diff --git a/Debloat/Parallels.txt b/Debloat/Parallels.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e69de29 diff --git a/Debloat/README.md b/Debloat/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..47d6d7b --- /dev/null +++ b/Debloat/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,25 @@ +# Debloating Windows + +Windows mark a number of packages as "provisioned". Thus, they will persist in the system even when you right click and uninstall them or try to remove them through `winget`. + +Additionally, for apps installed from the Microsoft Store, they will continue existing in `C:\Program Files\WindowsApps` until it has been uninstalled by all users. + +`winget` also does not see packages installed by other users. + +As such, if you want to make sure all of the annoying apps are gone, it is better to use `Get-AppxPackage`. The documentation is at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/appx/get-appxpackage?view=windowsserver2022-ps. + +## Steps to debloat + +- First, go to Settings -> Apps -> Optional features and remove unnecessary features. I personally remove everything here. + +- Next, scroll to the bottom and click "More Windows Features". Turn Windows feautures on or off and remove Features that you don't need. On my Parallels VM, I removed everything except Microsoft Print to PDF. If you are running bare metal, you should keep HyperV, Microsoft Defender Application Guard, and Windows Sandbox on. + +- Reboot the system + +- Run the Windows Terminal as an Administrator + +- To get a list of packages that can be removed, run `Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | where {$.NonRemovable -eq $false} | where {$.isFramework -eq $false} | select Name,PackageFullName`. + +- Run `Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage` to remove the unwanted packages. + +- Run `Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage` to unprovision the packages. \ No newline at end of file