How to Remove Pre-installed Apps in Windows 10 [Best Tools]

Remove bloatware and save up space for the apps you really need

by Radu Tyrsina
Radu Tyrsina
Radu Tyrsina
CEO & Founder
Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time). For most of the kids of... read more
Reviewed by Vlad Turiceanu
Vlad Turiceanu
Vlad Turiceanu
Editor-in-Chief
Passionate about technology, Windows, and everything that has a power button, he spent most of his time developing new skills and learning more about the tech world. Coming... read more
Affiliate Disclosure
  • Unfortunately, all PC manufacturers deliver their products with pre-installed programs.
  • These are known as bloatware, and we will be looking over the best tools to use to remove them.
  • In order to keep your computer uncluttered may not be enough to just uninstall programs yourself. 
  • So considering third-party software to do this job efficiently can upscale the system's health. 
uninstall bloatware

You just bought yourself that new PC you were longing for, and now you can’t wait to use it. You’re eager to enjoy all those new features your friends have been talking about for so long, and you can’t wait to see how quickly programs load with a single click.

Instead of joy, you get shocked because after your new computer boots up, it greets you with annoying pop-up ads along with loads of shortcuts to useless apps and services that you didn’t ask for.

Before you even get to click on anything, the computer automatically connects to the internet and is already downloading the latest updates for all the trial antivirus and antispyware software installed on it.

You also get all kinds of notifications and alerts about IT dangers that you only hear about in horror stories and weren’t sure they even really existed or not. We’re pretty sure this all sounds like a nightmare.

One of the nastiest things about buying a new PC or laptop is how it usually comes with plenty of useless software and unnecessary extras that have been pre-installed by the manufacturer.

Even big names such as HP, Dell, Lenovo, and Asus do this, and while some things they add aren’t such a big deal, others are. Some of this software can even be classified as malicious.

All these apps cling to your brand new Windows machine and can affect its performance, causing it to boot or work slowly even when brand new.

Uninstalling these unnecessary apps manually would take time and patience, but fortunately, there are some solutions in the form of programs that are specifically designed to get rid of all the unwanted software automatically.

What is the best software to remove PC bloatware?

IObit Uninstaller PRO – Installation monitoring

iobit uninstaller pro app

This is another free program that shows you a list of all the programs installed on your computer. You simply select which you’d like to get rid of and click Uninstall. It’s very handy because it tells you which add-ons and plugins are trusted and which ones are not.

By choosing such a powerful uninstaller, you can get rid of the most stubborn apps on your PC and get more disk storage. Plus you benefit from in-depth cleaning of any reminiscent files of the uninstalled programs.

Additionally, you are set up regarding malicious internet programs, software permissions, or installation monitoring. Hence with this tool, you have effective support for any uninstallation issues.

IObit Uninstaller PRO

Manage confidently your PC applications by using this powerful uninstaller tool anytime you require.
Check price Visit Website

CCleaner – Complete PC health check

ccleaner menu

With CCleaner, managing apps feel like breeze. It lists all your installed software in one comprehensive list, allowing you to order them and also search for them by name.

You can find the uninstaller feature of CCleaner by clicking the Tool submenu. You’ll see that the app list includes the software pre-installed by Windows on your PC.

Just select what you want to remove, click the Uninstall button and you’re good to go.

While you’re there, you can also check the Startup option which you can use to disable startup apps. Some of these are also set up by default when you install your OS, and many of them may be unnecessary for you.

Not only can CCleaner remove unwanted apps, but it can also help you delete each and every leftover file related to them.

This PC-cleaning tool can scan your registry and remove unnecessary entries. Not only that, it is also capable to find empty files, temp files, duplicates, and more.

Here are some of its key features:

  • Driver updater (premium)
  • Complete PC health check
  • Browser cleaner
  • Up-to-standard privacy protection
  • Removes trackers (premium)
  • Registry cleaner

CCleaner

Uninstall built-in Windows apps in just a few clicks with this award-winning PC cleaning tool.
Free trial Visit Website

PC Decrapifier – Easy-to-use program

pc decrapifier app

This is a free and easy-to-use program that has been around for a very long time and works perfectly with every version of Windows from Windows 2000 all the way to Windows 10.

Expert tip:

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Be sure to use a dedicated tool, such as Fortect, which will scan and replace your broken files with their fresh versions from its repository.

The software finds all unwanted apps and programs so that you can choose what you’d like to have uninstalled and then automatically do the job for you.

The program features a large list of trial apps that usually come with new devices. Once installed, it will create a system restore point and from there, you simply have to select the items from the list and click Next.

Get PC Decrapifier

Decrap My Computer – Simple interface

decrap my computer app

This software is designed to completely remove the unnecessary bloatware that comes with a new computer. Its portability is a bonus.

This tool does not concentrate on finding specific junk items but rather lists everything in a PC including startup software, desktop items, and all-important software.

During the uninstall process, the automatic process will search and remove registry entries and leftover files from your machine.

One thing to look out for, though, is that it doesn’t discriminate between good and bad software since it’s a bulk uninstaller.

Get Decrap My Computer

Should I Remove It? – Full remover tool

should i remove it app

This is a detector and remover of manufacturer bloatware, trialware, and unwanted programs including toolbars, adware, and other junk. It will scan your computer and then grade everything found.

The higher an item is placed on the list, the more highly recommended it is for removal.

Get Should I Remove It?

Remove preinstalled apps Windows 10 using CCleaner

You can easily remove preinstalled apps on your PC using CCleaner. This PC-cleaning tool can scan your registry and remove unnecessary entries. Moreover, it is also capable to find empty files, temp files, duplicates, and more. Not only can it remove unwanted apps, but it can also help you delete each and every leftover file related to them.

1. Download and install CCleaner.

2. Open the app.

ccleaner menu

3. Navigate to the Tools menu. You’ll see that the app list here includes the software pre-installed by Windows on your PC.

ccleaner tools

4. Select the preinstalled programs you want to remove from your PC.

5. Click the Uninstall button and wait for the removal process to finish.

While none of these tools provide a perfect one-click solution, they’re all very useful for ridding your computer of unwanted software.

Which one of these tools do you use to free your PC of bloatware? Let us know by leaving us your feedback in the comments section below.