Microsoft’s operating system includes several pre-installed Windows apps that, while useful at the time, are now impractical or obsolete for most users. They no longer make sense and take up space on the PC’s hard drive.
Table of Contents
If you’ve been using a Windows computer for a while, you’ve probably noticed that the operating system comes loaded with a long list of pre-installed applications. Some are useful right out of the box, such as Notepad or the Photos app .
However, others are rarely used, take up unnecessary hard drive space , and, in some cases, consume resources that could be used for more important tasks. At a time when system efficiency is increasingly valued, identifying what can be safely removed can make a big difference .
Keeping your computer free of unnecessary software not only impacts immediate performance but also contributes to stability. Fewer apps installed mean fewer background processes, reducing the risk of conflicts, unwanted automatic updates , or security vulnerabilities .
It’s a practical way to extend your system’s lifespan without having to resort to more complex or expensive solutions. That’s why in this article, we’re reviewing five applications you can uninstall without fear of losing essential features on your computer. This way, your computer will perform better and run more smoothly in your daily work.
Windows Apps you can delete without affecting your PC’s performance
- Mail and Calendar: For years they were Microsoft’s default apps for managing emails and organizing your calendar, but now they’ve taken a back seat. With the arrival of the new Outlook app integrated into Windows, opening Mail or Calendar redirects you directly to this new version or prompts you to install it. If you already use Gmail or any other manager, keeping these old apps doesn’t add any value. You can uninstall them with peace of mind and free up some space.
- Movies & TV: Although it was once a valid alternative to play content or rent movies directly from the Microsoft Store, today this app has lost weight to streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+ or Prime Video. It also doesn’t offer advantages over more comprehensive local players like VLCs. If you don’t use this platform to buy or rent content, you can delete it without affecting your ability to watch videos on your computer.
- Maps: The maps application included in the operating system allows you to check routes and locations without having to open the navigator, but most users opt for Google Maps or other more powerful and up-to-date services. Its only competitive advantage is the ability to download maps and use them offline, which is useful only in very specific situations. If you don’t use it, it’s a clear candidate to disappear from your system.
- Microsoft News: Designed to offer personalized news, Microsoft News has been displaced by other more integrated functions, such as the widget panel or the Edge browser’s own home page. In the end, the same information that this application displays is already present in other corners of the system, which makes it a redundant app. Removing them helps simplify your environment while keeping you informed.
- Microsoft 365 Copilot: With the rebranding of Office to Microsoft 365, this app arrived as a centralized access point to Word, Excel, PowerPoint and the new assistant based on artificial intelligence. The problem is that, beyond unifying them into a single icon, it doesn’t bring any new functions: if you click on any document, it will open the corresponding application as usual. In addition, if you do not have an active subscription, its usefulness is practically nil. If you prefer to manage your files from the explorer or browser, you can uninstall it without any hassle.
Cleaning that improves performance
Uninstalling apps you don’t use not only helps you free up hard drive space, but also reduces the load on your system, improves boot time, and can minimize unnecessary distractions. In addition, by having only the tools you really need, your work environment becomes more functional.
Windows allows you to easily reinstall any official app from the Microsoft Store, so you don’t take any chances. In short, taking a few minutes to review which applications you can delete can translate into a faster, tidier and more adapted computer to you. A simple cleaning that, in many cases, makes all the difference.
