The Ultimate Windows 11 Debloat Guide

Windows 11 is known for being somewhat "bloated." Whether it's the stack of pre-installed apps nobody uses, background telemetry, or resource-heavy features like Copilot, a clean setup is essential for gaming performance.

This guide will show you a simple, reversible method to debloat Windows 11. While demonstrated on a Steam Deck, this works perfectly for any Windows 11 PC to squeeze out extra performance and battery life.

Step 1: Create a System Restore Point

1. Open the Start Menu and search for "Create a restore point".
2. Click the result to open System Properties.
3. Select your system drive (usually C:) and click Create.
4. Name the restore point (e.g., "Pre-Debloat") and click Create again.

Step 2: Run the Debloat Script

We will use the Win11Debloat script by Raphire. It is open-source and highly configurable.

1. Right-click the Start Menu and select Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).
2. Copy and paste the following command into the window and press Enter:

This command downloads the script directly from the official repository and launches the menu interface.

Step 3: Choose Your Debloat Mode

Once the script loads, you will see a menu with several options. You can choose how aggressive you want the cleanup to be.

Option 1: Default Mode (Recommended)

Type 1 and press Enter to use the Default settings. This is safe for most users and will:

• Remove common bloatware apps.
• Disable telemetry and diagnostic data.
• Remove Bing search and Copilot integration.

Option 3: Custom Mode

If you want more control (e.g., you want to keep specific apps like Microsoft Edge), select Option 3.

1. Type 3 and press Enter.
2. A list of apps will appear. Uncheck the apps you want to keep (or check the ones you want to remove, depending on the view selected).
3. Confirm your selection to proceed.

The script will now run automatically. It typically takes a few minutes to complete.

Step 4: Post-Debloat Tweaks (Optional)

For an even cleaner "minimalist" feel and slightly more resource savings, you can apply a few manual tweaks:

• Solid Color Background: Switching from a wallpaper image to a solid color can save a small amount of memory. Go to Settings > Personalization > Background.
• Taskbar Alignment: If you prefer the classic Windows look, go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors and set alignment to Left.
• Visual Effects: Turn off unnecessary animations in Settings > Accessibility > Visual effects.

Step 5: The Results

After a restart, you should notice a cleaner Start menu and potentially faster boot times. In our testing on the Steam Deck:

• Boot Time: Improved by approximately 1 second.
• RAM Usage: Reduced by nearly 800MB at idle.
• CPU Usage: Lower background activity.

While this won't double your gaming FPS, the reduced memory overhead is excellent for devices like the Steam Deck or lower-end laptops, leaving more resources available for your games.