Windows Toolbox

NOTE: Not to be confused with Powershell Windows Toolbox, which was discovered to contain malware and has since been removed from GitHub. Windows Toolbox shares the same name, but it is safe to use.

As straightforward and feature-packed Windows may be,  it's undeniable that some functions can be largely undesirable for some users, such as Cortana, OneDrive, Xbox, and several others. Disabling them from the settings can be cumbersome, which is why designated solutions to "debloat" Windows exist.

Windows Toolbox isn't just a debloater for your system: it can optimize your machine by disabling needless services and several UWP apps, tweak your privacy settings for a more secure experience, as well as install a variety of apps for your needs, requiring just a few inputs to get everything started.

The setup process isn't particularly difficult, but it may be something different from what you're used to. To get things to work, you first need to unpack the archive, open an elevated PowerShell window, and use the cd command, followed by the location of the unarchived folder. Afterwards, you'll have to run the Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Scope CurrentUser command, then ls -Recurse *.ps*1 | Unblock-File.

Thereafter, you can close the PowerShell window, and run the WindowsToolbox.cmd file within the tool's folder. You will then have full access to its facilities.

As stated before, the tool offers plenty of features beyond the traditional debloater functions. With respect to debloating, users can choose to disable Cortana, the built-in (but otherwise unnecessary) Windows services, Windows Defender and its Cloud functionalities, as well as remove the default UWP apps, along with Internet Explorer, OneDrive, and the bloat that comes with the Xbox app.

Privacy settings can likewise be managed in the toolbox: disable Activity History, your Advertising ID, App Suggestions, Location Services, Tailored Experiences, and so on. As for System Tweaks, disabling the Search UI, Superfetch, lowering RAM usage, as well as other such options are readily available. God Mode can also be enabled: it makes it more convenient to manage the settings you'd find in the Control Panel.

UI tweaks can be conducted through this tool, which makes modifying the appearance and behavior of your system more convenient. You can enable dark mode, the Windows 7-style battery and volume flyouts, as well as choose to hide the People section from your taskbar. If you use Windows 11, you can also elect to restore the context menu found on Windows 10.

As for the behavior, users can disable accessibility keys, Action Center, the Aero Shake feature, as well as the Xbox Game DVR, Game Bar, and so on.

This tool's functionality can be especially useful after a fresh Windows install. The Install Apps section serves to further that: users can install various browsers, utilities, multimedia and streaming tools, and other commonly-used programs. All it takes is just a few inputs from you: navigate to the category, pick the software you want, and Toolbox will handle the rest.

For power and casual-users alike, Windows Toolbox is the kind of program that can easily be deemed essential. On account of the numerous functionalities it provides, coupled with the relatively worry-free installation process, this tool is one to use.