If you’ve recently upgraded to Windows 11, chances are you’ve noticed a few things: new design, rounded corners… and a lot more bloatware than you expected. Hidden background apps, dozens of system services, Edge browser glued to everything — it can be frustrating.
Thankfully, there’s a simple solution: a free tool called Wintoys that helps you debloat, optimize, and customize Windows 11 — all from one clean, beginner-friendly interface.
In this guide, we’ll explore Wintoys step by step — how to install it, clean up unwanted apps, manage startup services, improve system health, and even remove Microsoft Edge safely using its latest Digital Markets Act toggle.
So grab a cup of coffee, and let’s start optimizing your Windows system the smart way. ☕
What Is Wintoys and Why You Need It 🧰
Before diving into features, let’s understand what Wintoys actually is.
Wintoys is a free open-source optimization tool available directly on the Microsoft Store. It acts as an all-in-one dashboard that allows you to:
- See system performance and uptime
- Uninstall system apps (even hidden ones)
- Disable unnecessary background services
- Clean junk files
- Speed up boot times
- Apply privacy and performance tweaks without PowerShell or risky registry edits
It’s similar in spirit to Microsoft’s PowerToys, but focuses more on system control, optimization, and cleanup rather than just productivity utilities.
✅ Official link: Download Wintoys on Microsoft Store
How to Install Wintoys from the Microsoft Store 💾
The installation process couldn’t be easier — no third-party websites, no ZIP downloads.
Step-by-step installation
- Open the Microsoft Store on your Windows 10 or 11 PC.
- Search for “Wintoys.”
- Select the app titled Wintoys by Mouri Naruto.
- Click Install.
- Once downloaded, launch it from the Start menu.
That’s it — you’re ready to start optimizing.
Upon launch, Wintoys greets you with a modern acrylic interface displaying your system’s details like CPU, RAM, uptime, app count, and even a “System Score.”
Let’s explore each section one by one.
Exploring the Home Tab: Quick System Overview 🖥️
When you first open Wintoys, you’ll land on the Home tab, which works like a dashboard summarizing your PC’s current health and specs.
You’ll see:
- CPU usage and temperature trends
- RAM consumption and total available memory
- System uptime
- Number of running apps and processes
- Overall performance score
This is helpful to quickly gauge how efficiently your PC is running.
If your score is below 8, it usually means your system is loaded with startup apps or background processes — something we’ll fix in the next sections.
Managing Installed Apps with Wintoys 🧹
So far, we’ve seen how Wintoys gives an overview. Now let’s move to one of its most practical tools: the Apps tab.
This section lists every application installed on your system, including:
- Microsoft Store apps
- System apps
- Hidden background components
You can sort them by:
- Alphabetical order
- Size
- Installation date
There’s also a filter toggle to separate classic apps (Win32) and modern apps (UWP).
Removing unwanted apps
If you’ve ever been annoyed by apps like Cortana, Feedback Hub, or Microsoft To-Do that can’t be uninstalled normally — Wintoys makes it effortless.
- Open the Apps tab.
- Select the app you no longer need.
- Click Uninstall.
No PowerShell commands, no admin hacks — just click and it’s gone.
💡 Pro Tip: Be cautious when removing system apps like Microsoft Store or Settings; some Windows features depend on them.
Controlling Background Services Safely ⚙️
Now that you’ve decluttered your apps, let’s tackle the next performance hog — background services.
The Services tab in Wintoys displays a detailed list of all active and hidden Windows services. Many of these constantly run in the background, using CPU and memory even when idle.
You can:
- Start, stop, or restart any service
- Sort them by status or RAM usage
- Filter Microsoft-only services
- Identify “useless” services flagged by Wintoys’ algorithm
For example, if you don’t use features like “Fax,” “Print Spooler,” or “Remote Registry,” you can safely stop them here.
If you’re unsure what a service does, Wintoys includes a “Search on Web” option to learn more before disabling it — an excellent safety feature.
7. Unlocking Performance Features 🚀
This is where Wintoys really shines.
Under the Performance tab, you can unlock powerful hidden settings that normally require command-line access.
Let’s go through them:
1. Ultimate Performance Power Plan
Windows hides this plan by default. Turning it on gives your CPU maximum power at all times — great for gaming or video editing, but it may slightly increase heat and fan noise.
- Click Toggle Ultimate Performance to enable or disable it instantly.
2. Hardware Accelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS)
If you have a dedicated GPU, this feature can improve frame rates and reduce latency by letting your GPU manage its own memory scheduling.
3. Virtualization-Based Security (VBS)
This is a Windows security feature that isolates critical parts of your system to prevent malware attacks. Keep it enabled for protection unless you’re troubleshooting compatibility issues.
4. Startup Info
At the bottom, Wintoys shows how many apps launch when your PC boots and how long your boot time is.
- You can disable unwanted startup apps directly from here to reduce boot delay.
⚙️ Turning off “Search Indexing” can also save RAM, especially on SSD systems where search is already fast.
8. Cleaning and Maintaining System Health 💉
Now that we’ve optimized performance, it’s time to clean up the mess.
The Health tab in Wintoys is your built-in cleanup and repair center. It helps you free space, check system stability, and fix startup delays.
Here’s what you’ll find:
🧩 Fast Startup
Enable this to make Windows boot 40–50% faster by caching key system files.
🧹 Cleanup Tools
Wintoys scans your storage for temporary files, logs, Windows updates cache, and app leftovers.
- You can select what to remove and click Clean to instantly free gigabytes of space.
- Many users report freeing 10–20 GB after their first cleanup.
🧰 Repair Options
If your system is acting unstable or some features are missing, Wintoys offers quick repair shortcuts for:
- System File Checker (SFC)
- DISM Repair
- Windows Update Fix
🔄 Update Management
You can pause, resume, or completely disable automatic Windows updates — useful if you’re tired of mid-gaming restarts.
Let’s move to the most exciting part — customization and deep tweaks.
9. Customizing Windows and Privacy Settings 🎨
The Tweaks tab is where you can truly personalize your system. It gives you fine control over appearance, privacy, and system behavior.
🖼️ Appearance
You can tweak your desktop settings, like wallpaper quality (set it to max quality for best visuals), and toggle visibility for icons such as Recycle Bin or This PC.
🔒 Privacy
This section helps you reclaim your privacy by turning off unnecessary telemetry and data collection.
- Disable diagnostic data, location tracking, and advertising IDs.
- Turn off suggested content and tips notifications for a cleaner interface.
⚙️ System Tweaks
Here you’ll find deeper options like:
- Turning Clipboard History on or off
- Managing Taskbar animations
- Adjusting notification timeout duration
- Hiding or revealing system folders
So far, we’ve improved performance, cleaned clutter, and tightened privacy. Now, let’s explore one of Wintoys’ most powerful capabilities — removing Microsoft Edge.
10. Removing Microsoft Edge the Easy Way ❌
For years, users have wanted a safe, official way to remove Edge. With the Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations introduced in Europe, Microsoft was forced to give users more control.
Wintoys integrates this power neatly under its Tweaks → System section.
Here’s how to do it step-by-step:
Step-by-Step Edge Removal Using Wintoys
- Open Wintoys and go to the Tweaks tab.
- Scroll down to System Settings.
- Find and enable the “Digital Markets Act” toggle.
- This unlocks hidden uninstall permissions for core Microsoft apps.
- Restart your PC when prompted.
- After reboot, open the Start Menu → All Apps.
- Scroll to Microsoft Edge, right-click, and select Uninstall.
- Confirm the prompts — repeat if Windows asks again.
That’s it! Edge will now be completely removed from your system, not just hidden.
No registry hacks, no PowerShell commands — just a simple, official method built right into Wintoys.
⚠️ Note: Removing Edge can affect some system functions like “WebView2” components used by certain apps. If something breaks, you can reinstall Edge later from Microsoft Edge Download.
11. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 💬
Q1. Is Wintoys safe to use?
Yes, Wintoys is officially available on the Microsoft Store, meaning it passes Microsoft’s safety checks. It uses built-in Windows APIs rather than third-party scripts, so it’s far safer than registry cleaners or random debloaters.
Q2. Can Wintoys damage my system if I disable the wrong service?
If you’re unsure, don’t disable a service without researching it. Wintoys helps by including a “Search on Web” feature next to every service — use it before making changes.
Q3. Is it safe to remove Microsoft Edge?
Yes, via the DMA option, it’s safe and reversible. However, removing Edge may disable certain features like web previews or system web components.
Q4. Does Wintoys slow down my PC?
Quite the opposite! It removes bloat and unnecessary background processes, often improving boot times and responsiveness.
Q5. How often should I use Wintoys?
You can run it once every few weeks to clean junk files or recheck startup performance. It’s also handy after Windows updates, which sometimes re-enable background apps.
12. Disclaimer ⚠️
This guide is for educational purposes only. Wintoys is developed by a third-party creator and is distributed officially via the Microsoft Store. Always verify that you’re downloading from the correct listing (Wintoys Official Page).
Altering system settings or uninstalling core apps may impact Windows functionality. Proceed with care, create restore points before major changes, and use the tool responsibly.
#Windows11 #Wintoys #PCOptimization #DebloatWindows #MicrosoftEdge #WindowsTweaks #PrivacySettings #SystemPerformance
