Every fresh Windows 11 install comes loaded with apps nobody asked for. Candy Crush, Clipchamp, Disney+, Xbox Game Bar, the new Copilot sidebar, and a growing pile of "suggestions" that are really just ads.
For IT admins managing a fleet (or just your own sanity), manually removing this stuff is a waste of time. These five tools handle it.
1. Chris Titus Tech Windows Utility (WinUtil)
The Swiss Army knife. This one does everything: app removal, telemetry blocking, bulk app installation via WinGet, Windows Update management, and even custom ISO creation with MicroWin.
Quick launch (PowerShell as Admin):
irm christitus.com/win | iex
That one-liner downloads and runs the tool directly. No install needed.
What makes it stand out:
- Five tabs covering installs, tweaks, config, updates, and ISO building
- Removes Edge, Copilot, OneDrive, and telemetry in a few clicks
- MicroWin builds stripped-down Windows ISOs for clean fleet deployments
- 46,800+ GitHub stars, MIT licensed, actively updated
- Pure PowerShell, so you can audit every tweak before running it
Watch out for: Opinionated defaults. Review the checkboxes before hitting apply, especially in an enterprise environment. No built-in per-tweak undo, so create a restore point first.
GitHub: ChrisTitusTech/winutil | Latest: v26.01.27
2. O&O ShutUp10++
The privacy specialist. This one is laser-focused on telemetry and privacy controls. No bloatware removal, no app installer. Just a clean list of toggle switches for every privacy-related setting in Windows.
What makes it stand out:
- Portable EXE, runs from a USB drive, zero install
- Color-coded recommendations: green (safe), yellow (caution), red (advanced)
- Creates a system restore point before applying changes automatically
- Export/import settings profiles across machines
- From O&O Software (German company, 25+ years in business)
Watch out for: It only handles privacy settings. If you need to remove actual bloatware apps, pair it with one of the other tools on this list. Closed source, so you're trusting the vendor. Settings may revert after major Windows feature updates.
Download: oo-software.com/en/shutup10 | Latest: Build 2.2.1024
3. Win11Debloat
The focused debloater. Raphire's Win11Debloat just got a GUI in February 2026, making it accessible to admins who don't want to mess with PowerShell. It removes bloatware, disables telemetry, kills Copilot, restores the Windows 10 right-click menu, and cleans up the taskbar.
What makes it stand out:
- New GUI (Feb 2026) plus CLI mode (
-CLIflag) for scripting - Configurable app removal list via
Apps.json - Windows Audit mode support for OS image preparation (MDT, SCCM)
- Works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11
- 39,100+ GitHub stars, second largest community after WinUtil
Watch out for: No app installer and no ISO builder. The new GUI is fresh and may have rough edges. Create a restore point manually before running.
GitHub: Raphire/Win11Debloat | Latest: 2026.02.04
4. Sophia Script for Windows
The power user's choice. If you want granular control over 150+ individual Windows tweaks, Sophia Script is unmatched. It's a PowerShell module that uses only Microsoft's officially documented methods (registry keys, Group Policy, PowerShell APIs).
What makes it stand out:
- 150+ individually selectable tweaks, the most granular tool on this list
- Enterprise-ready: supports Windows 11 LTSC 2024, Group Policy, ARM64
- Available via WinGet, Chocolatey, and Scoop for fleet deployment
- SophiApp GUI wrapper available if you prefer clicking over scripting
- Tab completion for function names in the terminal
Watch out for: Steeper learning curve. You edit a Sophia.ps1 preset file before running, picking which tweaks you want. Not a "click and go" experience. May trigger endpoint protection false positives since it's a PowerShell script making system changes.
GitHub: farag2/Sophia-Script-for-Windows | Latest: v7.0.4
5. BloatyNosy
The Windows 11 specialist. Built specifically for Windows 11, BloatyNosy (formerly ThisIsWin11, formerly Winpilot) takes a modular approach with a plugin system and community-maintained bloatware signatures.
What makes it stand out:
- Built specifically for Windows 11 with native dark mode UI
- Plugin Store for extending functionality with community modules
- AppMatrix.json for regularly updated bloatware signatures
- MIT licensed, open source, 7+ million downloads
Watch out for: This project has gone through multiple name changes and had some stability hiccups along the way. It was removed from the Microsoft Store at one point. Maintained by a single developer. No Windows 10 support.
GitHub: builtbybel/Bloatynosy | Latest: v1.0.20.522
Which One Should You Use?
| Need | Tool |
|---|---|
| All-in-one (debloat + install + ISO) | WinUtil |
| Privacy/telemetry only, portable | O&O ShutUp10++ |
| Focused debloat with new GUI | Win11Debloat |
| Maximum granularity, enterprise/LTSC | Sophia Script |
| Windows 11 specific, plugin system | BloatyNosy |
For most IT admins, WinUtil is the starting point. It handles 90% of what you need in one tool. Add O&O ShutUp10++ if you want finer privacy control, or Sophia Script if you're scripting deployments across a fleet.
All five tools are free. Four of the five are open source (O&O ShutUp10++ is the exception). None of them require installation, so toss them on a USB drive and bring them to your next desk visit.
Tired of cleaning up Windows installs across your office? RainCity Techworks handles workstation management, patching, and security for businesses in the Seattle-Tacoma area. Let's talk.