The 10 free programs I install first on every new Windows 10 or 11 PC are a browser (Microsoft Edge or Brave), LibreOffice for documents, eM Client for email, a PDF reader (SumatraPDF or Foxit), Malwarebytes Free for on-demand malware scans, VLC Media Player, 7-Zip for archives, Winhance for debloat and optimisation, HiBit Uninstaller for clean software removal, and Open Shell with ExplorerPatcher for a Windows 10-style Start menu. Together they cover browsing, productivity, security, media, and customisation without paid licences.
Applies to: Windows 10 (22H2) and Windows 11 (23H2, 24H2, 25H2) | Last updated: April 30, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Windows Security (built-in) is your real-time antivirus — adding a third-party real-time scanner just slows the system down. Malwarebytes Free covers weekly on-demand checks.
- Kaspersky and CCleaner are no longer recommended in 2026 — Kaspersky is banned for US federal use (June 2024) and CCleaner has had repeated trust issues since the Avast acquisition.
- Install everything in one go using UniGetUI or WinGet so the binaries come from official sources, not bundleware sites.
- Pair Open Shell with ExplorerPatcher for a Windows 10-style Start menu and taskbar on Windows 11; Open Shell is the actively maintained successor to the discontinued Classic Shell.
- Use Winhance immediately after the OOBE — it removes preinstalled bloatware, applies privacy hardening, and disables Copilot/Recall/Edge in one toggle.
Quick Steps
- Finish Windows setup with a local account (use my Microsoft account bypass if needed).
- Open Winhance first — debloat and apply privacy presets before adding new software.
- Install Brave (or stick with Edge) and add uBlock Origin for the browser.
- Install LibreOffice, eM Client, SumatraPDF or Foxit, VLC, 7-Zip, Malwarebytes Free, and HiBit Uninstaller — all via UniGetUI in one batch.
- If you want a Windows 10-style Start menu on Windows 11, install Open Shell and ExplorerPatcher last.
1. Web Browser: Microsoft Edge or Brave
Microsoft Edge is the easiest choice — it ships with Windows, has aggressive performance optimisations (sleeping tabs, efficiency mode), and supports every Chrome extension. Pair it with uBlock Origin for ad-blocking, since Edge has nothing built in.
If you want a privacy-focused alternative, Brave Browser blocks ads and trackers by default and is built on the same Chromium engine, so all your Chrome extensions still work. Skip the crypto wallet during setup if you do not want it.
2. Office Suite: LibreOffice
LibreOffice handles word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations and reads/writes .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx with high fidelity. After install, change the default save format to Microsoft formats (Tools → Options → Load/Save → General) so colleagues on Office can open your files without conversion warnings.
If you only need a quick scratchpad, the free web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint at office.com cover most everyday writing without installing anything.
3. Email Client: eM Client
eM Client looks and feels like classic Outlook — three-pane mail, integrated calendar, contacts, tasks, and notes. The free edition allows two email accounts and is enough for most personal use. If you want to stay with Microsoft, the new Outlook is now free for any email account, but it pushes everything through Microsoft’s cloud.
If you previously used Outlook Classic and miss it, see my restore classic Outlook guide.
4. PDF Reader: SumatraPDF or Foxit
Adobe Acrobat Reader is huge, slow, and constantly nagging for cloud sign-ins. SumatraPDF is open source, opens in under a second, and renders PDFs, ePub, MOBI, and CBZ comics. Foxit Reader is a closer Acrobat replacement with form filling and annotation if you need more.
For ePub specifically, see my open ePub files on Windows guide.
5. Antivirus: Windows Security + Malwarebytes Free
Windows Security (built into Windows 10 and Windows 11) is your real-time antivirus and scores at the top of independent AV-TEST results — paid suites no longer offer meaningful detection-rate gains. Layer Malwarebytes Free for weekly on-demand scans that catch adware and PUPs Windows Security tends to leave alone.
Kaspersky was on the original list, but the US Department of Commerce banned its sale and updates in the US in June 2024, so I no longer recommend it for new installs. For the full layered free antivirus stack, see my best free antivirus guide.
6. Anti-Malware Backup: Malwarebytes Free
After install, the 14-day Premium trial expires automatically and reverts to the Free version. Open Settings > General and turn off “Start Malwarebytes at Windows startup” so the on-demand scanner does not compete with Windows Security for resources. Run a full scan once a week.
7. System Cleanup: Winhance Instead of CCleaner
CCleaner was the default recommendation for years, but the 2017 supply-chain compromise and Avast’s acquisition leave it in a weaker position than its alternatives. My own Winhance utility handles the legitimate use cases — temp file cleanup, startup item management, telemetry hardening, bloatware removal — without the trial nags or “tune-up” bloat.
For deep disk cleanup (page file sizing, WinSxS pruning, Storage Sense scheduling), see my clean your C: drive guide.
8. Media Player: VLC
VLC Media Player plays virtually every video and audio format that exists, including raw DVDs and network streams, with no codec packs to install. Set it as the default for video files via Settings → Apps → Default apps.
9. Archive Tool: 7-Zip
7-Zip handles ZIP, 7Z, RAR, TAR, GZ, ISO and a long list of less common archive formats. Windows 11 added native RAR/7Z support in 2023, but 7-Zip is still faster, supports stronger compression (7z LZMA2), and adds AES-256 password protection. If you specifically want WinRAR, see my WinRAR install guide.
10. Start Menu Replacement: Open Shell + ExplorerPatcher
Open Shell is the actively maintained fork of Classic Shell (which was discontinued in 2017). It restores a Windows 7-style Start menu on Windows 10 and Windows 11 with skin support, custom shortcuts, and search.
On Windows 11, pair it with ExplorerPatcher to bring back the Windows 10 taskbar (centered or left-aligned) and the classic right-click menu. StartAllBack is a paid alternative that integrates more cleanly if you do not mind the licence cost.
Tip: Skip “free download” mirror sites. Install everything via WinGet or UniGetUI — they pull from the official publisher, never bundle adware, and let you batch-install all 10 in one queue.
After Install: Apply Winhance
The single biggest improvement on a new Windows PC is removing preinstalled bloatware (OEM helper apps, trial antivirus, third-party “tune-up” tools) and tightening privacy. My own Winhance utility does both with a single GUI — it is what I run after the OOBE on every new build. For a fully automated install with debloat baked in, use UnattendedWinstall on the install media.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a paid antivirus on Windows 11 in 2026?
No. Windows Security catches roughly 99-100% of widespread and zero-day malware in independent AV-TEST results — the same range as Bitdefender, Norton, and Kaspersky. Adding a second real-time scanner usually slows the system down without measurable detection gains. See my free antivirus stack for the full reasoning.
Why is Kaspersky no longer recommended?
The US Department of Commerce blocked Kaspersky from selling its products and providing updates to US customers in June 2024 over national security concerns. Even outside the US, the loss of malware definitions for the US market makes the global product less attractive. Windows Security plus Malwarebytes Free covers the same ground.
Is CCleaner safe to install?
CCleaner is technically safe — Avast/Gen Digital actively maintains it — but it had a major supply-chain compromise in 2017 and the post-acquisition versions push trials, telemetry, and “PC tune-up” upsells that work against the cleanup goal. Winhance is what I use for the same maintenance tasks.
Will Open Shell or ExplorerPatcher cause stability issues?
Both are stable in normal use, but they hook File Explorer and the taskbar, which means feature updates can temporarily break them. After a Windows 11 24H2 → 25H2 update, expect to update both tools to versions matching the new build, sometimes with a 1-2 week lag.
What is the fastest way to install all 10?
Open UniGetUI, search for each tool in turn, and add them all to the install queue, then click Install once at the end. Every binary comes from the WinGet/Microsoft Store catalogue — no bundleware, no manual download dialogs.
