If you’ve ever unboxed a shiny, new Windows laptop and booted it up, you probably know the struggle—dealing with the barrage of uninvited guests in the form of pre-installed apps (or as we like to call them, bloatware). They clutter your Start Menu, throw ads into unexpected corners of the OS, and tease you with trials of software you'll never willingly pay for. Truth be told, Windows laptops feel more like pop-up shops these days, thanks to these corporate tie-ins. Microsoft, for instance, seems to love sprinkling ads throughout Windows—Start Menu, Settings, you name it—as part of their business push (ahem, OpenAI investments, anyone?). But not all bloatware is hot garbage. Some of it actually deserves a home on your system—and that's what we’re here to talk about today. Let’s dive into five pre-installed apps that might surprise you by being genuinely useful.
OneDrive also syncs beautifully across Microsoft platforms and apps, making backup and recovery a breeze for Windows users locked into the ecosystem. Sure, it’s not Dropbox or Google Drive, but for those who want to minimize app clutter and keep things simple, it’s a solid option.
Pro Tip: While many users resist OneDrive, you might want to turn it into a workhorse with selective sync options. This feature lets you save space by only keeping certain files on your local machine, while the rest live happily in the cloud.
Notably, if you've ever relied on clunky third-party email apps—or worse, webmail—Outlook's advanced automation tools (like rules and filters) can feel life-changing. Need to color-code incoming invoices? Create an auto-reply for a busy workweek? No problem. Outlook rules are your new best friends.
For one, Teams integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Office, Outlook Calendar, and SharePoint, making it a communication hub for anyone entrenched in Microsoft’s ecosystem. Its video conferencing quality rivals, if not outpaces, other apps like Zoom, making it a valuable tool for professionals. Whether you’re brainstorming in a virtual whiteboard session or hopping between group chats, Teams pulls its weight.
Hot Tip: Take advantage of Teams’ channel organization feature—it’s a lifesaver for breaking down projects or departments. Think of it like Slack, but with more Excel docs involved.
Case in point: If you’re dealing with stubborn hardware issues, OEM tools sometimes detect firmware updates and driver repositories missed by Windows Update. For instance, HP’s tool recently salvaged a malfunctioning webcam by retrieving driver updates that Microsoft didn’t even acknowledge were needed. Some manufacturers even bake in webcam-enhancing AI features into these tools (as seen in Acer laptops), which can polish up video calls when your integrated camera looks like CCTV footage.
Take AMD Adrenalin or NVIDIA GeForce Experience, for example: they allow you to tweak graphical performance to match specific use cases. Whether you're dropping settings for higher FPS in gaming or optimizing your GPU for video editing, these tools offer you granular control that’s difficult to achieve any other way. Plus, features like Instant Replay or Shadow Play are perfect for recording game highlights or capturing workflows.
But let’s not kid ourselves: we’d all prefer a clean, bloatware-free version of Windows. Until that dream becomes a reality, let’s embrace the age-old adage of making lemonade from lemons.
This article shines a light on that gray zone between bloatware irritation and practical software that Windows users can utilize effectively. Let's keep the conversation going—after all, nothing says community like ranting about pre-installed software!
Source: XDA Laptop bloatware is bad, but here are 5 apps that are actually useful
5: Microsoft OneDrive: Cloud Storage We Didn’t Ask For, But Might Actually Use
First up, let’s talk about OneDrive—the perennial contender in the cloud storage wars. It may be the Microsoft default, endlessly pestering you to sync files and upgrade your plan, but it has its perks. For Office enthusiasts still hanging on to good old Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, OneDrive offers seamless autosave capabilities. This integration saves you from heartbreak when "unexpected shutdowns" (we see you, Blue Screen of Death) decide to gate-crash your workday.OneDrive also syncs beautifully across Microsoft platforms and apps, making backup and recovery a breeze for Windows users locked into the ecosystem. Sure, it’s not Dropbox or Google Drive, but for those who want to minimize app clutter and keep things simple, it’s a solid option.
Pro Tip: While many users resist OneDrive, you might want to turn it into a workhorse with selective sync options. This feature lets you save space by only keeping certain files on your local machine, while the rest live happily in the cloud.
4: Outlook: The New Default Email Champ
Starting in 2025, Microsoft’s once-notorious Mail app will bow out graciously, as Outlook strides in to take center stage as the pre-installed email solution on Windows 11. And while this may rile up purists wary of Outlook’s ad-supported free edition, it comes packed with features from its enterprise sibling. Out of the box, you get access to robust email management tools, cross-platform syncing, and killer calendaring features. Yes, advertisements might plague the free version, but if you don’t mind waving them off, this app can modernize and turbocharge your email game.Notably, if you've ever relied on clunky third-party email apps—or worse, webmail—Outlook's advanced automation tools (like rules and filters) can feel life-changing. Need to color-code incoming invoices? Create an auto-reply for a busy workweek? No problem. Outlook rules are your new best friends.
3: Microsoft Teams: The Slack Competitor We Tolerate
Love it or loathe it, Microsoft Teams is here to stay. Preinstalled across modern Windows laptops, Teams has managed to cement itself as the go-to workplace collaboration tool. And yes, it’s easy to hate on Teams for being buggy, sluggish, and occasionally invasive (why oh why does it auto-launch?), but there’s value if you look deeper.For one, Teams integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Office, Outlook Calendar, and SharePoint, making it a communication hub for anyone entrenched in Microsoft’s ecosystem. Its video conferencing quality rivals, if not outpaces, other apps like Zoom, making it a valuable tool for professionals. Whether you’re brainstorming in a virtual whiteboard session or hopping between group chats, Teams pulls its weight.
Hot Tip: Take advantage of Teams’ channel organization feature—it’s a lifesaver for breaking down projects or departments. Think of it like Slack, but with more Excel docs involved.
2: OEM Support Tools: The Dark Horses
This one might seem counterintuitive. OEM tools bundled with laptops—such as Acer Care Center, HP Support Assistant, or Dell Command—are often dismissed as unnecessary. After all, these apps are usually filled with unwanted system scans and sales pitches for extended warranties. But every so often, they save the day when Windows itself can’t.Case in point: If you’re dealing with stubborn hardware issues, OEM tools sometimes detect firmware updates and driver repositories missed by Windows Update. For instance, HP’s tool recently salvaged a malfunctioning webcam by retrieving driver updates that Microsoft didn’t even acknowledge were needed. Some manufacturers even bake in webcam-enhancing AI features into these tools (as seen in Acer laptops), which can polish up video calls when your integrated camera looks like CCTV footage.
Remember: If you’re not into keeping the entire OEM tool suite, you can uninstall the noisy extras and keep just the essentials—like driver support and diagnostics.
1: GPU Management Software: Power Meets Performance
Last but definitely not least, GPU management tools deserve your respect. If your laptop packs a dedicated AMD or NVIDIA graphics card, these tools aren’t just fancy wrappers—they're performance powerhouses.Take AMD Adrenalin or NVIDIA GeForce Experience, for example: they allow you to tweak graphical performance to match specific use cases. Whether you're dropping settings for higher FPS in gaming or optimizing your GPU for video editing, these tools offer you granular control that’s difficult to achieve any other way. Plus, features like Instant Replay or Shadow Play are perfect for recording game highlights or capturing workflows.
The Verdict: Are These Apps Worth the Space?
For all its woes, bloatware isn’t a completely hopeless plague on your shiny new Windows rig. You just have to sift through the noise to find those rare nuggets of utility. From productivity boosters like OneDrive and Outlook to bona fide hardware saviors like OEM tools and GPU software, some pre-installed apps might just earn their way into your heart—and your Start Menu.But let’s not kid ourselves: we’d all prefer a clean, bloatware-free version of Windows. Until that dream becomes a reality, let’s embrace the age-old adage of making lemonade from lemons.
Join the Discussion:
Which pre-installed apps have you found genuinely useful, and which ones drive you absolutely bonkers? How do you deal with bloatware? Share your thoughts on the forum!This article shines a light on that gray zone between bloatware irritation and practical software that Windows users can utilize effectively. Let's keep the conversation going—after all, nothing says community like ranting about pre-installed software!
Source: XDA Laptop bloatware is bad, but here are 5 apps that are actually useful
