsman-1000 4y ago
  That shouldn't stop the flow of information, because there is no way to make anything idiot-proof. "Just download this Linux ISO and good stuff happens" could be equally apt. For this reason, I have put every disclaimer and warning that I reasonably can, and defined the use-case clearly (a few apps where anything else is bloat). "Try it on a fresh install, on a VM or old PC, first." And, in a recent update to the post, a script by Microsoft for undoing it if necessary. If people don't listen, that's not my issue if I warned them as clearly as I could.
  - xist 4y ago
    I do somewhat agree, however the title is a bit misleading then IMHO. It's not so much a debloat as it is a how to make a very customized installation for your very specific environment. Splitting hairs perhaps, but a lot of people don't/won't understand the difference - or why you did this. Most non home users use Windows Enterprise and GPOs to achieve these results, where things are more fine tuned and can be reversed as needed.
    - gjsman-1000 4y ago
      > It's not so much a debloat as it is a how to make a very customized installation for your very specific environment. Perhaps, but the main feature was that it was a debloat without requiring an internet script. There are plenty of scripts and tools out there for de-bloating, but nothing so quick for a stock install that might not even have internet. > and can be reversed as needed I have added a Microsoft-written script in an update to the article which reinstalls all stock AppX packages.
nwah1 4y ago
A number of the apps that appear to be pre-installed on Windows actually aren't. They simply show up in the start menu, and it installs it on the first time you click to run the program. There are quite a lot of important dev-friendly programs that can be easily installed through the store such as Windows Terminal, Powershell 7, WSL, and WinGet. Indeed, most of those can only be installed through the store (or equivalent APPX powershell commands). Even notepad and friends now auto-update through the store. WinGet is the new Windows Package Manager, and it is basically just apt-get or pacman for Windows. It is an APPX bundle that you can get through the store. You definitely want it. Leave the darn store on. If you don't trust Microsoft, then don't use Windows. A lot of people go the other direction and want to restrict to only use the store for downloads. It gives you the added security peace of mind that you would get on a phone, and for Windows-on-ARM it may be your only realistic option.
- rahkiin 4y ago
  It is a sad day discovering corporate IT blocks the use of any package manager and has custom, limited, store content.
- yjftsjthsd-h 4y ago
  > Leave the darn store on. If you don't trust Microsoft, then don't use Windows Having legacy apps doesn't mean you trust MS.
  - nwah1 4y ago
    But having the store doesn't prevent legacy apps from installing, and the store provides a number of developer-friendly tools that will improve your ability to support legacy apps.
    - fyloraspit 4y ago
      But people can and will use their computers how they wish to
- maverickmax90 4y ago
1vuio0pswjnm7 4y ago
I always wanted to run WinPE, or a custom bootable WIM file, from a USB stick. AFAIK, one can only create this using full-blown Windows, which for me defeats the purpose. I have also seen Microsoft go as far as time-limiting PE so that computer continuously reboots automatically after a short elapsed time. "Windows PE is not a general-purpose operating system. It may not be used for any purpose other than deployment and recovery. It should not be used as a thin client or an embedded operating system. There are other Microsoft products, such as Windows Embedded CE, which may be used for these purposes. To prevent its use as a production operating system, Windows PE automatically stops running the shell and restarts after 72 hours of continuous use. This period is not configurable." https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/winpe-intro https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufactur...
- yjftsjthsd-h 4y ago
  Microsoft is a commercial company that cares about not cannibalizing their own sales. Open source maintainers generally don't care
- TeMPOraL 4y ago
  Oh, the memories. The only time I ever saw a WinPE in practice is in high school, when a friend made a stripped down version of Windows that booted straight to StarCraft: Brood War. A nice proof of concept, but wasn't used much in practice, as every single student-accessible computer would somehow, organically, grow an SC:BW copy within few hours of being turned on without it.
  - xen2xen1 4y ago
    Sergei Strelec is the bomb.
- rzzzt 4y ago
  My fantasy project from the same category is "Windows from scratch", where I set up the NT bootloader and kernel (possibly CSRSS, LSASS as well) but step into an Msys2 userspace from there.
- 4y ago
threadweaver34 4y ago
Windows 7 was the last good Windows. Windows 10 was the last adequate Windows.
- rolenthedeep 4y ago
  Windows 7 was the last Windows I actually wanted to use. Windows 10 is the last version of windows I'm willing to tolerate.
  - lproven 4y ago
    I agree with you both... But saying that, I don't actually use it any more, and these days, I'm finding even Linux distros uncomfortably bloated, and I'm looking for lighter ones... and trying to work out if FreeBSD would be a usable desktop OS.
kilolima 4y ago
There's also Blackbird for making windows less of a malware vector: https://www.getblackbird.net/documentation/ https://www.getblackbird.net/documentation/
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
Zurrrrr 4y ago
A better approach would be to strip out everything via NTLite and make a custom ISO.
PinkMilkshake 4y ago
You can remove any subset of packages. On any new Windows 10 install I typically do something like: Get-AppxPackage *alarm* | Remove-AppPackage Get-AppxPackage *help* | Remove-AppPackage Get-AppxPackage *xbox* | Remove-AppPackage Get-AppxPackage *zune* | Remove-AppPackage Get-AppxPackage *phone* | Remove-AppPackage ... etc
npteljes 4y ago
LTSC is easier, and it's not just for sale for enterprise users. In Hungary, maybe because of the EU, you can easily buy LTSC 2021 keys for $50, quite accessible (and legal!).
_8j50 4y ago
This is brilliant. I have used a variation of this. Someone correct me but I believe it is the newish WinRT apps that have been rewritten for the metro era that MS chose to install this way. There a few windows "features" worth removing or adding that equire a diffrent cmdlet in powershell.

274 points by gjsman-1000 4y ago

Windows 10 user should ho 'all the way' and use Atlas OS - which is Windows 10 'redesigned for gaming' Atlas users can enjoy: - higher framerate - lowered input delay & latency Great for people on a low-end system or high-end gaming machine. Its for gaming but it has all the 'bullshit' cut out and/or disabled. Details here: https://atlasos.net/ https://atlasos.net/ Regards.

NayamAmarshe 4y ago

A wise man once said, "When you need debloating, you cannot debloat. For life is full of bloatware we cannot ever sense"

azeemba 4y ago

I hadn't heard of this command. `Get-AppxPackage` seems to enumerate all the packages that the post talks about so its a good way to explore in a non-destructive way. It does remove the Microsoft Store and WSL with it which is important to me. Maybe a safer strategy is to look through that list and remove specifically the ones that are annoying

huslage 4y ago
It's probably easier to just remove everything and then add back what you want.
- Eisenstein 4y ago
  It is incredibly difficult to re-add the MS store if you remove it. Consider it non-revert-able. Just a warning in case someone thinks that is what you meant by your comment.
  - Kranar 4y ago
    Get-AppXPackage *WindowsStore* -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
    - metadat 4y ago
      Did you have this command memorized, or are you natively highly competent in PowerShell? (I'm a BASH loving freak and haven't spent any time learning WinPS.)
      - spoils19 4y ago
        In my experience, most greybeards on this forum will be able to recall that command from memory. It's part of the reason why HN is the place to be, these days.
        sonofhans 4y ago
        Sheeeeeit, I had grey in my beard before the Windows store even _existed_.
        TeMPOraL 4y ago
        These days, if you're serious about tech in itself, and not just its money-making potential, you're bound to get stress-induced grey hair and beard very fast...
      - kyriakos 4y ago
        Every time I tried to learn poweshell I am always put off by the capitalization and verbosity of commands. Not sure if I'd be feeling this way had I used poweshell first before being exposed to bash and windows cmd.
        abdusco 4y ago
        It's verbose, sure, but it has great autocomplete support to go along with it.
Brian_K_White 4y ago
The advantage of including everything, or the problem with trying to cherry-pick, is that many problems are only the result of the partial but incomplete sets of interoperating components. If service A is always trying to use service B, but you removed service B, you can have annoying problems caused by service A hanging and timing out behind the scenes or presenting buttons that don't work etc. One way to avoid that is never remove anything, but another way is to remove both A and B. One way to get both A and B without knowing what they are, is get everything. And this particular method, using an actually fairly managed and graceful command (managed/graceful meaning not just removing files and editing the registry, but only running a user-facing command and interface) is like an automatic filter to include only things that don't actually break the OS.
- Godel_unicode 4y ago
  Have you tried this method yet? Appx packages tend to be very good about declaring their dependencies so that removal is easy and safe. They’re not suggesting deleting individual files or mucking with the registry, they’re talking about using a clean, user-facing tool just in a more surgical and thoughtful manner.
  - Brian_K_White 4y ago
    That's what I said? Did you mean to reply to the same parent comment I did? I fully agree this is a quite good trick, or at least is a solid theory, not claiming to have done it.
    - deleted 4y ago
      [deleted]
Godel_unicode 4y ago
Yeah, I don’t understand the laziness of this option. The list isn’t that long, just figure out which packages you don’t want, put them in a text file, then iterate over that file and remove them. Repeatable and easy to back out out because you know what you removed. All in you’re talking less than an hour if you decide to google every single package in the list.

pseufaux 4y ago

Did something similar at one point and found that this breaks the ability to install certain windows optional features.

scotty79 4y ago
Ouch, that's rough.
lproven 4y ago
You say that like it's a bad thing. ;-) Part of my idea of happiness on a Windows box is to look at the list of optional features and see only unticked boxes.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

javajosh 4y ago

DIRE WARNING: This will remove WSL and WSL2. If you use these packages, stop and do not execute.

gjsman-1000 4y ago
Added a notice about that, as I recommend using a fresh Windows install for a very specific purpose, not anything you are currently running or even necessarily a home system (as the context about it being a new setup would hopefully indicate). Though, to be fair, I did write originally "After running the command, you will just have the Windows folders, Microsoft Edge, and Settings. And that’s literally it – no Microsoft Store, no Apps, just Windows and a Web Browser." (WSL2 obviously included if you think about it...)
- Dylan16807 4y ago
  > (WSL2 obviously included if you think about it...) It's not "obviously" included. WSL doesn't have any particular reason to need the store, and there used to be a version that didn't need the store. I don't know why you would expect people to know exactly what happens. It's not like all the other random console commands get removed.
  - prmoustache 4y ago
    AFAIK WSL doesn't need the store. Preconfigured WSL Linux images are distributed through it but that's it. Since I wasn't a fan of ubuntu, I exported a fedora docker image as tar file and imported it with wsl --import on my company's windows laptop. This is documented in numerous blogs and on the microsoft documentation website. Having said that, I still haven't found any good incentive to use WSL over say, a Linux VM. It is not like the integration is so much better done, I'd rather hide the terrible windows UI and use an X11 or wayland window manager in full screen.
scotty79 4y ago
But you can install it back again if you need it, right?

csdvrx 4y ago

One man's trash is another man's treasure? One user's bloat is another user's core feature!

accrual 4y ago
Reminds of me of a relevant XKCD: https://xkcd.com/1172/ https://xkcd.com/1172/ Interpretation: A bug causing the CPU to overheat when spacebar was pressed was removed, and of course, one user leveraged this as a feature.

syntaxing 4y ago

Installed windows on a computer for the first time in about 5 years. I was surprised to see how much bloatware were pre installed (Spotify, TikTok, Instagram, etc). It’s crazy what Windows have become.

EugeneOZ 4y ago
Really? Do they preinstall TikTok?
- jaywalk 4y ago
  No. The listed software is not preinstalled by Microsoft. OP must have used an OEM version that includes it.
  - EugeneOZ 4y ago
    Thanks. It would be insane.
  - shaicoleman 4y ago
    TikTok comes as one of the pinned item on a clean Windows 11 Pro install downloaded directly from Microsoft. https://snipboard.io/6VgivQ.jpg https://snipboard.io/6VgivQ.jpg
  - Sakos 4y ago
    I installed W11 from the ISO I downloaded directly from Microsoft a few months back and it had all these apps pinned (though likely not actually installed).
- urbandw311er 4y ago
  I installed Windows 11 for my mum last week and can confirm there was definitely a pinned link to TikTok in the start menu tiles. This was by default after a clean install. (Unclear if app was installed or a link to install, but I just nuked it obvs)
  - 4y ago

yuuta 4y ago

Better way: use Get-AppxProvisionedPackage and Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage during OOBE to remove them for all users. Bonus: Use these cmdlets on a offline mounted WIM image to build a custom image without bloats.

yihanwu1024 4y ago
Sounds like what I've done: https://github.com/yihanwu1024/Cleanup-Wim.ps1 https://github.com/yihanwu1024/Cleanup-Wim.ps1

Someone1234 4y ago

This will break a bunch of stuff. Microsoft has put some bloat in Appx packages, but this is definitely throwing the baby out with the bathwater, you're essentially nuking stuff based on its installation method rather than anything meaningful. But, sure, go right ahead remove .Net Native Runtime, VCLIbs, the ability to login to guest WiFi, and Parental Controls at minimum. Who needs THAT stuff? Then just go ahead and start changing random things in gpedit because a blog told you to. Honestly, my biggest pet-peeve with these debloating things (articles, scripts, tools) is that they never explain WHY for each thing. That is seemingly because the people building these things just copy/pasted someone else's without really understanding the original WHY of it. Multiple of them make Windows objectively less secure. Maybe someone should build a debloater that describes exactly what [thing] is and if you want [thing]. Then also confirm that removing or disabling [thing] won't cause Windows Update to get into an install/rollback/install death spiral.

gjsman-1000 4y ago
> is that they never explain WHY for each thing Hello, author here. I don't understand this criticism, because I specified in the article exactly why I was using this command, for this use case. I am setting up a computer specifically for CAD and CAM software, and it serves no other purpose - all I want it to do is run my industrial applications, and that's it, anything else is bloat to me. I don't advise everyone use it for every computer, but rather that it works for me very well when setting up PCs for industrial settings. As for the VCLibs, and .NET Native, they can be reinstalled afterwards from an Appx package, so if it ever became an issue, it's easier for me to nuke and add back, but that's just my opinion. Both, however, are libraries for running applications, not security updates, which are left intact by this method as this does not remove or affect Windows Defender or Windows Update. Therefore, if my CAD software doesn't need VCLibs or .NET Native to function, I don't have any loss in security - just in the number of apps I can run. > Multiple of them make Windows objectively less secure. I wrote this article because it does not mess with Windows Update, or run any random de-bloating scripts from the internet. For many people, not running a random internet script for de-bloating is a desirable attribute, and I don't see how this would make a PC less secure.

holsta 4y ago

> [..] it’s a great one-line, easily memorable tool for cleaning up a PC quickly for an industrial use case without any security risks. I deal with many OT/ICS vendors and they would all refuse to support their app on a Windows system modified in this manner. I think such an article should mention the -WhatIf option, so you get an idea of all the important things about to be removed. Get-AppxPackage | Remove-AppPackage -WhatIf On my systems that includes VCLibs, .Net frameworks. I would not do this.

gjsman-1000 4y ago
> On my systems that includes VCLibs, .Net frameworks. I would not do this. Edit: There was a long paragraph here, but I've decided to simplify. The AppX .NET Framework, AppX .NET Native, and VCLibs are all UWP support packages and Win32-inside-Microsoft-Store support packages. If you run this script, fully knowing that the Microsoft Store is being removed, you won't have any packages that need them, and their loss is almost certainly irrelevant.
- crazygringo 4y ago
  That's a lot of "primarily", "most", "a very good chance", "if you have no"... :P So I get your point, but it also sounds awfully optimistic... ;) (I see you got downvoted, but it wasn't me.)
  - gjsman-1000 4y ago
    I keep saying primarily because I haven't actually run into any Win32 applications, even large ones (Fusion 360, FreeCAD, Steam), that don't run without them, which is a good sign. I keep saying that as a disclaimer just in case, because I don't want to be on the record saying "it won't" even if it has never happened thus far. So... that's why I recommend VM first. That's why it's important to keep in mind what VCLibs and .NET Native are for, which is UWP and Microsoft Store apps, not Win32 ones, which makes sense for why they wouldn't be affected.
    - 4y ago

kriz9 4y ago

I would happily pay Microsoft just to have the minimal Windows without all the bloat. Windows does window management well. That's good. That is all I need. Stop trying to shove these half finished applications with bad UX/ads down my throat and let someone else figure this out.

accrual 4y ago
You can in fact buy a minimal edition of Windows from Microsoft, e.g. Windows 10 LTSC. However, to buy it legally one needs to jump through some hoops (I think you need to have an Azure or enterprise account, or something) before being able to buy a license.
- xist 4y ago
  Enterprise is more what you're looking for, LTSC is designed for special use cases only. https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/ltsc-what-is-it-and-when-should-it-be-used/ba-p/293181 https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/l... has some examples of why you don't want to use it except in cases. The most likely reason is a stripped down version of periphal support, no new feature releases etc. It's more of set and forget installations rather than a daily driver.
  - chii 4y ago
    which is actually good, i'd say, because i don't want my machine to suddenly stop working because some peripheral driver was updated and conflicts with some other driver, or cause system instability.
encryptluks2 4y ago
Wouldn't it be better to just give up on Microsoft and make a difference towards an OS that doesn't continuously implement shady practices?
- kriz9 4y ago
  It would be better. If any other OS gets as good in window management as Windows is right now I would happily make the switch. MacOS is close (with extra apps) but it is not there yet unfortunately. And that is why MS can get away with this.

t0bia_s 4y ago

Thanks for this! I'll definitely use it during next OS reinstall. Togather with some telemetry remover.

jareklupinski 4y ago

I wish MS would allow at least some "technically difficult but still possible" side-channel for installing Windows Enterprise LTSC Builds. That version grants basically the same experience as the linked article, but out-of-the-box, and nothing is broken.

Nextgrid 4y ago
The blocker with Enterprise/LTSC is the cost and difficulty of obtaining a license to use it legally, not the installation. If you don't mind breaking the terms of the license and/or possibly the law it's trivial to obtain: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-10-enterprise https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-... and you just need to reinstall every 90 days when the evaluation period runs out.
npteljes 4y ago
In my region (Hungary, EU) you can buy keys for it for $50, all legal.

tremon 4y ago

> Get-AppxPackage | Remove-AppxPackage I figured it was this one. Note that this will remove Windows Store apps, including Edge (Chromium) plugins, which may not be what you want. So, it's safe to run on a fresh install to get rid of the preinstalled bloatware, but don't run it blindly on any system.

laurentlb 4y ago

Thanks for sharing the tip! It was hard for me to weigh the pros and cons based on the article. Some questions that you might want to answer in the blog post to make it more useful: - Will it make my computer noticeably faster? Or just the Windows startup? Or reduce the memory consumption? Or just simplify the UI? ("bloat" is not well defined) - How much disk space can I expect to get back? - How do I know if it will remove something that I find useful? - If I run the command, how can I revert it later? How can I install a package back?

gjsman-1000 4y ago
I mentioned this in the article but should probably emphasize it: I strongly recommend using a virtual machine, running it, and then trying it out and seeing how well it works for your use-case. If it works well for you, then use it on a fresh install. I never recommend using it on an existing installation. Ultimately, I don't know what apps you need or use or what features you need - so, trying it on an old computer, or in a VM, will best answer your question.

pleb_nz 4y ago

I tried this some years back with limited success. 1. Some apps were removed while some weren't 2. Some apps returned after updates. Now given up on windows.

SPBS 4y ago

I actually like Microsoft Store for its ability to update PowerShell for you.

metadat 4y ago
Is there a way to get a listing of what will be removed and then only wipe out selected egregious bloatware offenses like Candy Crush Saga, Xbox Console Companion, Mixed Reality Portal, Facebook, Instagram, Netflix, Prime Video, Skype, Hidden City: Hidden Object Adventure, Twitter , Print 3D, Fitbit Coach, Farmville 2, Adobe Express, 3D Viewer, Feedback Hub, OneDrive, MS Teams, ClipChamp, etc.
- JoeyBananas 4y ago
  Am I understanding correctly that those apps are installed on Windows by default? That's crazy.
  - metadat 4y ago
    Correct. This isn't even the complete list. The bloatware bundled with Windows by default today is arguably worse and more extreme than at any point in the past, even compared to the bundling done in the early 2000s by Compaq and HP.
- xist 4y ago
  On a vanilla windows installation, almost all of those are only shortcuts to install the application is included as a convenience to endusers who may want this. You can confirm this by looking at the size of the application when you goto uninstall it.
  - metadat 4y ago
    Interesting, though more irksome than wasting storage, these all congest and pollute the Start Menu.
Dylan16807 4y ago

suby 4y ago

In my experience, attempts to debloat or fix Windows results in a broken system sooner or later, after a sufficient amount of updates have elapsed. Nowadays I treat Windows as I would a force of nature -- There's no negotiating or changing it, I just let it roll in and do whatever it's going to do.

bipson 4y ago
Well, there are alternatives...
- sentientslug 4y ago
  This is such a trite and unhelpful comment. Everyone on HN knows there are alternatives (which are not even true alternatives as far as compatibility with most software is concerned)
  - bipson 4y ago
    Thanks for your comment. But I disagree -- almost no one has to "just accept his fate" and be stuck with Windows nowadays. Unless you are a gamer or you strictly work with Windows only software, there are plenty of alternatives. And just to be clear, nowadays you might not find everything for Linux or BSD, but there are quite a lot of perfectly fine MacOS alternatives for most Win tools.
smt88 4y ago
> attempts to debloat or fix Windows results in a broken system sooner or later My anecdotal experience is the opposite, after ~20 years of de-bloating and customizing Windows. The updates seem to just reset the de-bloating, rather than breaking things.
- anfilt 4y ago
  I don't use windows as much I used to anymore, but this is my experience as well. Mainly, been using linux for the past 4 years. However, I say part of the problem is that windows updates are pushed out in a big blob instead the update being pushed in a more granular fashion. This ends up in with sometimes an update containing files or setting for something you removed. There is no reason it has be like this, but that is how updates work on windows, and I don't think Microsoft is going to change that any time soon. I am imagine in theory it would be possible for a community to break down each update into smaller discrete chunks. However, the community would have to be a decent size and dedicated enough to keep up with the rate MS rolls out updates. Also there some things like Edge and Cortana that current day windows is not very happy with if you nuke it from the system.

supermatou 4y ago

Alternatively, you could use a freeware from a reputable German company - O&O AppBuster - to uninstall (or reinstall previously removed apps) in a more visual, user-friendly interface. Don't forget to explore the View menu, where you can select Normal Apps, Hidden Apps, Store Apps, System Apps, Framework Apps. https://www.oo-software.com/en/ooappbuster https://www.oo-software.com/en/ooappbuster EDIT: While you're there, check their other freeware - O&O Shut Up10++ (i.e. also works for Windows 11) I've been using it for years, with zero problems (other than Windows resetting some policies after a major upgrade).

alibert 4y ago
Been using Shut Up 10 for a while and I confirm it's a great tool that doesn't nuke your system. My current Windows 11 (latest version) was upgraded since the first released version of Windows 10 (2015). It survived two CPU changes, one MB change and it's still working fine. Pretty amazed by that.

xnx 4y ago

One person's bloat is another's critical feature.

1vuio0pswjnm7 4y ago
One person's critical feature is another person's bloat. Every user is different. By pre-installing "features" and setting defaults in ways that benefit the company, the "tech" company can effectively remove, hide and/or discourage user choice. What is the size reduction in Windows after using the method described here. Wouldn't there be many drivers still (pre-)installed that the user's single application or Edge would never need.
unixbotnuke 4y ago
One person's bloat is another Microsoft PM KPI target. This is great, if M$ is going to still be a defacto monopoly in the business world we need an OS that does what you tell it to, and nothing more.

mmphosis 4y ago

I have two lines: linux /@/boot/vmlinuz-x.x.x-x-generic root=UUID=x-x-x-x-x ro rootflags=subvol=@ quiet splash initrd /@/boot/initrd.img-x.x.x-x-generic

maxicarlos08 4y ago
Doesn't debloat windows and isn't helpful for people who have to use it
- FrostKiwi 4y ago
  It was a joke about using linux instead...

Alifatisk 4y ago

This tool really improved my Windows 10 experience and lowered the idle load to 5% https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/winutil https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/winutil

imiric 4y ago

I might use this in a VM, where I typically only want the bare minimum of features. But this won't block all of the ~spyware~ telemetry built into Windows, and I definitely wouldn't run it on a real machine. Right now I'm using Windows 10 Ameliorated[1] in VMs, which is much more lightweight than the official builds. I haven't done any deep inspections to see if itself introduces some spyware, but it works fine for my purposes. Has anyone done any research into this build and know if it can be trusted? [1]: https://ameliorated.info/ https://ameliorated.info/

Eisenstein 4y ago
> I haven't done any deep inspections to see if itself introduces some spyware I have, in that you can build your own version using their instructions and scripts, and I have read the scripts thoroughly. There is a binary blob at the end of one of them which gets decoded and installed, but you can strip it out easily enough. As well there are a few downloads that it pulls and installs -- also easy to comment that out and affects very little. They like to mess with the GUI and that is a matter of taste (they make the new settings panel inoperable so I remove that part from the script). I have also checked network traffic on an edge device to see what an AME install sends out. It is fine.

gigel82 4y ago

Appx packages are not where the bloat is. These are "store" / UWP apps which are generally sandboxed / very restricted in API access - so they take up disk space but not much else after you close them. Sure, if your goal is to save a bit of disk space, this will help; but I suspect when most people think about "bloat" they think of things that slow down their computer (things that actively consume memory / cpu / network). In my experience, that bloat is mostly services and scheduled tasks. I started collecting scripts / documentation on debloating with a primary focus on restoring privacy here: https://github.com/TemporalAgent7/awesome-windows-privacy https://github.com/TemporalAgent7/awesome-windows-privacy (it's not very maintained but maybe someone finds something useful there)

EVa5I7bHFq9mnYK 4y ago

I use W10Privacy (does work with w11!). Takes 5 minutes. Default debloating and de-spying options are pretty good, but you can customize everything. I usually re-run it after every major update, but honestly haven't noticed that Windows tries to re-enable anything suspicious after updates.

shmerl 4y ago

A better way to debloat it - install Linux ;)

alerighi 4y ago

I do this for every Windows installation that is used for similar purposes, like embedded machines that has to run a single application, virtual machines, etc. For who says that this will break the system: it will not, provided that you only need to run win32 applications (as it's almost the case). It's basically the same thing that Windows 10 LTSC (or now Windows 10 IoT I think it was renamed) does, that is not have any appx package installed beside Edge and few system packages. You of course loose a couple of utilities, such as the calculator (but you can simply do calculations in powershell, python or whatever), the image viewer (you can view images in Paint) and audio/video player (just install VLC or open them with a browser). If you need the store you can reinstall it afterwards, and then use the store to reinstall any software you need, that is faster than manually removing all the bloatware that is installed (like Candy Crush and stupid stuff that shouldn't even be there in the first place!)

gjsman-1000 4y ago
> You of course loose a couple of utilities, such as the calculator (but you can simply do calculations in powershell, python or whatever), the image viewer (you can view images in Paint) and audio/video player (just install VLC or open them with a browser). This is, technically speaking, only if you run the script from Windows 11. Windows 10 still has Paint, WordPad, Windows Media Player, Remote Desktop, and some others as unpackaged system components that aren't in the Store. So, if you are still on 10, you won't have that issue.
jakogut 4y ago
> I do this for every Windows installation that is used for similar purposes, like embedded machines that has to run a single application, virtual machines, etc. Have you tried running Linux for these use cases? This sort of thing is an area Linux excels, in my experience. When you run Windows, you're in for the whole kit and caboodle. Most of the components are proprietary, closed-source black boxes. You can only poke and prod and test and hope things don't break in unexpected ways. Conversely, Linux can be easy stripped down to a bare bones kernel and a single statically-linked binary. I can run a useful application on top of Linux with the whole system weighing in smaller than bootmgfw.efi. Something more complex, but still custom, is easily crafted with Buildroot. https://buildroot.org/ https://buildroot.org/

xist 4y ago

A lot of people who run this commands don't actually know what happens under the hood, and the repercussions. Nor do they understand what this does. It's turned into internet folklore by people "just run this and good stuff happens, i don't know exactly what but trust me"

gjsman-1000 4y ago
That shouldn't stop the flow of information, because there is no way to make anything idiot-proof. "Just download this Linux ISO and good stuff happens" could be equally apt. For this reason, I have put every disclaimer and warning that I reasonably can, and defined the use-case clearly (a few apps where anything else is bloat). "Try it on a fresh install, on a VM or old PC, first." And, in a recent update to the post, a script by Microsoft for undoing it if necessary. If people don't listen, that's not my issue if I warned them as clearly as I could.
- xist 4y ago
  I do somewhat agree, however the title is a bit misleading then IMHO. It's not so much a debloat as it is a how to make a very customized installation for your very specific environment. Splitting hairs perhaps, but a lot of people don't/won't understand the difference - or why you did this. Most non home users use Windows Enterprise and GPOs to achieve these results, where things are more fine tuned and can be reversed as needed.
  - gjsman-1000 4y ago
    > It's not so much a debloat as it is a how to make a very customized installation for your very specific environment. Perhaps, but the main feature was that it was a debloat without requiring an internet script. There are plenty of scripts and tools out there for de-bloating, but nothing so quick for a stock install that might not even have internet. > and can be reversed as needed I have added a Microsoft-written script in an update to the article which reinstalls all stock AppX packages.

nwah1 4y ago

A number of the apps that appear to be pre-installed on Windows actually aren't. They simply show up in the start menu, and it installs it on the first time you click to run the program. There are quite a lot of important dev-friendly programs that can be easily installed through the store such as Windows Terminal, Powershell 7, WSL, and WinGet. Indeed, most of those can only be installed through the store (or equivalent APPX powershell commands). Even notepad and friends now auto-update through the store. WinGet is the new Windows Package Manager, and it is basically just apt-get or pacman for Windows. It is an APPX bundle that you can get through the store. You definitely want it. Leave the darn store on. If you don't trust Microsoft, then don't use Windows. A lot of people go the other direction and want to restrict to only use the store for downloads. It gives you the added security peace of mind that you would get on a phone, and for Windows-on-ARM it may be your only realistic option.

rahkiin 4y ago
It is a sad day discovering corporate IT blocks the use of any package manager and has custom, limited, store content.
yjftsjthsd-h 4y ago
> Leave the darn store on. If you don't trust Microsoft, then don't use Windows Having legacy apps doesn't mean you trust MS.
- nwah1 4y ago
  But having the store doesn't prevent legacy apps from installing, and the store provides a number of developer-friendly tools that will improve your ability to support legacy apps.
  - fyloraspit 4y ago
    But people can and will use their computers how they wish to
maverickmax90 4y ago

1vuio0pswjnm7 4y ago

I always wanted to run WinPE, or a custom bootable WIM file, from a USB stick. AFAIK, one can only create this using full-blown Windows, which for me defeats the purpose. I have also seen Microsoft go as far as time-limiting PE so that computer continuously reboots automatically after a short elapsed time. "Windows PE is not a general-purpose operating system. It may not be used for any purpose other than deployment and recovery. It should not be used as a thin client or an embedded operating system. There are other Microsoft products, such as Windows Embedded CE, which may be used for these purposes. To prevent its use as a production operating system, Windows PE automatically stops running the shell and restarts after 72 hours of continuous use. This period is not configurable." https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/winpe-intro https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufactur...

yjftsjthsd-h 4y ago
Microsoft is a commercial company that cares about not cannibalizing their own sales. Open source maintainers generally don't care
TeMPOraL 4y ago
Oh, the memories. The only time I ever saw a WinPE in practice is in high school, when a friend made a stripped down version of Windows that booted straight to StarCraft: Brood War. A nice proof of concept, but wasn't used much in practice, as every single student-accessible computer would somehow, organically, grow an SC:BW copy within few hours of being turned on without it.
- xen2xen1 4y ago
  Sergei Strelec is the bomb.
rzzzt 4y ago
My fantasy project from the same category is "Windows from scratch", where I set up the NT bootloader and kernel (possibly CSRSS, LSASS as well) but step into an Msys2 userspace from there.
4y ago

threadweaver34 4y ago

Windows 7 was the last good Windows. Windows 10 was the last adequate Windows.

rolenthedeep 4y ago
Windows 7 was the last Windows I actually wanted to use. Windows 10 is the last version of windows I'm willing to tolerate.
- lproven 4y ago
  I agree with you both... But saying that, I don't actually use it any more, and these days, I'm finding even Linux distros uncomfortably bloated, and I'm looking for lighter ones... and trying to work out if FreeBSD would be a usable desktop OS.

kilolima 4y ago

There's also Blackbird for making windows less of a malware vector: https://www.getblackbird.net/documentation/ https://www.getblackbird.net/documentation/

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

Zurrrrr 4y ago

A better approach would be to strip out everything via NTLite and make a custom ISO.

PinkMilkshake 4y ago

You can remove any subset of packages. On any new Windows 10 install I typically do something like: Get-AppxPackage *alarm* | Remove-AppPackage Get-AppxPackage *help* | Remove-AppPackage Get-AppxPackage *xbox* | Remove-AppPackage Get-AppxPackage *zune* | Remove-AppPackage Get-AppxPackage *phone* | Remove-AppPackage ... etc

npteljes 4y ago

LTSC is easier, and it's not just for sale for enterprise users. In Hungary, maybe because of the EU, you can easily buy LTSC 2021 keys for $50, quite accessible (and legal!).

_8j50 4y ago

This is brilliant. I have used a variation of this. Someone correct me but I believe it is the newish WinRT apps that have been rewritten for the metro era that MS chose to install this way. There a few windows "features" worth removing or adding that equire a diffrent cmdlet in powershell.