Are you tired of Windows 11’s bloatware, constant notifications about Microsoft Edge, and forced OneDrive integration? I’ve developed a powerful new tool called Winhance that can transform your bloated Windows 11 installation into a clean, minimal, and optimized system with just a few clicks – and keep it that way, even through Windows updates. If you’re tired of Windows bloatware, unnecessary background processes, and privacy-invading settings, the new Winhance is exactly what you need to take back control of your system.
Key Takeaways
- Winhance has been completely refactored from PowerShell to C#, with a proper installer and dedicated download page
- New features include the ability to reinstall removed apps, granular control over settings, and configuration saving/importing
- Winhance creates scheduled tasks that automatically remove unwanted apps even after Windows updates try to reinstall them
Requirements
- 64-bit version of Windows 10 (22H2 or later) or Windows 11
- Administrator privileges on your computer
- Internet connection (for downloading and installing external software)
Why Use Winhance for Windows 11 Optimization?
Windows 11 comes with numerous pre-installed applications and default settings that many users find unnecessary, privacy-invasive, or performance-reducing. While you can manually remove these apps and change these settings, it’s a time-consuming process that needs to be repeated after major Windows updates.
Winhance solves this problem by not only removing unwanted apps and optimizing settings but also by creating scheduled tasks that maintain your preferences even after Windows updates. This “set it and forget it” approach ensures your system stays optimized without requiring constant maintenance.
With the new C# version, Winhance is more powerful, more user-friendly, and more customizable than ever before.
The Evolution of Winhance
The original version of Winhance was a PowerShell script with a GUI that allowed you to optimize and customize Windows 10 and 11. You would access it through GitHub, copy a startup command, and run it in Windows Terminal. While functional, this approach had limitations.
The biggest issue, as pointed out by many users, was the lack of granular control. For example, clicking on Explorer optimization would apply multiple different settings without letting you choose which specific settings to apply.
I’ve completely refactored Winhance into a proper C# application that can be installed and run like any other Windows program. It now has its own dedicated icon and download page, making it much more accessible to the average user.
Installation Process
Installing the new Winhance is straightforward:
- Download the installer from the official download page
- Run the installer (you may get a warning since it’s a new file on the internet, but this will happen less as more people download it)
- Choose to install for all users or just yourself
- Accept the license terms
- Complete the installation and launch Winhance
Remember, the code is completely open-source and available on GitHub, so anyone with coding knowledge can review it for security and transparency.
Software & Apps Screen: More Control Than Ever
The first major improvement you’ll notice is on the Software & Apps screen. There’s now a legend explaining what the status indicators mean, including new indicators showing whether an app can be reinstalled after removal.
How Winhance Keeps Your System Clean
One of Winhance’s most powerful features is that it doesn’t just remove apps from your computer once. It saves a script and creates a scheduled task that runs every time you start your computer. This means that even if something gets installed through a Windows Update that you didn’t want, it will be automatically removed again when your computer starts up.
The script is dynamically generated based on the items you select when removing them using Winhance. This ensures that your system stays exactly the way you want it, even after updates.
Note: You can select items that aren’t currently installed but that you never want on your computer. This adds them to the removal script so they’ll be automatically removed if Windows tries to install them in the future.
New Search and Categorization Features
I’ve added a search bar to help you quickly find specific apps or settings. For example, searching for “Edge” will immediately locate the Microsoft Edge checkbox.
The Windows apps section is now organized into categories:
- Windows Apps (like Microsoft Store, Camera, etc.)
- Windows Legacy Features (like WordPad)
- Optional Features (like Recall)
This categorization makes it much easier to understand what you’re removing and how it might affect your system.
Reinstalling Removed Apps
A completely new feature in this version is the ability to reinstall apps that you’ve previously removed. If you accidentally remove something you need, you can simply select it and click “Install Selected Items.” Winhance will download and install the app through WinGet (as long as it’s marked as reinstallable).
This process also updates the bloatware removal file, so the app won’t be automatically removed the next time you start your computer.
External Software Section
Scrolling down on the Software & Apps page reveals the External Software section. This completely revamped section includes useful applications that I typically install on new computers or that you might need on a fresh Windows installation.
You can select any apps you want installed on your computer, click “Install Selected Items,” and Winhance will install them for you. This is particularly useful when setting up a new system, as it saves you the time of downloading and installing each app individually.
Optimize Screen: Granular Control Over Settings
The Optimize screen has also been enhanced with a search bar for quickly finding specific settings. The biggest improvement here is the addition of toggle buttons for individual settings, giving you much more control over exactly what gets applied to your computer.
Transparency in Registry Changes
When you hover over settings, Winhance now shows you exactly which registry key it modifies. For settings that change multiple registry keys, like “Send Diagnostic Data,” you’ll see all the keys that will be modified.
Each setting also has a recommended value, but I encourage you to consider your own needs. For example, I have Camera Access turned off by default, but if you use your webcam regularly, you’ll probably want to keep it enabled.
Categories of Optimization
The Optimize screen includes several categories of settings:
- Windows Security settings
- Games and Performance
- Windows Updates
- Power Settings
- Explorer Optimizations
- Notification Optimizations
- Sound Optimizations
Each category contains relevant settings that you can toggle on or off according to your preferences.
Personalize Screen: Customize Your Windows Experience
The Personalize screen follows the same pattern as the Optimize screen, with a search bar and toggle buttons for individual settings. Here you’ll find options for:
- Windows Theme (light or dark mode)
- Taskbar settings
- Start menu customizations
- Explorer preferences
The Windows Theme option has been changed from a toggle to a dropdown menu, which makes more sense for selecting between light and dark modes.
Configuration Saving and Importing: The Game-Changer
Perhaps the most useful new feature in Winhance is the ability to save and import configuration files. This feature is accessible from the icons at the top of the Winhance window.
How Configuration Saving Works
The configuration system allows you to:
- Set up Winhance exactly how you want it on one computer
- Save that configuration to a file
- Import that configuration on another computer or after a fresh Windows installation
When you save a configuration, Winhance stores your preferences for:
- Which Windows apps you want to remove
- Which external software you want to install
- All your optimization settings
- All your personalization preferences
This is incredibly time-saving when setting up multiple computers or after reinstalling Windows.
Tip: Before saving your configuration, make sure to select all the checkboxes for apps you want to remove and software you want to install in the future. These selections will be saved in the configuration file.
Importing a Configuration
When you import a configuration, you’ll see a window asking which sections you want to import:
- Windows apps
- External applications
- Personalization settings
- Optimization settings
For the Software & Apps screen, importing a configuration will mark the checkboxes but won’t automatically install or remove apps. You’ll still need to click the “Install Selected Items” or “Remove Selected Items” buttons to perform those actions.
For the Optimize and Personalize screens, the settings are applied automatically when you import the configuration.
Supporting Winhance Development
Winhance is completely free and open-source, but developing and maintaining it takes time and effort. If you find it useful, you can support its development by clicking the “Support” button in the interface, which will take you to my Ko-Fi page.
You can make either a one-time donation or set up a monthly contribution. Your support helps me continue creating content full-time and developing free software and applications that improve your Windows experience.
Conclusion
The new C# version of Winhance represents a significant improvement over the original PowerShell script. With its proper installation process, granular control over settings, ability to reinstall removed apps, and configuration saving/importing feature, it’s now easier than ever to optimize Windows 11 and keep it that way.
Whether you’re setting up a new computer, reinstalling Windows, or just want to clean up your current installation, Winhance provides the tools you need to create a faster, cleaner, and more personalized Windows experience.
Download Winhance today, try it for yourself, and let me know what you think in the comments. If you encounter any issues or bugs, please create an issue on the GitHub page so I can address it in future updates.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Winhance safe to use on my main computer?
Yes, Winhance is designed to be safe for everyday use. The code is completely open-source and available on GitHub for anyone to review. However, if you’re concerned, you can try it first in a virtual machine or on a secondary computer. The new version also clearly indicates which apps can’t be reinstalled, helping you avoid removing essential components.
Will Winhance work on Windows 10?
While Winhance is primarily developed for Windows 11, most functions and implementations will also work on a fully updated version of Windows 10 22H2 64-bit. I’m actively working to ensure Winhance is compatible with Windows 10 (64-bit), especially for users on LTSC versions who won’t be upgrading to Windows 11.
How does the automatic app removal feature work?
When you select apps to remove in Winhance, it not only removes them immediately but also creates a dynamically generated script and scheduled task. This task runs every time your computer starts up and removes any selected apps that might have been reinstalled through Windows updates. This ensures your system stays clean without requiring manual maintenance.
Can I customize which settings are applied to my computer?
Absolutely! Unlike the previous version, the new Winhance gives you granular control over individual settings. Each setting has its own toggle button, allowing you to choose exactly which optimizations and personalizations are applied to your system. You can also hover over settings to see which registry keys they modify.
How do I save my configuration for use on another computer?
Click the “Save Configuration” button at the top of the Winhance window. Before saving, make sure you’ve selected all the apps you want to remove and software you want to install in the future. Save the configuration file to a location you can access from your other computer (like a USB drive or cloud storage). On the other computer, install Winhance and click “Import Configuration” to apply your saved settings.
HI, with this command: Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted … when this is unrestricted, does this mean I have a permanent security problem?
Only if you frequently download and run PowerShell scripts from the internet and they’re from untrusted sources.
The command basically tells the PC that the scripts that you decide to run does not need to be signed, although your Antivirus (or Windows Defender) will still scan scripts that you download for viruses and malware.