I tried this free Windows cleanup tool to see if it'd speed up my PC - and it worked

Lance Whitney / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

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ZDNET's key takeaways

Winhance helps remove Windows bloat and unwanted apps.

It surfaces hidden settings to optimize performance and privacy.

It also makes Windows customization faster and easier.

Does Windows increasingly feel sluggish on your PC? The more you use it, and the more apps you install and changes you make, the more cluttered it gets, which can hamper performance. Several Windows utilities claim to be able to declutter and optimize Windows so that it will run more smoothly. One such tool is Winhance.

Also: If Microsoft really wants to fix Windows 11, it should do these four things ASAP

With Winhance, you can see all the installed programs and built-in features in one shot, and then choose the ones you want to remove. You can review and change your privacy and security settings, battery and display options, notifications, and much more. You're also able to customize and clean up the Start menu, Taskbar, and File Explorer.

To put Winhance through the paces, I tried it on a Windows 11 PC that I set up with a variety of applications and files. Here's how I used the program.

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