I’ll probably warn you a few times here as there’s a significant chance that something could break if you run below commands. Now, if you’re feeling “froggy” and want to leap, I would also encourage you to do this right after a clean installation of Windows and not on your daily driver. Furthermore, pump the brakes and hold off if you’re planning to do a “quick clean up job” on the computer you’ll need in that meeting that starts in a few minutes as you’ll most assuredly wind up with a pile.
I’d also like to point out that I’ve seen a bunch of scripts online that claim to accomplish the same. My advise, don’t blindly run stuff you find online. The commands that you see below are right there in clear text and you can easily identify what they aim to do. If you don’t trust it, copy/paste each into Copilot or Gemini and see what it says for yourself.
Now to help explain what Debloating Windows is, I asked Copilot, “What is the act of debloating Windows and why would someone want to do it?”
Here’s the AI response and take note of the warning that Copilot mentioned at the end (consider yourself abundantly warned at this point):
“Debloating Windows” is a casual term people use to describe removing unnecessary apps, services, and background processes from a Windows installation. Think of it as trimming the operating system down so it runs leaner and wastes fewer resources.
Here’s a clear breakdown of what it means and why people do it:
What “Debloating Windows” Means
- Uninstalling pre‑installed apps (like Xbox apps, trialware, or consumer features not needed in a business environment)
- Disabling unnecessary background services that consume CPU, RAM, or network bandwidth
- Turning off telemetry or data‑collection features (within what Windows officially allows)
- Removing bloatware added by PC manufacturers (OEM utilities, trial antivirus, etc.)
- Cleaning up startup programs so fewer things run automatically
It’s essentially a cleanup and optimization process.
Why Someone Would Want to Debloat Windows
People do it for a few practical reasons:
1. Better Performance
Removing unnecessary apps and services can:
- Reduce RAM usage
- Improve boot times
- Lower CPU load
- Make older or low‑spec machines feel faster
2. Less Background Activity
Fewer processes running means:
- Less disk usage
- Less network chatter
- Fewer random pop‑ups or notifications
3. Improved Privacy
Some users prefer to disable optional telemetry or cloud‑connected features to reduce data sharing.
4. Cleaner, More Focused System
Especially in business or IT environments, debloating helps create:
- Standardized images
- Fewer distractions for end users
- A more controlled software environment
5. Reduced Attack Surface
Fewer apps and services = fewer potential vulnerabilities.
A Quick Reality Check
Debloating can be helpful, but it should be done thoughtfully. Removing the wrong components or using aggressive scripts can break updates or core Windows features. Most IT pros stick to:
Microsoft‑supported removal methods
Official Windows settings
Group Policy
OK, so one last time, use below at your own risk. If you want to proceed and remove a bunch of the preinstalled apps while leaving essentials like the Store App, Edge, Terminal…, proceed to:
- Open PowerShell as Admin
- Copy/paste the 2 commands below (1 at a time) and press Enter after each one completes
The first command removes provisioned apps (the ones Windows installs for every new user).
The second command removes installed apps from existing user profiles.
Powershell "& {Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Where {$_.DisplayName -NotMatch 'Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller' -and $_.DisplayName -NotMatch 'Microsoft.SecHealthUI' -and $_.DisplayName -NotMatch 'Microsoft.StorePurchaseApp' -and $_.DisplayName -NotMatch 'Microsoft.WindowsStore' -and $_.DisplayName -NotMatch 'Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge.Stable' -and $_.DisplayName -NotMatch 'Microsoft.WindowsTerminal' -and $_.DisplayName -NotMatch 'Microsoft.WindowsNotepad' -and $_.DisplayName -NotMatch 'Microsoft.VP9VideoExtensions' -and $_.DisplayName -NotMatch 'Microsoft.WebMediaExtensions' -and $_.DisplayName -NotMatch 'Microsoft.WebpImageExtension'} | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online -AllUsers}"Powershell "& {Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Where-Object {$_.IsFramework -Match 'False' -and $_.NonRemovable -Match 'False' -and $_.Name -NotMatch 'Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller' -and $_.Name -NotMatch 'Microsoft.SecHealthUI' -and $_.Name -NotMatch 'Microsoft.StorePurchaseApp' -and $_.Name -NotMatch 'Microsoft.WindowsStore' -and $_.Name -NotMatch 'Microsoft.WindowsTerminal' -and $_.Name -NotMatch 'Microsoft.WindowsNotepad' -and $_.Name -NotMatch 'Microsoft.VP9VideoExtensions' -and $_.Name -NotMatch 'Microsoft.WebMediaExtensions' -and $_.Name -NotMatch 'Microsoft.WebpImageExtension'} | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers}"A note for the tinkerers, if you fiddle with the -NotMatch operators in the scripts, and you wind up deleting something necessary like the Store App, I suggest that you just reload a clean OS and try again. I could have done a clean install of the OS many times with the amount of time spent on trying to get the Store App back.
