Windows ships with a surprising number of preinstalled apps that many users never open — and removing the handful that truly add no value can free storage, reduce background noise, and make Windows feel noticeably snappier.
Preinstalled apps — often labeled “bloatware” — come in three flavors: Microsoft-supplied optional apps, OEM-added utilities and trials, and quick-install Microsoft Store links. While some of these apps are genuinely useful for particular workflows, many sit unused, take up disk space, clutter the Start menu, and occasionally run background tasks that consume RAM and battery. Practical guides and community tests show measurable improvements after careful cleanups, but results vary by device and which apps are removed. Estimates of space recovered vary widely; some community write-ups suggest a fresh machine may carry roughly a dozen gigabytes of avoidable apps, but any specific “15 GB” figure should be treated as a directional estimate rather than a guarantee. n preinstalled Windows apps — Microsoft News, Feedback Hub, Clipchamp, Maps, Sound Recorder, and Camera — summarizing why users consider them “bloat,” validating or correcting technical claims, weighing practical alternatives, and giving safe, actionable removal advice. Where claims are time-sensitive (for example, whether an app is deprecated or still installed by default), those are verified against Microsoft’s documentation and independent reporting.
Source: How-To Geek I stopped letting these 6 "bloatware" apps slow down my Windows PC
Background / Overview
Preinstalled apps — often labeled “bloatware” — come in three flavors: Microsoft-supplied optional apps, OEM-added utilities and trials, and quick-install Microsoft Store links. While some of these apps are genuinely useful for particular workflows, many sit unused, take up disk space, clutter the Start menu, and occasionally run background tasks that consume RAM and battery. Practical guides and community tests show measurable improvements after careful cleanups, but results vary by device and which apps are removed. Estimates of space recovered vary widely; some community write-ups suggest a fresh machine may carry roughly a dozen gigabytes of avoidable apps, but any specific “15 GB” figure should be treated as a directional estimate rather than a guarantee. n preinstalled Windows apps — Microsoft News, Feedback Hub, Clipchamp, Maps, Sound Recorder, and Camera — summarizing why users consider them “bloat,” validating or correcting technical claims, weighing practical alternatives, and giving safe, actionable removal advice. Where claims are time-sensitive (for example, whether an app is deprecated or still installed by default), those are verified against Microsoft’s documentation and independent reporting.Why declutter? Quick benefits and safety checklist
Removing unused preinstalled apps delivers three practical wins:- Free storage and fewer automatic updates for apps you don’t use.
- Less background activity and fewer startup items, which can slightly improve responsiveness and battery life on laptops.
- Fewer notifications and upsell prompts, improving the user experience.
- Create a System Restore point (Control Panel → Recovery → Create a restore point).
- Back up critical data or take a disk image if the device is production-critical.
- Remove apps in small batches and reboot; test for 24–48 hours.
- On corporate-managed devices, check with IT first — some preinstalled apps are enforced or tracked by management policies.
- Prefer reversible methods (Settings → Apps → Uninstall) or tools that allow reinstallation, and document what you remove.
Microsoft News: convenient for srs
What the app does and common criticisms
Microsoft News (the Windows “News” app) aggregates headlines, weather, finance, and trending stories from a wide publisher network. For some users it’s a convenient, curated feed; for others it reads like a stream of recycled headlines and sponsored content. If you rarely open it, the app can still take Start-menu real estate and occasionally show recommended content in Windows surfaces. Many users who prefer RSS readers, curated newsletters, or browser-based homepages find the separate News app redundant.Validation and context
Microsoft’s news aggregation is integrated into several surfaces (Edge new-tab, MSN, or the News app), so duplication with Edge’s new-tab news is expected. Users who use browser-first workflows rarely need the standalone News app; removing it is low-risk for most consumers. Community guidance about this app as optional bloat aligns with mainstream advice to remove things you never use.Practical alternatives
- Use a browser homepage with curse an RSS reader (local or cloud) for fine-grained control.
- Keep Edge or another browser’s news/new-tab feature if you like occasional headlines without installing a separate app.
Removal guidance
- Settings → Apps → Installed apps → Find “News” → Uninstall.
- If you want a non-destructive step first, disable background app permissions in Settings → Apps → Advanced app permissions → Background apps.
Feedback Hub: useful for Insiders, irrelevant for most
Why some find it unnecessary
Feedback Hub is Microsoft’s official channel for bug reports, feature requests, and Insider preview participation. For everyday users who never run Insider builds and prefer community forums, Feedback Hub sits unused and occupies space.Balanced view
Feedback Hub is valuable for people who test preview builds or want a direct Microsoft feedback path. If you do participate in Insider or file targeted bug reports, keep it. For general users who only consume stable releases and use vendor forums or social channels to report issues, uninstalling the app is reasonable. The app’s UI can feel crowded to new users, which reduces its discoverability for casual feedback submissions.Removal guidance and caveats
- Uninstall via Settings if you never use it.
- Ie in Insider builds in the future, note that reinstalling from the Store is possible while the app remains available. On managed devices, the app may be provisioned by policy; do not remove it without IT consent.
Clipchamp: capable, but subscription tiers and online architecture matter
Summary of the app’s role
Clipchamp is Microsoft’s built-in video editor targeted at casual creators: trim clips, add transitions, text overlays, and export. It’s oriented toward quick social posts and light editing rather than professional timelines.What’s true and what to verify
- Clipchamp runs substantial parts of its processing via web technologies and cloud services, which can make the UI feel sluggish for heavier projects compared to native editors.
- Some advanced assets, premium templates, and 4K export capability are gated behind Clipchamp’s Premium plan or enabled via Microsoft 365 entitlements. Microsoft consolidated older legacy plans and now maintains Premium as the primary standalone paid tier, while many Microsoft 365 subscribers receive premium benefits as part of their subscription. These subscription and feature-tier details are managed on Microsoft’s Clipchamp support pages.
Alternatives to Clipchamp
- Free, offline editors: Shotcut, DaVinci Resolve (free tier), or OpenShot for basic timelines.
- Professional: Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut (macOS).
- For quick captures and simple edits: lightweight editors such as VSDC or Avidemux.
Removal guidance
- If Clipchamp is unused, uninstall from Settings → Apps.
- If you might use Clipchamp occasionally for quick social edits, consider leaving it installed or removing only if disk space or background usage is a priority.
Maps: deprecated and no longer preinstalled on modern Windows 11 installations
The claim and Microsoft’s announcement
Windows’ built-in Maps app has been officially deprecated by Microsoft and is slated for removal from the Microsoft Store and end-of-support timelines. Microsoft’s documentation lists Maps as deprecated and notes the app will be removed from the Microsoft Store by July 2025; additionally, Microsoft stated Maps is no longer preinstalled starting with Windows 11, version 24H2. Independent coverage and community discussion confirm Microsoft’s plan to make the app nonfunctional after the Store removal window, directing users to Bing Maps for web-based map functionality.What that means for users
- On recent Windows 11 systems (24H2 and later), Maps may not be installed by default.
- Existing installations may continue to function until Microsoft’s final update makes the Store-hosted version nonfunctional; after that, Maps cannot be reinstalled from the Store.
- Saved routes and addresses in Maps may no longer be usable inside the app after deprecation — plan to export or transcribe important location data manually if you rely on it. Community reports indicate the functionality will not be preserved in-app once the app is removed from the Store.
Modern alternatives
- For most users, web-based mapping (Google Maps or Bing Maps) on a browser delivers richer transit, Street View, and real-time traffic.
- Phone-first mapping remains the better navigation experience for on-the-go use; laptops are rarely the primary navigation device.
- If you relied on Maps for offline navigation specifically on Windows, there is no direct store-supported replacement from Microsoft; third-party mapping solutions are limited in the desktop app space.
Removal guidance
- If Maps still exists on your system, uninstalling it is safe for most users; remember that any in-app saved routes will become inaccessible in the Maps app post-deprecation. If you need saved points, copy them to a portable format before removal.
Sound Recorder: fine for notes, weak for serious audio work
What Sound Recorder does
Sound Recorder is a minimal voice-recording app intended for quick voice memos. It’s suitable for short notes but offers little control over audio formats, bitrate, noise reduction, or multitrack editing.Alternatives for more control
- Audacity: fully featured, offline audio recording and editing (free).
- OBS Studio: for screen + face-cam recordings with rich audio/streaming controls.
- Voice Recorder apps built into communication tools (Teams, Zoom) often suffice for quick meeting clips.
Removal guidance and caveats
- Uninstall Sound Recorder if you don’t use it; for most usertives are more powerful and flexible.
- Keep in mind that some lightweight use cases (very short voice notes) may be slightly faster with the built-in app, but not worth reserving disk space for on constrained systems.
Camera: useful for meetings, but apps often handle webcam input
Why the Camera app is labeled unnecessary
On laptops, built-in webcams are primarily used for video calls and livestreaming. Most communication and streaming apps (Teams, Zoom, OBS) manage webcam input directly, provide recording, and offer features like background blur and virtual backgrounds. The standalone Camera app is generally only useful for quick snapshots or local video capture; for serious webcam work, dedicated tools offer far more control.Alternatives
- For meetings and snapshots: Zoom, Teams, or the built-in camera handling in those apps.
- For streaming and advanced recording: OBS Studio gives resolution, frame rate, scene composition, and audio routing controls that the Camera app does not.
Removal guidance
- Safe to uninstall on most consumer devices.
- If you rely on vendor camera utilities for firmware updates or proprietary features (face recognition, hardware-specific controls), keep those vendor tools as needed.
Safe, recommended removal methods (step-by-step)
Below are practical removal options ranked from safest to most powerful.1. Settings (recommended first pass)
- Open Settings (Win + I).
- Go to Apps → Installe app → Click the three-dot menu → Uninstall.
- Reboot and validate system behavior for 24 hours.
2. Microsoft Store / winget (bulk or bulk-query)
- Use the Store or winget to uninstall or to script batch operations.ninstall packages; example: winget uninstall --name "Clipchamp" (disambiguate names as needed). winget is recommended for power users who want repeatable, scriptable cleanups.
3. PowerShell (advanced users)
- Use: Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Select Name, PackageFullName to enumerate Appx packages.
- Remove with Remove-AppxPackage vals affect only the current user, and some can be irreversible without reinstalling from the Store). PowerShell provides precision but requires caution.
4. GUI tools and scripts (convenient, semi-automated)
- Tools such as O&O AppBuster, Sparkle, and vetted open-source scripts like Win11Debloat provide an easy interface and preset lists. Prefer open-source, audited projects and review exactly what they will remove. Always read changelogs and test on a non-critical system first.
Risks and caveats — what to watch for
- Enterprise or school-managed devices may re-provision apps via policies; removal might be blocked or undone on updates.
- Some Windows features depend on optional components; avoid removing runtimes and drivers (Visual C++ redistributables, .NET runtimes, GPU drivers). Removing the wrong package can break installed software.
- When using scripts and debloater tools blanket “remove everything” runs carry the highest risk of unintentionally breaking functionality.
Final takeaways
Uninstalling a handful of unused preinstalled apps can meaningfully declutter Windows, reclaim storage, and reduce background noise. The six apps discussed — Microsoft News, Feedback Hub, Clipchamp, Maps, Sound Recorder, and Camera — are sensible first targets for many users, but selection should match your workflow: keep what you use, remove what you don’t.- Maps is a special case: Microsoft has deprecated it and it is no longer preinstalled starting with Windows 11, version 24H2; the app will be removed from the Microsoft Store per Microsoft’s documentation, so plan to migrate any saved data you rely on.
- Clipchamp is useful for casual editing but contains premium features behind a Paid/Premium tier and leans on web-based processing; professionals should prefer native crosoft.
- For all removals, follow the safety checklist: create a restore point, remove in small batches, test, and prefer reversible methods first.
Source: How-To Geek I stopped letting these 6 "bloatware" apps slow down my Windows PC
