How to Debloat Windows 11 Safely With WinUtil: Remove Apps, Ads and Telemetry

Below is that process, checked against Microsoft's own support documentation and the documentation for the tool Engadget picks, Chris Titus Tech's WinUtil. We've added the safety notes the tool's glossy screenshots leave out.

What counts as "bloat"​

Engadget uses the word broadly. It covers junk apps, tracking and data-collection features, advertising, and third-party software that ships preloaded because of deals with Microsoft or the PC maker. The article admits that only the junk apps are bloatware in the strict sense. These are three separate problems with three separate fixes:

• Unwanted apps get uninstalled.
• Ads and suggestions get turned off with toggles.
• Telemetry and diagnostic data get limited through settings or policy.

It helps to keep them apart. Uninstalling a game does nothing for your privacy, and switching off Start menu suggestions frees no disk space. Engadget also says Microsoft admitted in February 2026 that Windows 11 needs improvement, and that the changes since then have been mixed. We haven't independently checked that statement for this piece, so treat it as Engadget's account.

Section summary: Before you start, decide which of the three problems you're actually trying to fix.

Step 1: Remove the obvious bloatware using Windows itself​

Start with Windows' own uninstaller, not a script. Depending on who made your PC, you may find trial security suites, casual games, or vendor extras you never wanted. Engadget's example is simple: if you don't play games, you can remove the Xbox app.

Here's the method Engadget describes, which matches Microsoft's support documentation for Windows 10 and 11:

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Apps > Installed apps.
3. Click the three-dot (More) button next to the app you don't want and choose Uninstall.
4. Confirm. Some apps show a Windows confirmation box. Others launch their own uninstaller, which you'll need to click through.

Microsoft lists two fallbacks. You can right-click an app under Start > All apps and choose Uninstall. For apps that can't be removed from Settings yet, use Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features. Microsoft also says some apps are built into Windows and can't be uninstalled at all, and that repairing a misbehaving program is worth trying before removing it.

What can go wrong: Engadget says it's hard to damage Windows beyond repair this way, because Microsoft blocks easy removal of critical parts. You can still go too far, though. The article singles out the Windows Runtime components, which other software needs in order to run. If you don't recognise an app, leave it alone. Stick to casual games and third-party security trials first. On a laptop, be careful with vendor utilities that may control fan curves, function keys, or battery charging limits. That's our general advice, not something from Engadget.

Section summary: Settings > Apps > Installed apps is the safest place to start. Remove only what you can identify.

Step 2: Make a restore point before anything else​

Engadget recommends creating a restore point before running any debloating tool:

1. Type restore into Start and open Create a restore point.
2. Click Create and give it a name.
3. If something breaks later, use the System Restore button in the same window.

Know what this does and doesn't protect. Microsoft's recovery documentation says System Restore rolls back system files and settings but not personal files, and it may undo recently installed apps, drivers, or updates. On Windows 11 version 24H2 and later, Microsoft also offers point-in-time restore. That rolls back the whole PC, personal files included, but keeps restore points for only about three days. Microsoft says that if both are available, try point-in-time restore first.

A restore point is not a backup. Back up your important files separately. If BitLocker is on, make sure you know your recovery key, because Microsoft says you'll need it for most recovery options in the Windows Recovery Environment.

Section summary: Make a restore point, back up your files, and find your BitLocker key before you start changing things.

Step 3: Launch WinUtil, and understand what you're running​

Engadget's tool of choice is WinUtil. The project calls itself a comprehensive PowerShell-based tool for installing apps, applying tweaks, fixing issues, and managing updates. It has to run with administrator rights, because WinUtil must be run as Administrator because it performs system-wide changes.

To launch it, the project's site says to right-click the Start button and choose Terminal (Admin), or launch PowerShell and elevate manually. Then enter the command Engadget gives:

irm "[url]https://christitus.com/win[/url]" | iex

That line downloads a script from the internet and runs it immediately with admin rights. Engadget warns readers never to run commands like this without knowing what they do, and says this particular one comes from a trusted developer. We'd put it a bit more cautiously. What you're really trusting is that one domain and the project's maintainers at the moment you press Enter. The project says it is free and open source, publishes its preset definitions on GitHub, and puts out frequent dated releases, with Release 26.08.19 listed as the latest. Being able to audit the code is a real plus, but it only helps if someone actually reads it. Type the domain by hand. Don't paste lookalike commands from videos or forum posts.

A quick note on money: the GitHub page advertises a paid, faster .NET version, but the developer states that no purchase is needed to run the script!

Section summary: WinUtil is an open-source PowerShell script that needs admin rights. Launch it only from the official command.

Step 4: Use the Tweaks tab like a scalpel​

Engadget says WinUtil now has five tabs after a recent redesign, and most people only need Install, Tweaks, and Updates. Begin with Tweaks.

Essential vs. Advanced. The project's documentation calls Essential Tweaks the safest starting point for most systems. It says Advanced Tweaks are for users who understand the side effects of deeper Windows changes. Chris Titus puts it more bluntly in his own 2026 overview: "Don't just check everything."

Presets. Buttons across the top of the tab select groups of tweaks. According to the docs, Standard: Selects the recommended baseline set of tweaks for most users, while Minimal: Selects a smaller, lower-impact set of common tweaks. Engadget also says Minimal and Standard are the safe choices. There's one detail that matters if you've been following the restore-point advice: the Advanced preset intentionally skips restore point creation and cleanup tasks to avoid a long runtime. That's another reason to create your own restore point first.

Read before you click. Engadget notes that hovering over a tweak shows a short description, and the question-mark icons open fuller documentation, including the exact commands that tweak will run. Take the time to read them.

The OneDrive exception. Engadget says the Advanced tweak you're most likely to want is Microsoft OneDrive – Remove, and only if you don't use OneDrive. Before removing it, check whether Known Folder Backup is syncing your Desktop, Documents, or Pictures. Making sure those files exist locally first is our own advice, not a step from Engadget.

Undo options. The project says nearly every tweak can be reverted from the same panel. It also offers Undo Selected Tweaks — reverts only what you chose alongside restoring to the point WinUtil created. "Nearly every" is not the same as "every," so keep that in mind.

Section summary: Pick Minimal or Standard, read each tooltip, and treat Advanced tweaks as opt-in one at a time.

Step 5: Customize Preferences and the power plan​

The right side of the Tweaks tab has Customize Preferences toggles. Engadget says these mostly switch on quality-of-life features that are off by default, and each one takes effect as soon as you flip it. It gives two examples:

• BSoD Verbose Mode shows more detail when Windows crashes to a stop screen.
• Enable Long Paths lets Windows handle file paths longer than the default 260-character limit.

The same page offers a high-performance power plan. WinUtil's site says it can add and activate the Ultimate Performance power plan to minimize latency and maximize efficiency, or revert to the Balanced profile when you don't need it. Engadget's advice is to use it only on a well-cooled desktop where a higher power bill is acceptable, such as a gaming rig or a home media server. Leave it off laptops, where it would drain the battery.

Step 6: Clean up apps from the Install tab​

The Install tab mostly exists to install software, but Engadget uses it for removal:

1. Click Show Installed Apps and wait for your installed programs to be highlighted.
2. Deselect everything you want to keep, so only the junk stays highlighted. Engadget's example is Microsoft Teams.
3. Click Uninstall Applications and let it run.

Be careful at step 2, because anything left highlighted gets removed. Go through the list slowly.

A word on the Updates tab​

Engadget lists Updates as one of the three tabs worth using, but doesn't say what to do there. WinUtil's documentation says you can switch between full updates, security-only updates, or fully paused. From a security point of view, this is where debloating can backfire. Pausing updates indefinitely leaves you without Microsoft security patches, and no amount of reduced telemetry makes up for that. If you change anything here, keep security updates coming. That's our editorial view, not Engadget's.

Limits and counterpoints​

• No promised speed boost. Engadget says your PC should "feel" more streamlined. Neither Engadget nor our research offers benchmarks showing a predictable performance gain.
• Privacy is reduced, not eliminated. Engadget says you'll have cut Microsoft's ability to track you and serve ads as far as possible, but no tweak switches off all data collection.
• Work PCs are off-limits. If your organization manages your PC through Intune or Group Policy, don't run a debloater on it. You could conflict with compliance policies, and IT will not be pleased.
• Updates can undo your work. Feature updates sometimes bring back apps or reset settings, so expect to repeat the cleanup now and then.
• A clean install can be the real fix. Microsoft's recovery documentation notes that manufacturer recovery images typically include factory apps that generic Microsoft installation media doesn't. For a heavily loaded OEM laptop, a clean install from Microsoft's media can remove more than any script, though you'll need to reinstall vendor drivers.

The bottom line​

The method isn't new, but the order of operations is the most useful part. Uninstall through Windows first, make a restore point and a backup, use WinUtil's Minimal or Standard preset, read every tooltip, and add Advanced tweaks only one at a time and on purpose. Done that way, Windows 11 gets quieter and cleaner, and you avoid a weekend spent in the Recovery Environment.

Tried WinUtil or a similar tool on your own machine? The forum's Windows 11 customization and troubleshooting threads are a good place to compare results and see which tweaks have caused trouble for other people.