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

At a glance:

• Winhance removes built‑in Windows bloatware and unwanted third‑party apps.
• The utility reveals hidden privacy, power and performance settings and offers one‑click recommendations.
• Applying the suggested tweaks gave a noticeable speed boost on a Windows 11 test PC.

What is winhance and how it works

Winhance is a free Windows‑cleanup utility that aggregates a long list of system‑level tweaks, app‑removal options and customization controls into a single interface. When first launched, the program prompts you to create a system restore point, which acts as a safety net in case any changes need to be rolled back. It then scans the machine for installed software, built‑in Windows features and registry‑based settings, presenting the data in categorized sections.

The tool divides its functionality into two main areas: Software & Apps and Optimize & Customize. The former shows every built‑in app (such as MSN Weather, Skype, Xbox, Sound Recorder, Clipchamp) alongside external programs (iTunes, Zoom, etc.), allowing you to filter by installed, not‑installed or all items and to uninstall or reinstall with a single click. The latter groups more than a hundred hidden settings into six categories—Privacy & Security, Power, Gaming & Performance, Update, Notifications and Sound—each with a status indicator and a recommended action.

Testing the tool on a Windows 11 PC

The author installed Winhance locally on a freshly set‑up Windows 11 machine that already contained a mix of productivity, media and development software. Installation was performed with an administrator account by right‑clicking the downloaded EXE and selecting “Run as administrator,” as recommended by the developer. After the initial scan, the Software & Apps view listed both built‑in and third‑party items.

In the built‑in category the author removed MSN Weather, Skype, Xbox, Sound Recorder, and Clipchamp. In the external software list, iTunes was uninstalled while Paint.NET, Notepad++, and Zoom were added back to the system. Each removal or addition completed within seconds, demonstrating the tool’s speed and low overhead.

Optimizing settings and applying recommendations

Within the Optimize section, Winhance presented specific suggestions for each of the six categories. For example, under Privacy & Security it recommended enabling BitLocker encryption and disabling personalized ads. In the Power category it suggested activating a balanced power plan, disabling Fast Startup, and turning on Storage Sense to automatically free disk space. The Gaming & Performance tab advised delaying the launch of certain startup apps, while the Update category recommended bundling driver updates with regular Windows updates.

The author accepted many of these recommendations in bulk, including turning on BitLocker, enabling Storage Sense, setting the balanced power plan, adding hardware drivers to Windows Update, disabling Copilot in Microsoft 365, and switching the DNS server to Google’s public DNS. In the Customize area, the Taskbar was aligned to the left, displayed on all monitors, the Start menu’s Recommended section was hidden, and the classic right‑click context menu was re‑enabled in File Explorer.

Results and performance impact

After applying the changes and rebooting, the reviewer observed a “slight improvement” in overall system responsiveness. Storage Sense immediately reclaimed several gigabytes of space, and startup time decreased thanks to delayed launch of non‑essential apps. While many of the tweaks (such as BitLocker or the power plan) could be accessed through Windows Settings, others required registry edits or obscure flags that Winhance handles automatically.

The author notes that bulk‑applying hundreds of changes can be risky, so a measured approach—reviewing each recommendation before acceptance—is advisable. Nevertheless, the combination of bloatware removal, hidden‑setting exposure and UI customization proved valuable enough for the reviewer to recommend Winhance to other Windows 11 users seeking a cleaner, faster experience.

Why it matters for Windows users

Windows 11, like its predecessor, accumulates background services, pre‑installed apps and obscure settings that can degrade performance over time. Third‑party utilities often focus on a single niche (e.g., power plans or startup items), leaving users to hunt through multiple control panels. Winhance consolidates these tasks, offering a one‑stop shop that bridges the gap between casual users and power users who would otherwise edit the registry manually.

By providing a restore‑point safeguard and a clear visual overview, the tool lowers the barrier to system optimization, potentially extending the usable life of older hardware. As Windows continues to evolve, utilities that surface hidden controls without requiring deep technical knowledge will remain essential for maintaining a smooth user experience.