On a smartphone, sorting through unnecessary apps has become almost routine. But on a PC, these discreet programs install silently, lodge themselves in corners of the Start menu, and end up lingering there for months. In this article, we'll help you clean things up. Here's a selection of Windows apps you can uninstall without feeling guilty:
Windows Maps: The GPS That Goes Nowhere
Windows offers a mapping app that works even offline. But let's be honest: who opens a driving route on their laptop or tablet in the middle of the street? Because yes, the app is only available on a PC. With the widespread use of smartphones and the overwhelming dominance of Google Maps, Apple Maps, and even Waze, the Windows Maps app is looking rather paltry. Its interface is dated, the options are limited, and the responsiveness leaves something to be desired. The only time it might be useful is if you're without an internet connection... and without a phone. In other words, a very rare case. Verdict: you can delete it without hesitation.
Microsoft 365 (Copilot): A Launcher in Disguise
Don't let the pompous name fool you. Microsoft 365 Copilot isn't an intelligent assistant boosted by artificial intelligence as you might think. It's actually a simple interface that groups together shortcuts to standard Office applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or OneNote. While the app does include an AI chat for paid Microsoft 365 subscribers, in practice, most users prefer to use an AI chat via a browser, whether it's chatGPT, Claude, or Google Gemini.
By clicking on a document or link in the app, you're simply redirected to the corresponding software—or to the Microsoft 365 website. Convenient? Not really. If you already use these programs, you don't need this duplicate. And if you don't use them, it's even simpler: uninstall the app.
Movies & TV: A Relic of the Past
This app lets you buy or rent movies directly through the Microsoft Store. The idea might have seemed appealing: like Netflix, Prime Video, and all the other streaming services, Microsoft could have competed with an immersive and easy-to-use app. Unfortunately, Movies & TV falls short. There are no subscriptions available. Instead, you have to buy movies and series individually, and the catalog isn't as extensive as competitors'.
Movies & TV's interface is unattractive and feels stuck in the past. If you have a Netflix, Disney+, or Amazon subscription, don't hesitate to delete this app.
Mail and Calendar: Replaced and Redundant
At one time, Mail and Calendar served as lightweight alternatives to Outlook for managing emails and appointments. But those days are over. Microsoft has now unified everything in its new version of Outlook, which centralizes functions with greater fluidity, integrates Microsoft Teams, and offers a better design and improved performance.
If you still use Mail, it already redirects you to Outlook. And if you've never set up the app, it's useless. You might as well delete it to lighten your system. The disk space saved is minimal, of course, but it also avoids unnecessary duplication.
Microsoft News: Another Home Page
Microsoft News offers a personalized news feed, powered by a variety of sources. On paper, it sounds interesting: a personalized news digest based on the user's preferences and habits. In reality, it feels more like the Edge browser homepage and MSN News, with a variety of articles that are often of no interest to the reader, all on a very basic interface. The app is therefore very redundant, and its customization is limited.
In short, the algorithm is not very relevant, and the content is often less attractive than what you can read via other sources (Google News, Flipboard, Twitter, etc.). If you already follow your favorite media on other platforms, Microsoft News quickly becomes superfluous.
Ready to clean up?
In addition to these 5 apps, several others are quite superfluous on the latest versions of Windows. One of them, a true symbol of the 2000s, is Microsoft Paint. Yes, Paint is still available on Windows and, if you're not nostalgic, the app can easily be uninstalled. The same goes for Media Player, which is rarely used in the age of streaming and Spotify.
There are a multitude of other programs specific to the PC manufacturer that can also be safely uninstalled, as their main purpose seems to be to consume storage space. These programs may look different depending on the manufacturer, but their content is largely the same.
To remove a program, enter its name in the search bar, then select the "Uninstall" option. You can also go to Settings, then to "Apps" > "Installed apps". Find the program you want to remove, then choose “Uninstall” by clicking the 3 dots on the right.
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