5 Home windows 11 apps I uninstall for a cleaner, ...

Everybody personalizes their Windows PC in their very own manner, and I choose to maintain mine as clear and minimal as doable. I conceal all my desktop icons, so my desktop all the time seems to be tidy, and my taskbar solely has probably the most important apps pinned. In terms of apps, I solely maintain those I really use put in to maintain my PC as clutter-free as doable.

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

Microsoft Copilot

I like my Home windows expertise AI-free

Over the previous yr, 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 could 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 simple. All it’s a must to 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 nicely.

Once you seek for Copilot in your app checklist, you might also discover one other model known as Microsoft 365 Copilot, which it’s also possible to uninstall in order for you. 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. Nonetheless, in the event you 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 need to reinstall Copilot, you’ll be able to simply accomplish that from the Microsoft Retailer.

Microsoft Groups

For those who use another 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 would 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 the same scenario and do not have a use case for Groups, uninstalling it’s a simple method to unlock area and tidy up your PC’s app checklist.

The Xbox app

Sorry Microsoft, Steam is the house of PC gaming

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

Since then, I have not had a compelling use case for it, and with the latest increase in the cost of Xbox Recreation Move Final and PC Recreation Move, it would not appear 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 simple uninstall.

Sound Recorder

Audacity is best and free

Sound Recorder is a pre-installed app in Home windows 11, and because the title suggests, you should use it to document audio in your PC, similar to for a podcast or voice-over. Nonetheless, I consider that Sound Recorder has very restricted options for audio recording, and there are different apps that deal with each recording and modifying audio significantly 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 is perhaps for you too, particularly in the event you need not document your personal voice for something.

Outlook for Home windows

I choose to test my e-mail utilizing an internet browser

I test my e-mail always whereas utilizing my PC, however I do not use the Outlook app for Home windows for that. The Outlook app for Home windows affords the identical inbox expertise you are accustomed to in your internet browser, simply in a devoted app. When you have an Outlook or an previous Hotmail e-mail, you may discover it helpful. Nonetheless, I often entry my e-mail on my telephone or by way of Google Chrome; subsequently, 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, in the event you 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 really discontinued this app final yr in favor of the Outlook for Home windows app, so you may have two mail apps to uninstall, not only one, relying on how lengthy you have been utilizing Home windows 11.