- You can uninstall bloatware apps one by one via the Settings menu.
- Advanced users can use PowerShell to remove bloatware in Windows 11.
- Alternatively, try a third-party tool, like CCleaner.
Many devices come with a range of applications installed by default. Some of these might be of use to you, but others may not. “Bloatware” is the term given to unnecessary, unwanted apps that take up disk space and offer no real value to the user. Understandably, many people want to get rid of bloatware to free some storage space and clean up their devices.
This guide looks at how to remove bloatware in Windows 11.
How to Remove Bloatware in Windows 11
Method 1. Settings
The simplest way to get rid of unwanted apps is via the Windows 11 Settings menu.
Step 1. Press “Windows” and “I” keys together to open the Settings page.
Step 2. Click on “Apps,” and then “Installed apps.”
Step 3. Now, you can either go through the full list of installed apps, one by one, or search for specific ones to get rid of via the search bar. When you see an app you want to remove, just click the three little dots button, then select “Uninstall” and follow any on-screen prompts.
Method 2. Use PowerShell
More advanced Windows users may prefer to make use of the PowerShell utility on Windows 11 to remove unwanted apps almost instantaneously.
Step 1. Open the PowerShell utility. You can find it by typing “PowerShell” into the search bar. Make sure to click “Run as administrator.”
Step 2. Enter this command to see a full list of installed apps: Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Select Name, PackageFullName
Step 3. To remove an app, just enter this command, but replace the “App-Name” part with the exact name of your app, as it appears in the previous list: Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers [App-Name] | Remove-AppxPackage
Method 3. Third-Party Tools
Lastly, you could try using one of many third-party tools that are designed to help users clean up their devices, get rid of bloatware, and improve performance. CCleaner is a popular and trusted example.
Step 1. Download CCleaner from the official site , and follow the on-screen instructions to install it to your device. Note that the free version is sufficient to help you get rid of bloatware.
Step 2. Once the program is installed, open it and click “Start CCleaner” to begin.
Step 3. Click on “Tools” and then “Uninstall.” You’ll then see a full list of all the apps installed on your device. Click to select an app, then click “Uninstall” in the menu on the right to get rid of it. You can repeat this process for all the bloatware and apps you don’t need or use.
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- Running the printer troubleshooter in Windows is an effective method for fixing such issues.
- Temporarily stopping the Print Spooler service can help you remove printers without encountering errors.
- If the printer still won’t remove, try uninstalling the printer driver and software.
Fix 1: Run the Printer Troubleshooter
Start by running Windows’ built-in printer troubleshooter to see if it can detect and resolve any pending printing errors.
Step 1: Click the search icon on the taskbar, type printers & scanners , and press Enter .
Step 2: Select your printer.
Step 3: Click on Run the troubleshooter .
Windows should automatically detect any issues with the printer and fix them. Following that, you should be able to get rid of the printer.
Fix 2: Remove the Printer From the Print Server Properties
There are several ways to remove a printer in Windows 11. So, if you can’t remove the printer from the Settings app or Control Panel, remove it from the Print Server Properties in Windows.
Step 1: Press the Windows key + S to open the search menu. Type printers & scanners and press Enter .
Step 2: Under Related settings, click on Print server properties .
Step 3: Go to the Drivers tab, select your printer, and click Remove .
Step 4: Select Remove driver and driver package and hit OK to confirm.
Fix 3: Stop Print Spooler Service
Print Spooler is a critical service that handles printer interactions on Windows. If that service interferes with the removal process, disable it temporarily to see if it helps.
Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Type services.msc in the box next to the Open field and press Enter .
Step 2: In the Services window, scroll down to locate Print Spooler . Right-click on it and select Stop .
After stopping the Print Spooler service, remove the printer again.
Fix 4: Uninstall Printer Driver
Device Manager is a useful tool that lets you manage and troubleshoot all your hardware devices from one place. You can also use it to delete an old printer from your PC. Here’s how.
Step 1: Right-click on the Start icon and select Device Manager from the menu.
Step 2: Open the View menu at the top and select Show hidden devices .
Step 3: Double-click on Print queues to expand it. Right-click on your printer and select Uninstall device .
Fix 5: Remove Printer Software
If you’ve installed a dedicated app or software for your printer, it could also obstruct the removal process. To avoid this, first uninstall that app or software before trying again.
Step 1: Right-click on the Start icon and select Installed apps from the list.
Step 2: Locate the printer app on the list. Click the three-dot menu next to it and select Uninstall .
After removing the app, you can remove the printer from the Settings app or Device Manager.
Fix 6: Use the Registry Editor
Windows may not remove the printer due to corrupt registry keys associated with it. To fix it, remove those corrupted registry keys by following the steps below.
Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to launch the Run dialog. Type regedit and press Enter .
Step 2: Paste the following path in the address bar at the top and press Enter .
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers
Step 3: Locate the printer you wish to remove and click on Delete . Then, select Yes to confirm.
Restart your PC after this, and you should be able to remove your printer without a problem.
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Loved your instructions, I tried the first three instructions (which were easy to follow) and solution number 4 worked!!!! Thank you, thank you!
