REMOVE ALL WINDOWS JUNK
Computer manufacturers such as HP, Lenovo and Dell are notorious for preinstalling their own software on PCs and laptops. Often referred to as ‘bloatware’, none of these tools are essential for Windows to function, and can safely be ignored or uninstalled.
Sadly, this isn’t as simple with the bloatware that Microsoft installs itself, which not only clutters your desktop, menus and hard drive, but also consumes valuable system resources. When was the last time you opened Groove Music, Dolby Access, and games like Bubble Witch 3 Saga? We’re guessing ‘never’, so why do you need this junk in your Start menu?
While Microsoft can’t be held responsible for the temporary files and other unwanted items left on your PC by third-party programs, it does a poor job of tidying up its own mess. Junk generated by Windows and its built-in tools can take up more space on your hard drive than anything else, especially massive Windows Update files that you’ll never need again.
Even more annoying are the adverts and pop-ups that Microsoft foists on us – especially as the company charges £120 for Windows 10 Home (nearly double that for Pro).
In this feature, we explain how to remove junk – old and new – that Microsoft smuggles in with Windows 10, and how you can prevent it from being reinstalled by the next system update. Purging many of these tools, files and nagging messages from your PC can be as simple as tweaking a few hidden settings, while others involve a brute-force approach using Command Prompt, PowerShell or the Windows registry. Here, we explain the easiest, safest and most effective ways to rid yourself of Windows rubbish for good.
REMOVE UNWANTED APPS & TOOLS
Remove junk apps from the Start menu
The most obvious form of junk in Windows 10 are apps from the Microsoft Store that appear as tiles in your Start menu. You may
