<del>Wow, this guide to decrapping Windows is actually SHORTER than Windows 10. I never imagined Windows could get better.</del>

//**Update: Latest Windows 11 builds are looking worse and worse. I haven't installed Win11 lately to document everything, but [[https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/02/what-i-do-to-clean-up-a-clean-install-of-windows-11-23h2-and-edge/|this article has useful steps that may not be covered below]].** //

===== Installation =====

To avoid having a Microsoft account to login to your own computer that you own, **disconnect internet before installing**. When it complains about this, tell it to shut up.

When it gets to "privacy settings", turn off EVERYTHING.

===== Taskbar =====

Microsoft has hit their head and forgotten that [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitts%27s_law|Fitt's Law]] shows that corners are demonstrably optimal for critical UI components. Let's un-center that taskbar among other things.

  - Right click taskbar, options.
  - Turn off "taskbar items" you don't want (hint: "Chat" is a program and shouldn't even be on that list)
  - Expand "Taskbar behaviors" and flip settings as desired.

===== Rip out adware =====

You can go to "add and remove programs" and immediately rip out this trash if you want:

  * Disney+
  * Groove Music
  * Microsoft News
  * Microsoft OneDrive
  * Microsoft To Do
  * Movies & TV

Additionally, we now live in a world where your //motherboard//  can contain crap that gets auto-installed after Windows comes up via UEFI. Some might be good (drivers), but there may be trash (shoddy RGB light controllers, various "gamer" services like "ROG" and "Armory", etc.) that you can kill.

===== Privacy/control of OS =====

Install [[https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10|O&O Shutup10]] and enable the default options. Also, turn on "Allow deferred upgrades".

===== Get rid of adware trash start menu =====

Install Classic Shell, likely through [[https://ninite.com/|Ninite]].

===== Title bars =====

  * Press Win + I to open System settings
  * Personalization.
  * "Show color on Start and taskbar" → on
      * If this is disabled, set Windows to dark mode and apps to light mode
  * "Show color on title bars and windows borders" → on

===== Explorer =====

  * View → Show → File name extensions = ON
  * Three dots → Options
      * General tab
        * Open File Explorer to: This PC
        * Show recently used files in Quick access = off
        * Show frequently used folders in Quick access = off
      * View tab
        * Navigation pane (these were formerly in the general tab)
          * Show all folders → on
          * Expand to current folder → on
        * Display the full path in the title bar → on

===== No start menu web search =====

The start menu search includes web content if you let it – this is dumb as hell. (If you're using the Open Shell start menu, this matters less, but still, let's snip this crap out.)

  * Run gpedit.msc
  * Go to **Computer Configuration**  > **Administrative Templates**  > **Windows Components**  > **Search**
  * Enable policies "**Don't allow web search**" and "**Don’t search the web or display web results in search**"
  * Reboot for it to take effect

===== Delete instead of recycle =====

right click recycle bin | properties

  * don't move files to the recycle bin → enable (maybe)
  * Display delete confirmation dialog → YES (jesus christ how is that not default?)

===== Show keyboard shortcut underlines =====

In the native Windows 11 start menu, type "underline", and it should shortcut you to the appropriate control panel option.

===== Proper calculator =====

Win10 calculator sucks. I made a whole website to expedite getting old calculator: [[https://calcexe.com|https://calcexe.com]]

===== Brighter cursor =====

They got rid of the classic Windows custom mouse cursor support, but they added custom color cursors that achieve the same end.

Start → "Mouse" and pick "custom".

===== Prevent feature updates =====

You can lock Windows to a certain "feature update" (e.g. "24H2") to prevent unexpected major updates:

  * Win+R, "gpedit.msc"
  * Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Windows Update → Windows Update for Business
  * Enable and set "Target Feature Update version" to the version you want to keep, e.g. "24H2". (Note: you can find the currently installed edition under "Version" in "About this PC".)
  * Run "gpupdate /force" or reboot to take effect


===== Prevent Microsoft account linking =====

If you never want to hook your personal computer that you //own// to an account owned and managed by Microsoft (seems wise to me), then:

   * Win+R, "gpedit.msc"
  * Computer Configuration → Windows Settings → Security Settings → Local Policies → Security Options
  * Set " Accounts: Block Microsoft accounts" to "Users can't add or log on with Microsoft accounts"
  * Run "gpupdate /force" or reboot to take effect