Hate Windows 11? Let Me Make It Better!
The amount of stuff (that you probably don't want) that comes with Windows 11 is truly offensive, never mind how they've changed things compared to Windows 10, and for no other reason than because they could.
You MUST backup your data or provide an external hard drive and pay me to do this for you and restore your data. This is a requirement for me to perform these steps.
I'm going to recommend two ways to debloat Windows 10 or 11.
The first option is to reset Windows to remove any pre-loaded junk software, then use trusted third-party tools to make it much more usable.
Please note that I can only fully perform this process in-person when a computer is dropped off at my home office.
The second option is to avoid resetting Windows and just use third-party tools to remove the built-in garbage that comes with it. However, this method does nothing for any pre-loaded junk your PC manufacturer installed that is affecting performance.
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Resetting Windows
Truly, the most thorough method is to reset Windows using the Cloud Download option to avoid whatever your PC manufacturer changed to include their own pre-loaded junk software.
You will need to start from scratch because the "reset" method is a clean install. However, it's very much worth it.
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Go to the "Recovery" page in Settings, and click the "Get Started" button.
Cloud Download
On the "Reset this PC" screen, choose an option. These include "Keep my files", which removes apps and settings, but keeps your personal files. This is basically a re-install of Windows itself. If you have personal files saved on the same hard drive or solid state drive, those shouldn't be touched.
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Or, choose "Remove everything", which removes all of your personal files, apps, and settings. This WILL NOT erase the drive, but Windows will treat it as such and have it appear as such to you. As you use Windows and save files, that space will be slowly overwritten.
I don't keep my personal files on the same drive in case I need to quickly do a clean install of Windows and not worry about it, and I find doing a "clean" install using the "Remove everything" option tends to work better and things are more reliable.
Removing Apps
If you choose to NOT Reset Windows and start from scratch to get rid of junk software that came with your computer, I strongly recommend a proper System Cleanup, but at the very least you should go to your list of installed apps and uninstall the ones you don't need or use.
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Go into Settings and click on "Apps" on the left.
Then click on "Installed Apps", and you'll see the list of the apps installed on your computer. Click each one you no longer want, to access the "uninstall" option.
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Windows Toolbox
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Windows 11 comes bundled with several Microsoft apps that you may not have any need for, and it's a real pain and can be very time consuming to either remove the ones they will allow you to remove, or to simply disable the others.
You can prevent many of them from being installed at all during a clean install of Windows 11 (NOT a reset), but that involves technical steps like partitioning you probably want to avoid.
The best alternative I've found so far is called the Windows Toolbox from Chris Titus Tech. It's $10US, but I consider that a very fair bargain for what it does.
I have used the Windows Toolbox many times now, and it works very well! It will open in Windows Power Shell first, but you'll quickly see an easy-to-use program with options. I mainly use the "Tweaks" tab.
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WinAero Tweaker
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WinAero Tweaker is a free app that lets you adjust (tweak) settings in Windows from a user friendly app. It allows you to make convenient changes and add extra functionality to context menus, and different parts of Windows
This is the best app I have found that does this. You can feel comfortable making these changes, knowing it won't break Windows.
For example, you can remove all ads, tips, and suggestions from different parts of Windows. Since these are sources of frustration, removing them improves the user experiences, and that matters a great deal.
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A Better Start Menu
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I strongly recommend replacing the existing Start Menu with a reasonably priced alternative called Start11 from Stardock. It’s $7 for life and is the best investment you can make in using Windows 11.
Alternatively, Open Shell is another option and is completely free.
I may also use other more technical tools to help improve your experience with Windows 11 while working on your computer. I will review them with you during the Initial Assessment.
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How To Guide For A System Cleanup (FREE)
I believe in complete transparency about the work I do for YOU on YOUR computer. Please check out my FREE How To Guide regarding the steps I take during a System Cleanup.