Debloat Windows 11 WITHOUT Software so it Looks Like LTSC!

Have you ever felt frustrated by all the unwanted applications cluttering your Windows installation? I totally get it. Between the constant browser warnings about potentially malicious debloating tools, SmartScreen prompts, and antivirus software removing downloaded files, it can feel like you’re stuck with Microsoft’s bloated version of Windows forever.

But here’s the thing – you don’t actually need any third-party software to remove bloatware from Windows 10 or Windows 11. I’m going to show you exactly how to clean up your Windows installation using only the built-in tools that Microsoft provides. No sketchy downloads, no false positives from your antivirus, and no worrying about malicious software.

Key Takeaways

• You can remove most Windows bloatware using PowerShell AppX package commands without any third-party tools
• Microsoft Edge can be uninstalled even outside the EU by enabling Digital Markets Act mode through registry edits
• Most accidentally removed applications can be reinstalled through the Microsoft Store or PowerShell commands

Requirements

Before we dive into removing Windows bloatware, here’s what you’ll need:

• Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer with administrator access
• Windows PowerShell (available by default on all Windows installations)
• Alternative web browser installed (if planning to remove Microsoft Edge)
• Text editor like Notepad for copying package names
• Basic understanding of running commands in PowerShell

Why Remove Windows Bloatware Without Third-Party Software?

The main reason I recommend this approach is safety and reliability. When you download third-party debloating tools, you’re often dealing with false positives from antivirus software, browser warnings, and SmartScreen prompts. These tools might work perfectly fine, but the constant security warnings can be stressful.

Using Microsoft’s own built-in tools eliminates these concerns entirely. You’re working with officially supported Windows commands that won’t trigger security warnings. Plus, this method gives you complete control over exactly which applications get removed, reducing the risk of accidentally breaking something important.

Important Note: This process is for educational purposes only and won’t significantly improve your computer’s performance. It’s primarily about creating a cleaner Windows experience without unnecessary applications cluttering your Start menu.

Basic Windows App Uninstallation Method

Let’s start with the most straightforward approach that most people already know about, but it’s worth covering since it leads into the more advanced techniques.

Using the Built-in Windows Uninstaller

The easiest way to remove bloatware is through Windows’ native uninstaller. Right-click the Start button and select “Installed apps” (Windows 11) or “Apps and Features” (Windows 10). This displays all applications installed on your computer.

Most pre-installed applications can be removed directly from this interface. Simply find the unwanted application, click the three dots menu, and select “Uninstall.” Applications like Camera, Clock, and Copilot can typically be removed this way.

Limitations of the Basic Method

However, you’ll quickly notice that some applications are marked as “System apps” and don’t offer an uninstall option. These include:

• Microsoft Store
• Xbox Game Bar
• Get Help
• Phone Link

Additionally, Microsoft Edge cannot be uninstalled through this method unless you’re located in the European Union.

Advanced PowerShell Bloatware Removal

Now we’re getting to the powerful stuff. PowerShell allows us to remove those stubborn system applications that the regular uninstaller won’t touch.

Opening PowerShell as Administrator

First, you need to open PowerShell with administrative privileges. On Windows 11, right-click the Start button and select “Terminal (Admin).” On Windows 10, search for “Windows PowerShell” and select “Run as administrator.”

Important: You must use PowerShell, not Command Prompt, for these commands to work properly.

Understanding AppX Packages

The applications we couldn’t remove through the regular interface are called AppX packages. These are modern Windows applications that use a different installation method than traditional desktop software.

To see all AppX packages installed for your current user, run this command:

Get-AppxPackage

To see packages installed for all users on the computer, use:

Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers

This command will display a comprehensive list of all modern applications installed on your system, including their full package names.

Removing Single Applications

To remove a single AppX package, use this command structure:

Get-AppxPackage -Name "PackageName" | Remove-AppxPackage

For example, to remove the Microsoft Store for the current user:

Get-AppxPackage -Name "Microsoft.WindowsStore" | Remove-AppxPackage

To remove it for all users on the computer, add the -AllUsers flag:

Get-AppxPackage -Name "Microsoft.WindowsStore" -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers

Removing Multiple Applications at Once

When you want to remove several applications simultaneously, you can use an array command. First, open Notepad and copy the full package names of applications you want to remove from the PowerShell output.

Here’s the complete command that will remove most bloatware applications from Windows 10 and Windows 11:

@("Microsoft.WindowsStore", "Microsoft.GetHelp", "Microsoft.Copilot", "Microsoft.Windows.Ai.Copilot.Provider", "Microsoft.Copilot_8wekyb3d8bbwe", "Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay", "Microsoft.YourPhone", "Microsoft.XboxIdentityProvider", "Microsoft.XboxSpeechToTextOverlay", "Microsoft.Windows.DevHome", "Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub", "MicrosoftCorporationII.QuickAssist", "MSTeams", "Microsoft.OutlookForWindows", "Microsoft.Edge.GameAssist", "Microsoft.WidgetsPlatformRuntime", "Microsoft.Xbox.TCUI", "Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes", "Microsoft.BingWeather", "Microsoft.WindowsAlarms", "Microsoft.Windows.Photos", "Microsoft.Todos", "Microsoft.MicrosoftSolitaireCollection", "Microsoft.WindowsSoundRecorder", "Microsoft.PowerAutomateDesktop", "Microsoft.GamingApp", "Clipchamp.Clipchamp", "Microsoft.BingNews", "Microsoft.BingSearch", "Microsoft.WindowsCamera", "Microsoft.ZuneMusic", "Microsoft.WindowsFeedbackHub", "Microsoft.XboxApp", "Microsoft.MixedReality.Portal", "Microsoft.Office.OneNote", "Microsoft.People", "Microsoft.Getstarted", "Microsoft.549981C3F5F10", "Microsoft.SkypeApp", "Microsoft.ZuneVideo", "Microsoft.Microsoft3DViewer", "Microsoft.MSPaint", "Microsoft.WindowsCommunicationsApps", "Microsoft.WindowsMaps") | ForEach-Object { Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -Name $_ | Remove-AppxPackage }

Important Notes:

• The -AllUsers flag after Remove-AppxPackage will remove these applications for all existing users on the computer
• This command does NOT remove applications for users that haven’t been created yet – new users will still get these apps
• To prevent new users from getting these apps, you need to use: Get-AppxProvisionedPackage | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage
• The -AllUsers flag doesn’t work reliably on Windows 10 and may cause errors

Applications I Keep Installed

In the command above, I’ve excluded these applications because I find them useful for daily tasks:

• Calculator – Microsoft.WindowsCalculator
• Notepad – Microsoft.WindowsNotepad
• Paint – Microsoft.Paint
• Snipping Tool – Microsoft.ScreenSketch
• Terminal – Microsoft.WindowsTerminal

If you want to remove any of these applications as well, simply add their package names to the array command above.

Safe Applications to Remove

Based on my experience, here are the applications I consider safe to remove without breaking Windows functionality:

• Microsoft.WindowsStore – Microsoft Store (if you don’t use Store apps)
• Microsoft.GetHelp – Get Help
• Microsoft.Copilot – Copilot
• Microsoft.Windows.Ai.Copilot.Provider – Copilot AI Provider
• Microsoft.Copilot_8wekyb3d8bbwe – Copilot (alternative package)
• Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay – Xbox Game Bar
• Microsoft.YourPhone – Phone Link
• Microsoft.XboxIdentityProvider – Xbox Identity Provider
• Microsoft.XboxSpeechToTextOverlay – Xbox Speech to Text
• Microsoft.Windows.DevHome – Dev Home
• Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub – Office Hub
• MicrosoftCorporationII.QuickAssist – Quick Assist
• MSTeams – Microsoft Teams
• Microsoft.OutlookForWindows – Outlook for Windows
• Microsoft.Edge.GameAssist – Edge Game Assist
• Microsoft.WidgetsPlatformRuntime – Widgets Platform
• Microsoft.Xbox.TCUI – Xbox TCUI
• Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes – Sticky Notes
• Microsoft.BingWeather – Weather
• Microsoft.WindowsAlarms – Alarms & Clock
• Microsoft.Windows.Photos – Photos
• Microsoft.Todos – Microsoft To Do
• Microsoft.MicrosoftSolitaireCollection – Microsoft Solitaire Collection
• Microsoft.WindowsSoundRecorder – Sound Recorder
• Microsoft.PowerAutomateDesktop – Power Automate Desktop
• Microsoft.GamingApp – Xbox Gaming App
• Microsoft.XboxApp – Xbox Console Companion (Windows 10)
• Clipchamp.Clipchamp – Clipchamp
• Microsoft.BingNews – News
• Microsoft.BingSearch – Bing Search
• Microsoft.WindowsCamera – Camera
• Microsoft.ZuneMusic – Groove Music
• Microsoft.WindowsFeedbackHub – Feedback Hub
• Microsoft.MixedReality.Portal – Mixed Reality Portal
• Microsoft.Office.OneNote – OneNote (Windows 10)
• Microsoft.People – People
• Microsoft.Getstarted – Tips (Windows 10) Note: Get Started is NOT REMOVABLE in Windows 11
• Microsoft.549981C3F5F10 – Cortana
• Microsoft.SkypeApp – Skype
• Microsoft.ZuneVideo – Movies & TV
• Microsoft.Microsoft3DViewer – 3D Viewer
• Microsoft.MSPaint – Paint 3D
• Microsoft.WindowsCommunicationsApps – Mail and Calendar
• Microsoft.WindowsMaps – Maps

Understanding Current User vs All Users

When you remove packages for the current user only, other user accounts on the computer will still have these applications available. If you want to remove applications system-wide, you need to use the -AllUsers flag.

However, on Windows 10, you cannot use the -AllUsers flag with the Remove-AppxPackage command due to permission restrictions. You’ll need to remove applications individually for each user account.

Uninstalling Microsoft Edge (Non-EU Method)

Microsoft Edge can only be uninstalled natively if you’re in the European Union. For everyone else, we need to enable EU mode through registry modifications.

Warning: Make sure you have an alternative browser installed before removing Microsoft Edge, as it’s the default browser for many Windows functions.

Enabling EU Mode Through Registry

I’ve prepared the registry commands to make this process simpler. Run these commands in PowerShell or Command Prompt as administrator:

reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\location\MicrosoftWindows.Client.WebExperience_cw5n1h2txyewy" /v "LastUsedTimeStop" /t REG_BINARY /d 27CF23D880D0DB01 /f

reg add "HKLM\Software\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Microsoft Edge" /v "NoRemove" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

These commands tell Windows that Microsoft Edge can be uninstalled and puts your computer in EU mode for this purpose.

Modifying the Regional Policy File

Next, navigate to C:\Windows\System32 and search for “integrated” to find the file named “IntegratedServicesRegionPolicySet.json”.

First, copy this file to your desktop as a backup. Then you’ll need to take ownership of the file and modify its permissions:

1. Right-click the file and select Properties
2. Go to the Security tab and click Advanced
3. Click Change next to the owner field
4. Enter your username and click Check Names
5. Click OK, Apply, and OK again
6. Click Edit, select Administrators
7. Check “Full Control” and click Apply

Now rename the original file to add “.bak” at the end. Open the backup file you created on your desktop with Notepad and find the “Edge is uninstallable.” entry. Change “disabled” to “enabled” and save the file.

Copy the modified file back to the System32 folder, replacing the renamed original.

Uninstalling Microsoft Edge

After making these changes, go back to Installed Apps and you’ll now see an Uninstall option for Microsoft Edge. Click it and follow the standard uninstallation process.

Cleanup (Optional)

If you want to remove the registry entries you created, you can run these cleanup commands:

reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\location\MicrosoftWindows.Client.WebExperience_cw5n1h2txyewy" /v "LastUsedTimeStop" /f

reg delete "HKLM\Software\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Microsoft Edge" /v "NoRemove" /f

However, leaving these entries won’t cause any problems if you prefer to keep them.

Reinstalling Accidentally Removed Apps

Made a mistake and removed something you actually need? Don’t worry – most applications can be easily reinstalled.

Reinstalling Through Microsoft Store

Most Windows applications can be reinstalled by downloading them from the Microsoft Store website. Even if you’ve removed the Store app itself, you can download applications through your web browser.

For example, if you accidentally removed the Calculator app, simply search for “Windows Calculator” on the Microsoft Store website and download it. The installer will use Windows’ built-in store functionality to reinstall the application.

Reinstalling Microsoft Store

If you removed the Microsoft Store and want it back, use this PowerShell command:

wsreset -i

Make sure you’re connected to the internet when running this command. The process happens in the background without showing progress, but you’ll receive a notification when the Store has been reinstalled.

If this method doesn’t work, I’ve created detailed guides for alternative methods to install the missing Microsoft Store using WinGet and Winhance and another guide for installing Microsoft Store on Windows 10 and 11 using different approaches.

Bonus Taskbar and Start Menu Cleanup

Want to clean up your interface even more? Here are some additional customizations you can make:

Taskbar Customization

Right-click the taskbar and select “Taskbar settings.” From here, you can:

• Hide the Task View button
• Hide Widgets
• Hide the Search box
• Change taskbar alignment from center to left

These changes will give you a cleaner, more traditional Windows experience similar to Windows 10 LTSC.

Windows 10 Specific Considerations

Windows 10 has some unique packages that aren’t present in Windows 11. Additionally, there are some command limitations you should be aware of.

Command Limitations

On Windows 10, you cannot use the -AllUsers flag with the Remove-AppxPackage command, even if you’re running as administrator. You’ll need to remove applications individually for each user account.

Microsoft Edge Removal

Microsoft Edge can be removed from Windows 10 using the same method as Windows 11, but your Windows 10 installation must be fully updated to recognize the Digital Markets Act functionality.

The process is identical – modify the registry entries, edit the JSON file, and then uninstall through the standard Windows interface.

Conclusion

Removing Windows bloatware without third-party software is not only possible but often safer than using external tools. By leveraging PowerShell and Windows’ built-in functionality, you can create a clean, minimal Windows installation that resembles Windows LTSC editions.

The key is understanding which applications are safe to remove and using the proper PowerShell commands for AppX package management. Remember that this process is primarily cosmetic – it won’t significantly improve performance, but it will give you a much cleaner user experience.

Start with the basic uninstallation method, then move to PowerShell for the stubborn system applications. Take your time, make backups when necessary, and don’t hesitate to reinstall applications if you make a mistake.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Will removing bloatware improve my computer’s performance?

No, removing these applications won’t significantly improve performance. Modern Windows applications are designed to use minimal resources when not actively running. The main benefit is having a cleaner, less cluttered interface.

Is it safe to remove all AppX packages?

Absolutely not. Some AppX packages are essential for Windows functionality. Only remove applications you’re certain you don’t need, and stick to obvious bloatware like games, promotional apps, and unnecessary Microsoft services.

Can I remove Microsoft Edge completely?

Yes, you can remove Microsoft Edge using the registry modification method I described. However, make sure you have an alternative browser installed first, as some Windows functions rely on Edge components.

What happens if I accidentally remove something important?

Most applications can be reinstalled through the Microsoft Store or by using PowerShell commands. The Microsoft Store itself can be reinstalled using the “wsreset -i” command. Critical Windows components typically cannot be removed through these methods.

Do I need to repeat this process after Windows updates?

Sometimes Windows updates can reinstall certain applications, particularly promotional apps and Microsoft services. You may need to repeat parts of this process after major Windows updates, but core system modifications like Edge removal typically persist.