Debloat Windows 10: 10 Easy Steps to Speed Up Your PC

Debloat Windows 10: Essential Tools and Scripts for a Clean Install

What this guide covers

A concise plan to remove unnecessary apps, disable unwanted services, and apply lightweight settings so a fresh or existing Windows 10 install runs faster, uses less disk space, and has fewer privacy/noise surface areas.

Before you start

  • Backup: Create a full system image or at minimum a restore point.
  • Create recovery media: Use the Windows Recovery Drive tool or a Windows 10 installer USB.
  • Know what you need: Some bundled apps may be useful (e.g., Photos, Calculator). Don’t remove items you rely on.

Essential tools

  • PowerShell (built-in): Use for removing built-in UWP apps and running scripts.
  • O&O AppBuster or 10AppsManager: GUI tools to view/remove Microsoft Store apps safely.
  • Ninite / Chocolatey: Batch-install essential third-party apps (browsers, VLC, 7-Zip) after debloating.
  • Autoruns (Sysinternals): View and disable startup programs and scheduled tasks.
  • CCleaner (or built-in Disk Cleanup): Clean temp files and old Windows updates (use cautiously).
  • Windows Settings & Group Policy Editor: Disable telemetry, background apps, and unnecessary features.
  • Winaero Tweaker: Optional UI and performance tweaks (use carefully).
  • Process Monitor / Resource Monitor: Diagnose performance issues post-cleanup.

Useful PowerShell commands & scripts

  • Remove a single built-in app for current user:

powershell

Get-AppxPackage *XboxApp| Remove-AppxPackage
  • Remove all built-in Store apps for current user (use with caution):

powershell

Get-AppxPackage | Where-Object {\(_</span><span class="token" style="color: rgb(57, 58, 52);">.</span><span>PackageFullName </span><span class="token" style="color: rgb(57, 58, 52);">-notmatch</span><span> </span><span class="token" style="color: rgb(163, 21, 21);">"Microsoft.WindowsStore"</span><span class="token" style="color: rgb(57, 58, 52);">}</span><span> </span><span class="token" style="color: rgb(57, 58, 52);">|</span><span> </span><span class="token" style="color: rgb(57, 58, 52);">Remove-AppxPackage</span><span> </span></code></div></div></pre> <ul> <li>Remove provisioned app packages (so they don’t reinstall for new users; run elevated):</li> </ul> <pre><div class="XG2rBS5V967VhGTCEN1k"><div class="nHykNMmtaaTJMjgzStID"><div class="HsT0RHFbNELC00WicOi8"><i><svg width="16" height="16" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M15.434 7.51c.137.137.212.311.212.49a.694.694 0 0 1-.212.5l-3.54 3.5a.893.893 0 0 1-.277.18 1.024 1.024 0 0 1-.684.038.945.945 0 0 1-.302-.148.787.787 0 0 1-.213-.234.652.652 0 0 1-.045-.58.74.74 0 0 1 .175-.256l3.045-3-3.045-3a.69.69 0 0 1-.22-.55.723.723 0 0 1 .303-.52 1 1 0 0 1 .648-.186.962.962 0 0 1 .614.256l3.541 3.51Zm-12.281 0A.695.695 0 0 0 2.94 8a.694.694 0 0 0 .213.5l3.54 3.5a.893.893 0 0 0 .277.18 1.024 1.024 0 0 0 .684.038.945.945 0 0 0 .302-.148.788.788 0 0 0 .213-.234.651.651 0 0 0 .045-.58.74.74 0 0 0-.175-.256L4.994 8l3.045-3a.69.69 0 0 0 .22-.55.723.723 0 0 0-.303-.52 1 1 0 0 0-.648-.186.962.962 0 0 0-.615.256l-3.54 3.51Z"></path></svg></i><p class="li3asHIMe05JPmtJCytG wZ4JdaHxSAhGy1HoNVja cPy9QU4brI7VQXFNPEvF">powershell</p></div><div class="CF2lgtGWtYUYmTULoX44"><button type="button" class="st68fcLUUT0dNcuLLB2_ ffON2NH02oMAcqyoh2UU MQCbz04ET5EljRmK3YpQ CPXAhl7VTkj2dHDyAYAf" data-copycode="true" role="button" aria-label="Copy Code"><svg viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M9.975 1h.09a3.2 3.2 0 0 1 3.202 3.201v1.924a.754.754 0 0 1-.017.16l1.23 1.353A2 2 0 0 1 15 8.983V14a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8a2 2 0 0 1-1.733-1H4.183a3.201 3.201 0 0 1-3.2-3.201V4.201a3.2 3.2 0 0 1 3.04-3.197A1.25 1.25 0 0 1 5.25 0h3.5c.604 0 1.109.43 1.225 1ZM4.249 2.5h-.066a1.7 1.7 0 0 0-1.7 1.701v7.598c0 .94.761 1.701 1.7 1.701H6V7a2 2 0 0 1 2-2h3.197c.195 0 .387.028.57.083v-.882A1.7 1.7 0 0 0 10.066 2.5H9.75c-.228.304-.591.5-1 .5h-3.5c-.41 0-.772-.196-1-.5ZM5 1.75v-.5A.25.25 0 0 1 5.25 1h3.5a.25.25 0 0 1 .25.25v.5a.25.25 0 0 1-.25.25h-3.5A.25.25 0 0 1 5 1.75ZM7.5 7a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h3V9a1 1 0 0 0 1 1h1.5v4a.5.5 0 0 1-.5.5H8a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V7Zm6 2v-.017a.5.5 0 0 0-.13-.336L12 7.14V9h1.5Z"></path></svg>Copy Code</button><button type="button" class="st68fcLUUT0dNcuLLB2_ WtfzoAXPoZC2mMqcexgL ffON2NH02oMAcqyoh2UU MQCbz04ET5EljRmK3YpQ GnLX_jUB3Jn3idluie7R"><svg fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M20.618 4.214a1 1 0 0 1 .168 1.404l-11 14a1 1 0 0 1-1.554.022l-5-6a1 1 0 0 1 1.536-1.28l4.21 5.05L19.213 4.382a1 1 0 0 1 1.404-.168Z" clip-rule="evenodd"></path></svg>Copied</button></div></div><div class="mtDfw7oSa1WexjXyzs9y" style="color: var(--sds-color-text-01); font-family: var(--sds-font-family-monospace); direction: ltr; text-align: left; white-space: pre; word-spacing: normal; word-break: normal; font-size: var(--sds-font-size-label); line-height: 1.2em; tab-size: 4; hyphens: none; padding: var(--sds-space-x02, 8px) var(--sds-space-x04, 16px) var(--sds-space-x04, 16px); margin: 0px; overflow: auto; border: none; background: transparent;"><code class="language-powershell" style="color: rgb(57, 58, 52); font-family: Consolas, "Bitstream Vera Sans Mono", "Courier New", Courier, monospace; direction: ltr; text-align: left; white-space: pre; word-spacing: normal; word-break: normal; font-size: 0.9em; line-height: 1.2em; tab-size: 4; hyphens: none;"><span class="token" style="color: rgb(57, 58, 52);">Get-AppxProvisionedPackage</span><span> </span><span class="token" style="color: rgb(57, 58, 52);">-</span><span>Online </span><span class="token" style="color: rgb(57, 58, 52);">|</span><span> </span><span class="token" style="color: rgb(57, 58, 52);">Where-Object</span><span> </span><span class="token" style="color: rgb(57, 58, 52);">{</span><span class="token" style="color: rgb(54, 172, 170);">\).DisplayName -notmatch “WindowsStore”} | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online
  • Disable a scheduled task (example):

powershell

Disable-ScheduledTask -TaskName “Customer Experience Improvement Program”
  • Disable telemetry and data collection via registry (run elevated, back up registry first):

powershell

Set-ItemProperty -Path “HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection” -Name “AllowTelemetry” -Value 0 -Type DWord

Recommended scripts (use vetted sources)

  • O&O AppBuster scripts or community PowerShell debloat scripts can be effective but inspect every command before running.
  • Use curated scripts from reputable maintainers (e.g., established GitHub repos) and read issues/discussions to ensure compatibility with your Windows build.

Safe order of operations

  1. Create backup + recovery media.
  2. Update Windows and drivers.
  3. Remove unwanted Store apps (PowerShell or GUI).
  4. Disable nonessential services/startup items (Autoruns).
  5. Tidy disk (Disk Cleanup/CCleaner) and uninstall unwanted programs.
  6. Apply telemetry/privacy tweaks (Group Policy/Registry).
  7. Reboot and test stability; restore backup if necessary.
  8. Reinstall essential third-party apps via Ninite/Chocolatey.

Risks and cautions

  • Removing certain packages can break functionality (Cortana, Store, Xbox services).
  • Provisioned-package removal affects new user profiles; exercise caution on shared systems.
  • Registry edits and disabled services can reduce telemetry but may also affect updates or diagnostics. Keep recovery options.

Quick checklist

  • Full system image/restore point
  • Recovery USB created
  • List of apps to keep/remove
  • Run app removal (PowerShell/AppBuster)
  • Disable startup/services (Autoruns)
  • Clean disk and uninstall programs
  • Apply privacy/telemetry tweaks
  • Test system for issues

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