winutil
Chris Titus Tech's Windows Utility - Install Programs, Tweaks, Fixes, and Updates
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The real PowerToys for Windows 11
Quick Overview
WinUtil is a Windows utility and debloating tool designed to streamline and optimize Windows installations. It provides a user-friendly interface for removing unnecessary applications, tweaking system settings, and installing popular software packages, all aimed at improving system performance and user experience.
Pros
- Simplifies the process of removing pre-installed bloatware from Windows
- Offers a wide range of system tweaks and optimizations in one place
- Includes an easy-to-use software installation feature for popular applications
- Regularly updated to support the latest Windows versions and features
Cons
- Some advanced users might prefer more granular control over system modifications
- Potential risk of unintended consequences if users are not careful with system tweaks
- May conflict with certain antivirus software due to its system-level operations
- Limited customization options for some features
Getting Started
To use WinUtil:
- Visit the WinUtil GitHub repository
- Download the latest release or use the following PowerShell command to run it directly:
irm christitus.com/win | iex
- Follow the on-screen instructions to select desired tweaks and optimizations
- Use caution and create a system restore point before making significant changes
Note: Always review the changes you're about to make and ensure you understand their implications before proceeding.
Competitor Comparisons
Open-source Windows and Office activator featuring HWID, Ohook, TSforge, KMS38, and Online KMS activation methods, along with advanced troubleshooting.
Pros of Microsoft-Activation-Scripts
- Focused specifically on Windows and Office activation
- Supports a wide range of Windows and Office versions
- Provides detailed documentation and troubleshooting guides
Cons of Microsoft-Activation-Scripts
- Limited to activation tasks, not a comprehensive Windows utility
- May require more technical knowledge to use effectively
- Potential legal and ethical concerns regarding activation methods
Code Comparison
Microsoft-Activation-Scripts:
$WindowsKey = "XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX"
$OfficeKey = "XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX"
cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ipk $WindowsKey
cscript //nologo ospp.vbs /inpkey:$OfficeKey
Winutil:
function InstallChoco {
Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force
[System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol -bor 3072
Invoke-Expression ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://chocolatey.org/install.ps1'))
}
While Microsoft-Activation-Scripts focuses on activation tasks using product keys, Winutil offers a broader range of Windows utilities, including package management with Chocolatey. The code snippets demonstrate the different focus areas of each project.
Script to remove Windows 10 bloatware.
Pros of Windows10Debloater
- More focused on debloating Windows 10, potentially offering a more thorough cleanup
- Includes options for removing specific Windows 10 features like Cortana and OneDrive
- Provides a GUI interface for easier use by less technical users
Cons of Windows10Debloater
- Less frequently updated compared to winutil
- More limited in scope, primarily focusing on debloating rather than overall system optimization
- May be less suitable for newer Windows versions (e.g., Windows 11)
Code Comparison
Windows10Debloater:
Function DebloatAll {
#Removes AppxPackages
Get-AppxPackage | Where-Object {$_.name -notlike "*Microsoft.WindowsStore*"} | Remove-AppxPackage
Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Where-Object {$_.PackageName -notlike "*Microsoft.WindowsStore*"} | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online
}
winutil:
function Debloat {
$debloat = @("*3DBuilder*", "*Getstarted*", "*WindowsAlarms*", "*WindowsCamera*", "*bing*")
foreach ($app in $debloat) {
Get-AppxPackage -Name $app | Remove-AppxPackage
Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Where-Object DisplayName -like $app | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online
}
}
Both scripts focus on removing unwanted Windows apps, but winutil's approach is more selective, targeting specific apps rather than removing all non-essential packages.
:zap: The most powerful open source tweaker on GitHub for fine-tuning Windows 10 & Windows 11
Pros of SophiApp
- More comprehensive and granular control over Windows settings
- Regularly updated with new features and improvements
- Supports multiple languages and localization
Cons of SophiApp
- Steeper learning curve due to more complex interface
- May require more technical knowledge to use effectively
- Less focus on automated scripts for quick system setup
Code Comparison
SophiApp (PowerShell):
# Enable/disable Windows features
Function EnableDisableWindowsOptionalFeature
{
[CmdletBinding()]
Param
(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
[string]
$FeatureName,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
[string]
$State
)
# Implementation details...
}
Winutil (PowerShell):
# Install Windows features
Function InstallWindowsFeature {
param (
[string]$FeatureName
)
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName $FeatureName -NoRestart
}
Both repositories offer PowerShell-based tools for customizing Windows, but SophiApp provides more detailed control and configuration options, while Winutil focuses on simplicity and ease of use for quick system setups.
A Collection of Scripts Which Disable / Remove Windows 10 Features and Apps
Pros of Debloat-Windows-10
- More granular control over individual Windows features and services
- Extensive documentation and explanations for each script
- Community-driven with numerous contributors and forks
Cons of Debloat-Windows-10
- Less user-friendly interface, primarily command-line based
- Requires more technical knowledge to use effectively
- Not actively maintained (last update was in 2021)
Code Comparison
Debloat-Windows-10:
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage
Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online
winutil:
$bloatware = @("Microsoft.BingWeather", "Microsoft.GetHelp", "Microsoft.Getstarted")
foreach ($bw in $bloatware) {
Get-AppxPackage -Name $bw | Remove-AppxPackage
}
Debloat-Windows-10 uses a more aggressive approach, removing all AppX packages, while winutil targets specific packages. The winutil approach is generally safer but may require more maintenance to keep the bloatware list updated.
Both projects aim to improve Windows performance and privacy, but winutil offers a more user-friendly GUI and actively maintained codebase. Debloat-Windows-10 provides more extensive scripts and documentation, catering to users who prefer fine-grained control over their system.
:zap: The most powerful PowerShell module for fine-tuning Windows
Pros of Sophia-Script-for-Windows
- More extensive customization options for Windows settings
- Regularly updated with new features and improvements
- Supports multiple languages for wider accessibility
Cons of Sophia-Script-for-Windows
- Steeper learning curve due to more complex options
- Requires more manual configuration compared to Winutil's GUI
- May be overwhelming for casual users
Code Comparison
Sophia-Script-for-Windows:
# Enable Network Discovery and File and Printers Sharing for private networks
Get-NetFirewallRule -Group "@FirewallAPI.dll,-32752" | Set-NetFirewallRule -Profile Private -Enabled True
Winutil:
# Enable Network Discovery
netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="Network Discovery" new enable=Yes
Both scripts aim to enable network discovery, but Sophia-Script-for-Windows offers a more granular approach using PowerShell cmdlets, while Winutil uses a simpler netsh command.
Sophia-Script-for-Windows provides more detailed control over Windows settings, making it suitable for advanced users and system administrators. However, its complexity may be a barrier for less experienced users. Winutil, on the other hand, offers a more user-friendly interface with a GUI, making it accessible to a broader audience but with fewer customization options.
The real PowerToys for Windows 11
Pros of ThisIsWin11
- Specifically designed for Windows 11, offering tailored optimizations and features
- Includes a user-friendly GUI for easier navigation and customization
- Provides a comprehensive set of tools for system tweaks, privacy settings, and app management
Cons of ThisIsWin11
- Limited to Windows 11, not suitable for users on older Windows versions
- May have a steeper learning curve due to its more extensive feature set
- Less frequent updates compared to winutil
Code Comparison
ThisIsWin11 (PowerShell):
function DisableWindowsDefender {
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" -Name "DisableAntiSpyware" -Type DWord -Value 1
Write-Host "Windows Defender has been disabled."
}
winutil (PowerShell):
Function Disable-WindowsDefender {
Write-Host "Disabling Windows Defender..."
Set-MpPreference -DisableRealtimeMonitoring $true
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" -Name "DisableAntiSpyware" -Type DWord -Value 1
}
Both repositories offer powerful tools for Windows customization, but ThisIsWin11 focuses specifically on Windows 11 with a GUI-based approach, while winutil provides a more versatile command-line solution for multiple Windows versions.
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Chris Titus Tech's Windows Utility
This utility is a compilation of Windows tasks I perform on each Windows system I use. It is meant to streamline installs, debloat with tweaks, troubleshoot with config, and fix Windows updates. I am extremely picky about any contributions to keep this project clean and efficient.
ð¡ Usage
Winutil must be run in Admin mode because it performs system-wide tweaks. To achieve this, run PowerShell as an administrator. Here are a few ways to do it:
-
Start menu Method:
- Right-click on the start menu.
- Choose "Windows PowerShell (Admin)" (for Windows 10) or "Terminal (Admin)" (for Windows 11).
-
Search and Launch Method:
- Press the Windows key.
- Type "PowerShell" or "Terminal" (for Windows 11).
- Press
Ctrl + Shift + Enter
or Right-click and choose "Run as administrator" to launch it with administrator privileges.
Launch Command
Stable Branch (Recommended)
irm "https://christitus.com/win" | iex
Dev Branch
irm "https://christitus.com/windev" | iex
If you have Issues, refer to Known Issues
ð Documentation
[!NOTE] To contribute to the documentation, please visit WinUtil Docs Repo for more info.
WinUtil Official Documentation
YouTube Tutorial
ChrisTitus.com Article
ð ï¸ Build & Develop
[!NOTE] Winutil is a relatively large script, so it's split into multiple files which're combined into a single
.ps1
file using a custom compiler. This makes maintaining the project a lot easier.
Get a copy of the source code, this can be done using GitHub UI (Code -> Download ZIP
), or by cloning (downloading) the repo using git.
If git is installed, run the following commands under a PowerShell window to clone and move into project's directory:
git clone --depth 1 "https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/winutil.git"
cd winutil
To build the project, run the Compile Script under a PowerShell window (admin permissions IS NOT required):
.\Compile.ps1
You'll see a new file named winutil.ps1
, which's created by Compile.ps1
script, now you can run it as admin and a new window will popup, enjoy your own compiled version of WinUtil :)
[!TIP] For more info on using WinUtil and how to develop for it, please consider reading the Contribution Guidelines, if you don't know where to start, or have questions, you can ask over on our Discord Community Server and active project members will answer when they can.
ð Support
- To morally and mentally support the project, make sure to leave a âï¸!
- EXE Wrapper for $10 @ https://www.cttstore.com/windows-toolbox
ð Sponsors
These are the sponsors that help keep this project alive with monthly contributions.


















ð Thanks to all Contributors
Thanks a lot for spending your time helping Winutil grow. Thanks a lot! Keep rocking ð».
ð GitHub Stats
Top Related Projects
Open-source Windows and Office activator featuring HWID, Ohook, TSforge, KMS38, and Online KMS activation methods, along with advanced troubleshooting.
Script to remove Windows 10 bloatware.
:zap: The most powerful open source tweaker on GitHub for fine-tuning Windows 10 & Windows 11
A Collection of Scripts Which Disable / Remove Windows 10 Features and Apps
:zap: The most powerful PowerShell module for fine-tuning Windows
The real PowerToys for Windows 11
Convert
designs to code with AI
Introducing Visual Copilot: A new AI model to turn Figma designs to high quality code using your components.
Try Visual Copilot