A fresh Windows 11 install comes loaded with apps most users never open. These preinstalled packages consume disk space, run background processes, and clutter the Start menu. For IT professionals deploying clean workstations or power users reclaiming resources, removing this bloatware is a common first step.

Common bloatware in Windows 11

These apps ship with most Windows 11 installations and are safe to remove:

  • Microsoft Clipchamp — Video editor most users replace with other tools
  • Microsoft News / Weather — Widget-driven apps that run persistent background services
  • Solitaire Collection — Includes ads unless you pay for a premium subscription
  • Get Help / Tips / Feedback Hub — Rarely used outside of Microsoft support scenarios
  • Xbox Game Bar / Xbox App — Unnecessary on non-gaming machines
  • OneDrive — Useful for some, but often redundant in enterprise environments with other sync solutions
  • Teams (personal) — The consumer version that conflicts with Teams for Work
  • Mail and Calendar — Being replaced by the new Outlook app

The PowerShell approach

Windows packages these apps as AppX/MSIX bundles. The core commands:

# List all installed packages
Get-AppxPackage | Select Name, PackageFullName

# Remove a specific app for the current user
Get-AppxPackage *clipchamp* | Remove-AppxPackage

# Remove for all users (requires admin)
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers *clipchamp* | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers

To prevent apps from reinstalling on new user profiles, you also need Get-AppxProvisionedPackage:

Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Where DisplayName -like *clipchamp* | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online

What not to remove

Some packages look like bloatware but are dependencies for core system features:

  • Microsoft.WindowsStore — Removing this breaks the Store and future app updates
  • Microsoft.VCLibs / Microsoft.UI.Xaml — Runtime libraries used by Settings and other system apps
  • Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller — Provides winget, the Windows package manager
  • Microsoft.WindowsTerminal — Your primary admin tool

Removing these can leave Windows in a broken state that requires repair or reinstallation.

Generate a safe debloat script with BaseConf

Instead of running commands one by one and risking a critical removal, use the BaseConf Debloat Configurator. It separates apps into safe and risky categories, lets you toggle exactly which ones to remove, and generates a single PowerShell script you can review before running.

  1. Browse the app list — each entry shows what it does and whether removal is safe
  2. Toggle removals for the apps you want gone
  3. Preview the script to verify every command
  4. Download and run as Administrator
  5. Revert — the undo script reinstalls removed packages

Keep your build clean

Pair debloating with privacy lockdown and UI customization to create a complete clean-machine profile. The Build Config page lets you combine all categories into one script for repeatable deployments.