You buy a new laptop or phone and right away you find a pile of programs on it that you did not want and do not recognize. That is bloatware. Let us explain what it is, why it gets in the way and how to safely get rid of it.

What bloatware is

Bloatware is preinstalled software that the manufacturer adds to a new computer or phone and that you do not need. It is trial versions of programs, advertising apps, duplicate tools or various manufacturer utilities that just take up space and run in the background.

The name comes from the word bloat, because such software needlessly bloats the system.

Why bloatware gets in the way

  • It slows the computer down. Programs running in the background consume memory and performance. This relates to the article how to speed up a slow computer.
  • It takes up space on the disk, which is a problem especially on smaller storage.
  • It annoys with pop-up windows and offers of paid versions.
  • It can worsen security. Neglected preinstalled software tends to be a source of vulnerabilities.

How to safely remove bloatware

When removing, you have to proceed sensibly so as not to remove something important:

  1. Go through the list of apps in Settings (Apps and features). You will see everything installed.
  2. Remove what you recognize and do not need, for example trial versions, games you did not want, or advertising tools.
  3. Do not delete what you do not understand. Leave drivers, Microsoft packages or manufacturer tools for hardware (for example for graphics or the touchpad) alone.
  4. Disable unnecessary startup programs, more in the article disable apps at Windows startup.

If you are not sure whether something can be deleted, verify it first or leave it to a technician.

Beware of unverified cleaning programs

There are many tools on the internet that promise miraculous cleaning and speedup. Many are bloatware themselves or even dangerous. Rather use the system’s built-in tools or proven software, more in the article free software and alternatives.

The cleanest solution: a clean install

If you want to have the system really free of clutter, the best thing is to reinstall Windows from scratch from clean installation media from Microsoft. That way you get rid of everything preinstalled at once. The procedure is in the article reinstalling Windows. With a new computer it pays to do it right at the beginning.

Conclusion

Bloatware is preinstalled clutter that slows things down, takes up space and annoys. You can get rid of it by removing unneeded apps, but you have to proceed carefully and not delete drivers or system components. Rather avoid unverified cleaning programs. The cleanest solution is a clean install of Windows. The reward is a faster and clearer computer.

Bought a new computer and want it clean and fast from the start? Get in touch, we will prepare it to measure.

This article is part of our Software and system overview.