5 Home windows 11 apps I uninstall for a cleaner, smoother expertise

Everybody personalizes their Windows PC in their very own means, and I favor to maintain mine as clear and minimal as doable. I cover all my desktop icons, so my desktop all the time seems tidy, and my taskbar solely has probably the most important apps pinned. Relating to apps, I solely maintain those I truly use put in to maintain my PC as clutter-free as doable.

That stated, if you happen to’ve simply gotten a brand new Home windows 11 PC, upgraded from Windows 10, or carried out a recent set up, there are lots of apps that Microsoft routinely installs that you simply would possibly by no means use or just don’t desire. I would not go as far as to name them bloatware, however I believe it is truthful to say that not everybody wants a number of the default apps that include Home windows 11. For those who’re not utilizing them, I like to recommend uninstalling them to save lots of cupboard space and assist maintain your PC clear. Listed below are 5 default Home windows 11 apps I all the time uninstall, which you’ll wish to contemplate too.

Microsoft Copilot

I like my Home windows expertise AI-free

Over the previous 12 months, I’ve needed to arrange a number of new Home windows PCs, and one of many first issues I all the time do is uninstall Copilot, Microsoft’s AI chatbot. Whereas it might be helpful relying in your workflow, I by no means discover myself utilizing it, because it simply takes up pointless area. Fortunately, Microsoft has made uninstalling Copilot surprisingly straightforward. All you must do is go to Settings > Apps > Copilot > then click on the three dots subsequent to Copilot and choose Uninstall. The identical uninstall course of applies to the remainder of the apps talked about on this story as effectively.

While you seek for Copilot in your app record, you may additionally discover one other model known as Microsoft 365 Copilot, which you too can uninstall if you would like. That is basically a model of Copilot built-in with apps like Microsoft Phrase and Excel. If you wish to use AI in these apps, by all means, maintain it. Nevertheless, if you happen to do not use any Microsoft Workplace apps and as an alternative use options like Google Docs and Google Sheets, it is price eliminating it. For those who ever wish to reinstall Copilot, you possibly can simply achieve this from the Microsoft Retailer.

Microsoft Groups

For those who use an alternate like Slack, you in all probability do not want it

Microsoft Groups is a messaging and video conferencing app that many firms use to deal with communication between staff. Personally, the corporate I work for does not use Microsoft Groups and depends on options like Slack and Google Meet, so I’ve by no means had to make use of it.

Moreover, for private video calls and messaging with pals or household, I often use different apps like Discord, WhatsApp, or FaceTime, so Groups is simply pointless. For those who’re in an analogous state of affairs and do not have a use case for Groups, uninstalling it’s a straightforward option to unencumber area and tidy up your PC’s app record.

The Xbox app

Sorry Microsoft, Steam is the house of PC gaming

I like enjoying video games on my PC in my free time, however the Xbox app is not the best way I do it. Like many PC avid gamers, I depend on Steam, which I have been utilizing for over a decade. I’ve solely ever used the Xbox app a few times, and that was when Microsoft was providing these $1 PC Sport Move trials.

Since then, I have never had a compelling use case for it, and with the latest increase in the cost of Xbox Sport Move Final and PC Sport Move, it does not seem like I’ll within the close to future both. For those who do not play video games in your PC or rely solely on different platforms like Steam and Epic Video games for all of your gaming wants, the Xbox app is one other straightforward uninstall.

Sound Recorder

Audacity is healthier and free

Sound Recorder is a pre-installed app in Home windows 11, and because the identify suggests, you should use it to file audio in your PC, resembling for a podcast or voice-over. Nevertheless, I consider that Sound Recorder has very restricted options for audio recording, and there are different apps that deal with each recording and enhancing audio a lot better. Audacity is my private favourite, and it is free. With that in thoughts, uninstalling Sound Recorder was an apparent selection for me, and it may be for you too, particularly if you happen to needn’t file your individual voice for something.

Outlook for Home windows

I favor to verify my e-mail utilizing an online browser

I verify my e-mail continuously whereas utilizing my PC, however I do not use the Outlook app for Home windows for that. The Outlook app for Home windows provides the identical inbox expertise you are aware of in your internet browser, simply in a devoted app. In case you have an Outlook or an outdated Hotmail e-mail, you would possibly discover it helpful. Nevertheless, I often entry my e-mail on my telephone or by way of Google Chrome; due to this fact, I by no means felt the necessity to use the devoted Outlook app. For those who’re in the identical boat, uninstalling Outlook could possibly be worthwhile for you too.

Moreover, if you happen to put in Home windows 11 some time in the past, you might need one other mail app price eliminating. Once I went to uninstall Outlook, I seen I additionally had an older Home windows e-mail app known as Mail and Calendar put in. Microsoft truly discontinued this app final 12 months in favor of the Outlook for Home windows app, so you can have two mail apps to uninstall, not only one, relying on how lengthy you’ve got been utilizing Home windows 11.