New Windows computers often come with unnecessary applications preinstalled. These apps take up disk space, slow down startup, and clutter the system. Some appear under Apps & Features, others under Programs and Features, and many are hidden as provisioned apps that reinstall for new users.

PowerShell gives administrators a clean and repeatable way to remove this bloatware in one pass.

This post covers:

• What types of apps are considered bloatware
• The difference between installed apps and provisioned apps
• A PowerShell script that removes both safely

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What Counts as Bloatware

Bloatware typically includes:

• Manufacturer apps (OEM utilities, trial software)
• Consumer Microsoft apps (games, media, promotions)
• Unused preinstalled tools that aren’t business-critical

Examples:

• Xbox apps
• Candy Crush and similar games
• OEM support hubs
• Trial antivirus software
• Consumer media apps

This script does not remove critical Windows components such as:

• Microsoft Store
• Windows Security
• .NET, Visual C++ runtimes
• Core system UI apps

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Types of Apps in Windows

Windows apps fall into two main categories:

Installed Apps (Per User or System)

• Visible in Apps & Features
• Removed with Get-AppxPackage or UninstallString

Provisioned Apps

• Automatically install for new user profiles
• Removed with Get-AppxProvisionedPackage
• Must be removed separately to prevent reinstallation

To truly clean a system, both must be handled.

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PowerShell Script to Remove Bloatware and Useless Apps

Important notes before running:

• Run PowerShell as Administrator
• Test on a non-production machine first
• Review the app list and customize as needed

What this script does

• Removes common Microsoft consumer apps
• Removes OEM and trial software (when possible)
• Removes provisioned apps so they don’t come back
• Logs actions to the console for visibility

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PowerShell Script

# ==========================================
# Windows Bloatware Removal Script
# Run as Administrator
# ==========================================

Write-Host "Starting bloatware removal..." -ForegroundColor Cyan

# List of AppX package names to remove
$BloatwareApps = @(
    "Microsoft.3DBuilder"
    "Microsoft.BingNews"
    "Microsoft.BingWeather"
    "Microsoft.GetHelp"
    "Microsoft.Getstarted"
    "Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub"
    "Microsoft.MicrosoftSolitaireCollection"
    "Microsoft.MixedReality.Portal"
    "Microsoft.Office.OneNote"
    "Microsoft.People"
    "Microsoft.SkypeApp"
    "Microsoft.Todos"
    "Microsoft.XboxApp"
    "Microsoft.XboxGameOverlay"
    "Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay"
    "Microsoft.XboxIdentityProvider"
    "Microsoft.XboxSpeechToTextOverlay"
    "Microsoft.YourPhone"
    "Microsoft.ZuneMusic"
    "Microsoft.ZuneVideo"
    "Microsoft.WindowsFeedbackHub"
    "Microsoft.WindowsMaps"
    "MicrosoftTeams"
    "Clipchamp.Clipchamp"
)

# Remove installed AppX packages for all users
foreach ($App in $BloatwareApps) {
    Write-Host "Removing installed app: $App"
    Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -Name $App -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
        Remove-AppxPackage -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}

# Remove provisioned AppX packages so they don't reinstall
foreach ($App in $BloatwareApps) {
    Write-Host "Removing provisioned app: $App"
    Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online |
        Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -eq $App } |
        Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}

# ==========================================
# Remove traditional desktop programs
# (Programs and Features)
# ==========================================

$UnwantedPrograms = @(
    "McAfee"
    "Norton"
    "WildTangent"
    "HP Support Assistant"
    "Dell SupportAssist"
    "Lenovo Vantage"
)

$RegistryPaths = @(
    "HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*",
    "HKLM:\Software\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*"
)

foreach ($Path in $RegistryPaths) {
    Get-ItemProperty $Path -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | ForEach-Object {
        foreach ($Program in $UnwantedPrograms) {
            if ($_.DisplayName -and $_.DisplayName -like "*$Program*") {
                Write-Host "Uninstalling program: $($_.DisplayName)"
                if ($_.UninstallString) {
                    Start-Process "cmd.exe" -ArgumentList "/c $($_.UninstallString) /quiet" -Wait
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

Write-Host "Bloatware removal completed." -ForegroundColor Green

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Customizing the Script

You should tailor the app lists for your environment.

To see all installed AppX apps:

Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Select Name

To see provisioned apps:

Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Select DisplayName

Add or remove entries from the $BloatwareApps array as needed.

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When to Use This Script

This script is ideal for:

• New computer deployments
• Post-imaging cleanup
• IT admin workstation prep
• Performance optimization on personal machines

For domain environments, this script can also be deployed via:

• Group Policy startup scripts
• Intune remediation scripts
• Configuration Manager task sequences

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Final Thoughts

Windows bloatware is more than an annoyance—it impacts performance, storage, and user experience. With a single PowerShell script, you can standardize cleanup, reduce manual effort, and keep systems lean.