De-Bloat Windows 11 in 2 Minutes: The Ultimate Guide
Are you familiar with the bloatware that clutters the Start Menu, even on a fresh installation of Windows 11? What if you could install a clean version of Windows, free from this bloatware, in just a couple of clicks? This simple trick gained significant attention online, so we decided to create a more detailed article explaining the process and offering further steps to de-bloat your system from other software that many consider unnecessary.
The Two-Click De-Bloat Method
The technique is surprisingly straightforward. During a clean installation of Windows, when you reach the installer screen for region and language settings, simply change the 'Time and currency format' option to 'English (World)'.
Proceed with the installation process as you normally would. Upon the first restart, during the out-of-box experience (OOBE), you will encounter an error message: OOBEREGION. You can safely skip this error. It appears simply because the system's region hasn't been defined yet.
After skipping the error, continue the setup as usual. Once you get to the Windows desktop, you'll notice a clean, minimalist Start Menu.
Post-Installation Configuration
There is one crucial post-installation step. If you open the Microsoft Store, you'll encounter an error because the system's region is not set, preventing it from displaying the correct currency. To fix this, navigate to your system Settings, and update the region to your actual location. The Store will then function correctly.
Rest assured, the bloatware will not reappear even after a system restart. This method is effective because pre-installed bloatware is region-specific. Different applications are bundled based on the country. By selecting 'World,' the installer has no specific region to target, and therefore, installs none of the third-party apps.
What This Method Does and Doesn't Do
It's important to clarify a few points. Firstly, all the default Microsoft applications are still installed. This trick only removes the shortcuts to third-party applications from the Start Menu. While this doesn't remove every single pre-installed Microsoft application, it's a significant step towards a cleaner system with minimal effort.
Technically, the bloatware applications are not fully installed but exist as shortcuts. Clicking them initiates an automatic download from the Microsoft Store. However, removing these shortcuts manually requires right-clicking and uninstalling each one individually, which is a tedious process. This method saves you that time and effort.
A standard Windows installation includes not only third-party apps but also additional Microsoft app shortcuts in the Start Menu that are absent with this method. This further streamlines your Start Menu. The 'All Apps' list within the Start Menu remains identical, meaning the core Microsoft applications are still present. The primary difference is the absence of third-party shortcuts.
Even though Microsoft's apps are still pre-installed, you can manually uninstall most of them by right-clicking on them in the Start Menu and selecting 'Uninstall'. This allows for further de-bloating if you consider these applications to be unnecessary.
Advanced De-Bloating with PowerShell
For advanced users looking to remove applications that cannot be uninstalled via the Start Menu, PowerShell provides a powerful solution. This section offers a comprehensive guide to using a script for a deeper level of system cleaning.
A custom PowerShell script is available to list and uninstall all installed AppX packages, including those protected from standard uninstallation. When downloading from the source, it's recommended to right-click the 'Raw' button and save the file directly to avoid issues with digital signatures that can occur from copying and pasting the code.
To use the script, open PowerShell (running as administrator may be necessary). Drag the script file into the PowerShell window or type its path. You will likely encounter an error stating that scripts are disabled on the system. This is a security feature that requires you to change the execution policy.
The necessary command to temporarily change the execution policy is included within the script file itself. You can open the script with a text editor to find it. The command is:
Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope Process
This command changes the policy only for the current PowerShell session (as indicated by -Scope Process). Paste and run this command in PowerShell. You can verify the change by running Get-ExecutionPolicy, which should now return RemoteSigned instead of Restricted.
If you open a new PowerShell window and run Get-ExecutionPolicy, it will still show Restricted, confirming the change is temporary and isolated to the original session.
Once the execution policy is set, run the script again by dragging it into the window or using the up arrow key to recall the command. You may be prompted to trust the script's signer; you can approve this to proceed.
The script will display a comprehensive list of all installed AppX packages.
Note: Be cautious. This list includes critical system packages that are essential for Windows to function correctly. Do not uninstall packages unless you are certain of what they do and that they are safe to remove.
Next, you need to create a file named List.txt in the same directory as the script. In this text file, you will list the full names of the packages you wish to uninstall, with each package name on a new line.
For example, you might see a 'Windows Phone' package in the Start Menu that cannot be uninstalled by right-clicking. Find its full package name in the list generated by the script, copy it, and paste it into your List.txt file. If you want to uninstall multiple packages, paste each name on a separate line.
Press any key to continue. The script will then attempt to read the List.txt file.
Important: Ensure your PowerShell session is running in the same directory where your script and List.txt file are located. If not, PowerShell won't find the file. You can change your directory using the cd command, for example: cd C:\Users\YourUser\Desktop. Once in the correct directory, run the script again, and it will proceed to uninstall the packages listed in your file.
After the script runs successfully, the specified applications will be removed. For instance, the 'Windows Phone' app will no longer appear in the Start Menu. The script provides feedback, notifying you if a package name from your list was not found, which is useful for confirming uninstallation on subsequent runs.
The script's logic is straightforward: it gets a list of all installed packages, reads the list of packages to uninstall from your List.txt file, and then iterates through your list, removing each specified package. It also includes basic error handling to report any issues.
This PowerShell method provides a way to achieve maximum de-bloating of Windows 11 without relying on third-party applications. The script is open-source, allowing you to inspect its exact operations for full transparency.
Alternative De-Bloating Tools
Numerous other tools are available online for de-bloating Windows 11. One notable example is Tiny11, a custom-built ISO that offers a significantly stripped-down version of Windows. While this is a third-party solution, it is known for its ability to run on older, less powerful hardware with reduced resource consumption. However, for those who prefer to stick with first-party solutions, the PowerShell script method is an excellent choice.
This 'English (World)' installation trick has been documented on various tech blogs for some time, but it has recently gained widespread attention. It is unlikely that Microsoft will 'patch' this feature, as it isn't a bug. The regional installation options are necessary for managing licensing agreements for the various third-party applications bundled with Windows.
This method should also be effective for Windows 10 installations. An alternative option is selecting 'English (Europe)', though 'English (World)' provides a cleaner result.
With these multiple methods, you can now de-bloat your Windows installation to varying degrees, from a simple two-click trick to a more advanced PowerShell approach.