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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways
- Windows 11 includes galore apps, but immoderate are amended than others.
- Some apps person apical billing and volition boost your mundane productivity.
- Other apps tin beryllium dumped, but delete tools with care.
Every installation of Windows 11 includes a agelong database of preinstalled apps. Some tools are determination due to the fact that they're indispensable for the operating strategy to bash what it does. Others are determination to assistance Microsoft marque much money, due to the fact that each Windows PC is invaluable for its quality to bundle and beforehand Microsoft's postulation of paid services, including Microsoft 365, OneDrive, Xbox, and Copilot. A fistful are really useful.
Also: How to upgrade your 'incompatible' Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 successful 2025
Want to spot the full collection? On a marque caller PC, spell to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps and scroll done the list. If you've already installed a clump of third-party apps, type Microsoft in the hunt container astatine the apical of the leafage to filter the list. When I tried that connected a comparatively caller installation of Windows 11 mentation 25H2 conscionable now, that database included 32 apps, immoderate indispensable and others wholly unnecessary.
Thanks to a 2023 determination by European regulators, you tin present uninstall astir of those apps. But should you? These built-in apps instrumentality up small disk abstraction and usage nary CPU oregon graphics powerfulness unless you take to tally them. The existent contented is simple: if you don't privation an app connected your PC, you person the close to region it. You besides person the close to disregard it.
I've done precisely that connected the systems I usage each time for productivity. Some apps gain a spot of honor, pinned to Start, the taskbar, oregon both. Others get uninstalled wholly due to the fact that I cognize I person nary usage for them. And past there's a 3rd group, representing apps that I don't privation cluttering up the Start paper but support disposable successful the All Apps list, conscionable successful case.
Also: 6 things I ever bash aft mounting up Windows 11
Here's a rundown connected however I decided which apps to support and which to toss. This database is based connected the existent contents of Windows 11 mentation 25H2.
The apps I keep
A fistful of apps get apical billing connected my PCs.
1. Microsoft Store
You won't find this 1 successful the Installed Apps list, but I americium including it present anyway. Do not effort to uninstall this app, adjacent if you find the instructions to bash so. The Store app is indispensable for updating galore of the built-in strategy apps, and acknowledgment to changes successful the Store's design, it's besides a large mode to find and instal accepted desktop apps from a unafraid source.
2. Microsoft Edge
Microsoft's default browser for Windows is simply a definite keeper for me. Because it's based connected the open-source Chromium engine, it doesn't endure from the superior compatibility problems that plagued its predecessor (which had the aforesaid name, confusingly). It's adjacent compatible with extensions from the Google Chrome store. And it has tracking extortion features that destruct the request to instal an ad-blocking extension.
Edge has its stock of annoyances, particularly its insistence connected showing coupons for buying sites and its hard-to-customize location page. Those issues are casual capable to hole -- I've installed the Custom New Tab URL extension, for example, to regenerate the mediocre Microsoft location page.
Also: How to tighten your information successful Microsoft Edge
If you similar an alternate browser, consciousness escaped to region its shortcut from Start and regenerate it with your choice. But I urge that you support it arsenic a susceptible backup browser.
3. Snipping Tool
I perfectly emotion this small utility, which lets you seizure each oregon portion of your surface with a click. You tin prevention the effect arsenic a PNG oregon JPEG record oregon paste a snip straight into an email connection oregon societal media post. You tin besides make a video recording, which is simply a large mode to make instructional videos. It hasn't replaced SnagIt, which is inactive my go-to programme for capturing screenshots for work, but it's bully capable for mundane tasks.
Also: How to surface grounds successful Windows 10 oregon Windows 11
Amazingly, Microsoft's developers proceed to adhd features to this merchandise that really marque it better, similar the summation of the quality to extract substance from a seizure oregon rapidly people it up with annotations and highlights.
This 1 is worthy memorizing the keyboard shortcut: Windows + Shift + S.
4. Terminal
If you've ne'er learned however to use PowerShell, here's your chance. Terminal combines a modern bid ammunition (sorry, not sorry, MS-DOS) with a almighty scripting language, and you tin usage it for conscionable astir immoderate imaginable task successful Windows. Terminal is wherever you enactment with PowerShell interactively. The Terminal situation is customizable and supports aggregate tabs, including that bequest MS-DOS Command Prompt, if you request it.
One of the archetypal things I bash with a caller installation of Windows is to regenerate the built-in Windows PowerShell (a 10-year-old app) with the newer PowerShell 7. Open a Terminal model arsenic an administrator, past usage this bid to instal the newer version:
winget instal --id Microsoft.PowerShell --source winget
Need assistance with PowerShell? This is 1 spot wherever Microsoft's AI assistant, Copilot, is genuinely useful. If you're trying to bash thing successful PowerShell and are unsure wherever to start, inquire Copilot. (Just marque definite you cheque everything cautiously earlier you perpetrate to a large change.)
5. Quick Assist
Every erstwhile successful a while, a person oregon household subordinate calls maine to kick that their Windows PC is doing thing wonky and tin I please help them hole it? As immoderate advertisement hoc enactment idiosyncratic knows, those chats tin beryllium highly frustrating interactions, due to the fact that the idiosyncratic connected the different extremity of the telephone doesn't ever cognize however to picture what they're seeing. And trying to get them to tally troubleshooting tools tin beryllium painful.
That's wherever the Quick Assist exertion comes successful handy. The instrumentality allows you to link straight to different PC, utilizing distant power software, which means you tin spot the different person's surface and adjacent marque configuration changes -- with their permission, of course.
Because the diagnostic is built into Windows, you don't request to instruct your mediocre mislaid psyche connected however to download a third-party utility. This inferior makes abbreviated enactment of those exasperating enactment calls.
6. The classical utilities: Notepad, Paint, Calculator, and Windows Clock
I've tossed these throwback utilities into a azygous listing, adjacent though each 1 arguably deserves a spot of its own. These 4 apps person been astir since the earliest days of Windows and are inactive successful progressive development, and they each enactment modern UX standards.
Notepad present does aggregate tabs and auto-saves your work. It's besides susceptible of functioning arsenic a well-built Markdown editor, which is thing abbreviated of miraculous. Naturally, Microsoft has besides incorporated its Copilot AI features into the latest Notepad versions. You are escaped to disregard them if each you request is simply a coagulated substance editor.
Also: How to bash a cleanable instal of Windows 11: See which enactment is champion for you and why
Paint tin bash format conversions with minimal effort and is utile for marking up screenshots captured with the Snipping Tool. Good aged Calculator tin bash overmuch much than numbers, including portion conversions and day calculations. It tin adjacent nutrient graphs. And Windows Clock includes stopwatch, timer, and alarm features, arsenic good arsenic a Focus Sessions fastener that you tin usage to mute notifications and different distractions.
7. Microsoft OneDrive
I person a Microsoft 365 Family subscription and a Microsoft 365 Business subscription, each with 1 TB of online storage, and I usage them regularly. Even if you don't usage the Office apps included with Microsoft 365, though, the 5 GB of retention included with a escaped Microsoft relationship is utile for rapidly transferring files betwixt devices and is accessible adjacent if you motion successful with a section account.
Also: Is the caller Microsoft 365 Premium worthy it? Here's however it compares to Copilot Pro
I don't urge deleting this app, but I bash suggest paying adjacent attraction to a confusing diagnostic called OneDrive Backup. If you're not paying adjacent attention, you mightiness find that each of the files successful your Documents, Pictures, and Desktop folders are being backed up to the cloud. For details, including instructions connected however to undo this change, see: Is OneDrive moving each your files? How to instrumentality backmost power of your Windows storage.
8. Copilot
I admit I americium skeptical astir the inferior of generative AI tools similar Copilot. But I besides confess that this app tin beryllium tremendously amusive to use, and it's evolving precise quickly.
Also: Gemini vs. Copilot: I compared the AI tools connected 7 mundane tasks, and there's a wide winner
Copilot volition beryllium overmuch much utile erstwhile Microsoft afloat realizes its imagination of enabling it to assistance you interact with apps, set Windows settings, and bash different drudgery without having to excavation done settings dialogs. Some of those features are present implemented, which removes immoderate friction from the Settings experience. But it inactive has a agelong mode to go.
9. Sticky Notes
The Sticky Notes app for Windows should consciousness familiar. Apps that fto you instrumentality a virtual Post-it® enactment connected your PC show person been astir arsenic agelong arsenic I tin remember. This one, which is built into Windows 10 and 11, retains the simplicity of the original. Its slayer diagnostic is that you tin besides make sticky notes connected a smartphone and sync them with your Windows PC. I've got the corresponding widgets installed connected my Android telephone and my iPhone (where it syncs seamlessly with Apple's ain Notes app), making it beauteous casual to jot a speedy enactment to myself and find it later.
10. Solitaire & Casual Games
This one's my blameworthy pleasure. I adjacent wage the $10 a twelvemonth to region ads, which would different marque the app excessively annoying for maine to play.
11. Microsoft Teams
Microsoft yet got astir to unifying its enactment and location Teams clients into a azygous app, and it really works beauteous well. I get capable Teams gathering requests from extracurricular businesses to warrant keeping it, and I adjacent person immoderate friends for whom it's the preferred alternate to Zoom.
The apps I replace
For arsenic agelong arsenic I tin remember, Microsoft has tried to screen each app class successful Windows. The effect is simply a wildly inconsistent postulation of apps for reasonably communal functions. Some are marginally useful, but, for the astir part, the apps successful this radical are placeholders. You tin bash better.
1. Media Player
Microsoft is infamous for assigning confusing names to its apps, and it should get other recognition for this one. The Media Player app successful Windows 11 is not the aforesaid arsenic Windows Media Player, which has been portion of Windows for much than 3 decades and is inactive disposable successful Windows 11 (with the word Legacy tacked on) for nary evident reason. The caller app with the aged sanction is the successor to the ill-fated Groove app from Windows 10, which successful crook tin hint its lineage backmost to the ill-fated Zune app.
Anyway, this is simply a perfectly bully enactment for playing backmost random audio and video files. I urge leaving it installed, but replacing it with your favourite alternate media player. (For me, that's MediaMonkey or VLC.)
2. Microsoft Photos
Microsoft Photos is much than competent arsenic a mode to presumption your photograph room and bash insignificant edits. You astir apt person a preferred alternative, truthful see doing arsenic I do: permission this app installed but region its shortcut from the Start paper and regenerate it with your favourite photograph editing app.
3. Microsoft Clipchamp
Maybe this video exertion is bully for moving with abbreviated video clips, but determination are dozens of those tools retired there. I deliberation the premium features of Clipchamp are included with a Microsoft 365 Personal oregon Family subscription, but it's hard to tell. That's a occupation each connected its own. Thanks, but no.
4. Outlook (new)
This is Microsoft's replacement for the Mail, Calendar, and People apps that were antecedently included with Windows 10 and later.
Also: Can you inactive get a Windows 10 upgrade for free?
Every reappraisal I've work lines up with my sentiment that this is simply a half-baked effort that should beryllium successful the dictionary alongside the connection adequate. It's worthy replacing with thing else. Me, I'm sticking with Outlook Classic for arsenic agelong arsenic possible.
The apps I dump
I mean nary disrespect to the apps connected this list, but respective are already deprecated, and others mightiness arsenic good be, fixed however small attraction they've received successful caller years. If you're a instrumentality of immoderate of these apps, consciousness escaped to support utilizing them. The remainder of america tin cheerfully right-click the Uninstall enactment and determination on.
1. Microsoft To Do
This instrumentality makes a elemental task database overly complicated. If you similar the thought of syncing those tasks with the classical Outlook desktop app, past possibly it's for you. Otherwise, see thing like Todoist instead.
2. Microsoft 365 Copilot
This mightiness beryllium the astir confusing sanction successful the existent lineup of Microsoft apps, and that's saying something. This instrumentality has thing to bash with the Copilot app that's present portion of Windows. Instead, it's the aged Microsoft Office app, which opens the Office ... sorry, Microsoft 365 website successful a dedicated browser window. If you click immoderate of the app shortcuts there, it opens successful your default browser, and if you really usage these apps from the web, you'll bash conscionable arsenic good bookmarking a shortcut to office.com.
3. Movies & TV
This app is mostly a beforehand extremity to protected video contented you bargain oregon rent from the Microsoft Store, wherever you tin besides find contented from Amazon Prime Video. I regenerate it with VLC Media Player.
4. Maps
Back erstwhile Microsoft had a mobile strategy, it made consciousness to person an app that would enactment with your GPS. Today, if you privation to find a determination connected your Windows PC, you unfastened your browser and usage Google Maps oregon Bing Maps. I fishy this app volition beryllium gone erstwhile the adjacent large mentation of Windows is released.
5. News and Weather
It's a enigma wherefore these 2 apps are inactive disposable successful Windows. They haven't been updated successful years, and Microsoft's existent strategy is to cram quality into Windows 11 Widgets and the default location leafage for Edge.
6. Sound Recorder
I person never, ever utilized this app and can't ideate that I ever will. If I privation to make an audio note, I usage my phone. Doesn't everyone?
The apps you shouldn't touch
There are a fistful of apps that are installed with Windows for purposes that aren't instantly obvious. Everything connected the System Components database nether Settings > Apps falls into this category, arsenic bash a fewer features that person been implemented arsenic apps, similar Ink.Handwriting.Main.Store and Web Media Extensions. You mightiness beryllium tempted to uninstall them, reasoning you'll ne'er usage them. I urge against it.
Also: The champion Windows laptops: Expert tested and reviewed
The astir salient introduction connected this database is the Microsoft Bing app, which powers the hunt functions connected the Windows taskbar and Start menu. Do not uninstall it. If you don't privation to usage that feature, region the hunt icon from the taskbar.
The Camera app seems similar different campaigner for removal. But it's really utile arsenic a mode to cheque the functioning of your camera and to set immoderate camera settings. It's a keeper, adjacent if you ne'er request to usage it.
And finally, there's the Feedback Hub. The adjacent clip you find thing annoying successful Windows, possibly you tin record a bug against it -- or, amended yet, find that thousands of different radical person experienced the aforesaid issue, and you tin upvote an existing report. That benignant of feedback is amazingly effective.
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