How to use Winhance to debloat Windows 11

• Winhance allows users to remove built-in apps and bloatware from Windows 11 with ease.
• The tool also includes system optimization options for privacy, power, gaming, updates, notifications, and sound.
• Furthermore, customization features let you tweak Windows Themes, the Taskbar, the Start menu, and the File Explorer.

Windows 11 ships with a growing list of preinstalled apps, background services, and default settings that many users never asked for and cannot easily justify keeping. While clean installs and unattended setups remain popular among tech-savvy users, they are not always practical on an existing system. That is where Winhance comes in.

Winhance is a free utility designed to debloat, optimize, and customize Windows 11 without requiring a clean installation. The tool brings together the ability to uninstall apps, optimize the system, control privacy settings, and appearance customization into a single interface.

Related

How to debloat Windows 11

How to use Winslop to debloat and remove AI features on Windows 11

How to use Windows 11’s built-in policy to remove bloatware

How to use FlyOOBE to debloat Windows 11

In this guide, I’ll outline the steps to use Winhance to remove unnecessary Windows 11 components, streamline system behavior, improve performance, and tailor the Windows experience to your needs.

Debloat Windows 11 using Winhance

To debloat Windows 11 using Winhance, follow these steps:

1. Open the Winslop download page.

2. Click the download option for the latest version available.

3. Save the Winhance.Installer.exe file on your computer.

   

4. Double-click the installer to begin the installation.

5. Select the option to accept the terms.

6. Click the Next button.

7. Choose the “Perform a regular installation” option.

   

8. Click the Next button.

9. Click the Next button one more time.

10. Click the Install button.

11. Click the Finish button.

Once you complete the steps, the application should launch automatically, but if it doesn’t, you can find it in the Start menu.

It’s important to note that when you launch the tool for the first time, it’ll take some time to start, as it’ll create a system restore point and a backup of the Registry in case you still need to roll back the changes. However, after uninstalling apps through this process, you won’t be able to restore them. You’ll have to reinstall them from scratch.

Also, it’s still recommended to create a full backup before using this tool on your current setup.

Uninstall bloatware

To remove bloatware from Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Open the Winhance tool.

2. Click on Software & Apps from the left pane.

3. Click the Windows Apps & Features tab.

4. Select all the applications you want to uninstall from Windows 11.

   

   Quick tip: The green dot means that the app exists on your device, and the blue recycle symbol means that it’s possible to reinstall the application. On the other hand, the red dot means the app no longer exists, and the red recycle symbol means that it can’t be reinstalled through this tool.

5. (Optional) Choose the features that you may want to uninstall under the “Windows Capabilities” section.

6. (Optional) Choose the optional features to uninstall under the “Windows Optional Features” section.

7. Click the “Remove Selected items” button.

After you complete the steps, the tool can take some time to uninstall all the bloatware from your computer.

It’s worth noting that this app can uninstall many applications that the operating system won’t let you remove easily, such as Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Store, and others.

Also, from the “External Software” tab, it’s possible to install or uninstall applications that are not part of the standard setup and are not even software developed by Microsoft, including Steam, LibreOffice, 7-zip, Notepad++, and others.

System optimization

To optimize your Windows 11 setup with Winhance, follow these steps:

1. Open the Winhance tool.

2. Click on bfrom the left pane.

3. Open the tab for the category of settings you want to control.

4. Enable or disable the features as needed using the toggle switch next to the item.

Winhance includes a slew of optimization settings that you can control, and they are divided into six categories, including Privacy & Security, Power, Gaming & Performance, Update, Notifications, and Sound.

In the “Privacy & Security” section, you can customize the Use Account Control feature, prevent BitLocker from starting automatically, disable Remote Assistance, turn off advertisements across the operating system, turn off most telemetry collection, and much more.

In the “Power” section, you’ll find many of the same options available through the Settings app, but you can also control Hibernation, USB 3 link power management, PCI Express power delivery, and more.

In the “Gaming & Performance” section, there’s a long list of features and settings you can easily turn on or off from options to control the processor, graphics card, and the network adapter, to Xbox-specific settings, system services, visual effects, and more.

In the “Update” section, you can disable Windows Update as well as control Delivery Optimization, and more.

In the “Notifications” section, it’s possible to disable notifications completely, including security and privacy notifications.

In the “Sound” section, you’ll find the sound-related settings. For example, you can control the startup sound during boot, other system sounds, and you can even disable sound for accessibility features.

It’s important to note that you only have to adjust the settings that make sense for your installation, as it’s not recommended to turn on or off all of these features.

Customization options

Winhance includes a dedicated Customize section that focuses on changing how Windows 11 looks and behaves without touching the Registry manually. All options are grouped, searchable, and applied using toggle-based controls, making it easy to fine-tune the UI while keeping changes predictable and reversible.

To customize your Windows 11 setup with Winhance, follow these steps:

1. Open the Winhance tool.

2. Click on Customize from the left pane.

3. Open the tab for the category of settings you want to control.

4. Enable or disable the features as needed using the toggle switch next to the item.

On the page, the developer has organized the settings into four categories, including Windows Themes, Taskbar, Start menu, and Explorer.

Visual options include switching between Light and Dark modes, changing Winhance’s own interface theme, and applying system-wide appearance changes instantly, without restarting File Explorer.

Taskbar customization lets you adjust behavior and visibility, reclaim screen space, and disable built-in elements that add unnecessary visual clutter. These changes help create a cleaner and more functional desktop layout.

The Start menu can be refined by modifying its behavior and layout, reducing recommendations and non-essential content, and improving usability for keyboard and mouse users.

File Explorer customization focuses on productivity by changing default behaviors, removing unnecessary UI elements and legacy prompts, and improving navigation to reduce visual noise.

Winhance also exposes general interface behavior settings that affect everyday workflows, including quality-of-life tweaks usually hidden behind Group Policy or Registry edits, with options to restore more traditional Windows behaviors.

Winhance provides a practical way to actually debloat Windows 11, something a clean installation alone does not accomplish. While reinstalling Windows removes third-party apps and resets configurations, it leaves most built-in apps, services, and default behaviors intact. Winhance addresses those areas directly by giving you control over what stays, what runs, and how the system behaves.

FAQs about Winhance to debloat Windows 11

Here’s a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers about debloating Windows 11 using Winhance.

What is Winhance and what does it do?

Winhance is a free Windows enhancement utility that allows you to debloat, optimize, and customize Windows 10 and 11 without performing a clean install. It removes unnecessary apps, tweaks performance settings, and adjusts system behavior safely.

Can Winhance remove built-in Windows apps like Edge or Store?

Yes. Winhance can uninstall most preinstalled Windows apps that are normally difficult to remove, including Microsoft Edge and the Microsoft Store. Be aware that some apps may require reinstallation if removed.

Is it safe to use Winhance on my computer?

Yes. Winhance automatically creates a system restore point and a backup of the Registry before applying changes, ensuring you can roll back if needed. However, a full backup of your system is still recommended.

What kind of system optimizations can Winhance perform?

Winhance offers optimizations across six categories: Privacy & Security, Power, Gaming & Performance, Windows Updates, Notifications, and Sound. You can adjust settings like telemetry, UAC, power management, update controls, and more.

Can I customize the Windows 11 interface using Winhance?

Yes. Winhance includes customization options for Windows Themes, Taskbar, Start menu, File Explorer, and general interface behavior. You can toggle settings to simplify the UI, reduce clutter, and improve workflow.

Can I save my settings and apply them to another computer?

Yes. Winhance allows you to save your configuration to a file and reapply it on another PC or after a clean install, making it easy to maintain a consistent Windows 11 experience across devices.