Question Which Windows 11 Pre-Installed Microsoft Apps You Remove on Every New Install?

[lokamoka820]

A default installation of Windows 11 includes dozens of Microsoft apps. Which ones are worth keeping, and which ones should you uninstall?

 

[blackice]

None

 

[Practical Response]

None

Which ones are worth keeping and which do you uninstall?

Answer: none

"He likes Linux"

 

[sims0921]

when installing windows pick World for region this will not install those bloatware apps in windows 11.

 

[oldschool]

Uninstall most but keep a few like Wordpad, etc.

 

[blackice]

Which ones are worth keeping and which do you uninstall?

Answer: none

"He likes Linux"

I’m trying to return to the more neophyte understanding of computers while only retaining the safe habits. No need for tweaking or obsessing. My time is better spent elsewhere (definitely not on Linux).

 

[Victor M]

No need for tweaking or obsessing. My time is better spent elsewhere

You can carefully prep your setup, harden it and install all necessary applications and so on, then make a golden drive image. Then you can simply re-image with that golden image whenever you need a clean machine, no? No tradeoffs necessary.

 

[Cleo]

Anything that appears in the taskbar like Team or Skype or OneDrive.

 

[Marko :)]

Windows 11 is a real mystery for me. I keep reading everywhere that the OS is full of bloatware, but when I bought a new laptop and installed it, exact number of bloatware apps was 0.

I was pleasantly surprised by this. And I didn't even had to set the region to English (Europe) or English (World). Now I wonder if that's because I didn't have internet connection during installation. But sure Windows would automatically download those after installation when connected to the internet like Windows 10.

In the end, I just had to adjust settings as I wished and uninstall Edge. That was it.

 

[blackice]

You can carefully prep your setup, harden it and install all necessary applications and so on, then make a golden drive image. Then you can simply re-image with that golden image whenever you need a clean machine, no? No tradeoffs necessary.

I’ve done that. But usually by the time I actually need to reimage so much has changed it’s not that useful. Also I don’t care much about default installed apps. Just disable or hide what I don’t use as I go if it’s in the way. No fuss.

 

[Practical Response]

I’m trying to return to the more neophyte understanding of computers while only retaining the safe habits. No need for tweaking or obsessing. My time is better spent elsewhere (definitely not on Linux).

Lol you know I couldn't resist. I do very much understand what you are saying. I run a Chromebook just for that reason. On days I do not want to sit at or have other things i wish to do, Chromebook is simple, straight forward, I get on, do what I need and log off. On days I feel like tweaking, learning or getting my geek on, I restore a tini file snapshot of my Linux lab and have at it. Best of both worlds really.

 

[oldschool]

Anything that appears in the taskbar like Team or Skype or OneDrive.

Those are the very first to go, along with search and the recently added Copilot.

 

[Marko :)]

Those are the very first to go, along with search and the recently added Copilot.

You guys got Copilot? I never got it.

 

[oldschool]

You guys got Copilot? I never got it.

Yes, it's in the Preview feature rollout. Disabled it via Group Policy. AI in Brave Search is enough AI for me.

 

[Marko :)]

Yes, it's in the Preview feature rollout. Disabled it via Group Policy. AI in Brave Search is enough AI for me.

Do you know which update brings it?

 

[rashmi]

A default installation of Windows 11 includes dozens of Microsoft apps. Which ones are worth keeping, and which ones should you uninstall?

I got rid of the in-built and new apps, except for these few.

App Installer
Calculator
HEIF Image Extension
HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer
Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Store
Paint
Raw Image Extension
Store Experience Host
VP9 Video Extensions
Web Media Extensions
Web Image Extensions
Windows Notepad
Windows Security
Windows Web Experience Pack
Windows Terminal

 

[lokamoka820]

I got rid of the in-built and new apps, except for these few.

App Installer
Calculator
HEIF Image Extension
HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer
Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Store
Paint
Raw Image Extension
Store Experience Host
VP9 Video Extensions
Web Media Extensions
Web Image Extensions
Windows Notepad
Windows Security
Windows Web Experience Pack
Windows Terminal

What do you use to remove programs that Microsoft does not want you to remove?

 

[oldschool]

Do you know which update brings it?

Not certain as there were 3 Preview updates installed here beginning with the first on 3/1/24. You'd need to research it.
2024-02 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5034848)
2024-03 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5035942)
2024-04 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5036980)

 

[rashmi]

What do you use to remove programs that Microsoft does not want you to remove?

HiBit Uninstaller Portable Version https://www.hibitsoft.ir/Uninstaller.html

 

[Marko :)]

Not certain as there were 3 Preview updates installed here beginning with the first on 3/1/24. You'd need to research it.
2024-02 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5034848)
2024-03 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5035942)
2024-04 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5036980)

I have all three installed and no signs of Copilot.

Well, one less thing I have to disable...