No Bullshit Windows 11

instructions.md

0. Install Windows 11 Without a Microsoft Account

Follow these steps during the Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE):

1. When Windows asks you to connect to a network

Do not connect.

Press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt.

2. Release the network so Windows thinks it’s unavailable

Run:

ipconfig /release

Close Command Prompt.

Click Back, then Next.

You should now see "Continue with limited setup" or "Continue without internet."

---

If the option does NOT appear:

Use one of these fallback methods:

Method A — Disable network adapter

Press Shift + F10, then run:

devmgmt.msc

In Device Manager:

• Expand Network adapters
• Right-click your Wi-Fi or Ethernet device
• Choose Disable

Close everything → Back → Next → choose limited setup
(You can re-enable it after Windows finishes installation.)

---

Method B — Force OOBE to skip the network screen

Press Shift + F10, then run:

taskkill /F /IM oobenetworkconnectionflow.exe

This kills the network setup UI and jumps straight to the local account creation screen.

---

3. Create your local account

Set your username and password normally. This completes installation without signing into Microsoft.

1. The Script

1. Open Notepad
2. Paste everything below into it
3. Save as e.g. C:\no-bullshit-win11.ps1
4. Right-click Start → Windows PowerShell (Admin) (or Terminal as Admin)
5. Run:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Force
C:\no-bullshit-win11.ps1

2. Turn Off Start & Settings Suggestions (UI Actions)

1. Open Settings → Personalization → Start

   • Turn off:
     • Show recently added apps
     • Show recently opened items
     • Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more

2. Go to Settings → System → Notifications

   • Scroll down and turn off:
     • Get tips and suggestions when I use Windows
     • Any “Suggested apps” prompts
     • Any Microsoft 365 promo notifications

3. Go to Settings → Privacy & security → Search permissions

   • Turn off:
     • Search highlights
     • Cloud content search (both toggles)

3. Stop App Store Nags / Installation Restrictions

1. Open Settings → Apps → Advanced app settings

   • Set Choose where to get apps → Anywhere
   • Set App recommendations → Off

2. Open Settings → Apps → Startup

   • Turn off unwanted Microsoft auto-start items (OneDrive, Teams Consumer, etc.)

no-bullshit-win11.ps1

# no-bullshit-win11.ps1
# Run this in an elevated PowerShell window (Run as administrator).

Write-Host "=== Windows 11 De-bullshit Script ===" -ForegroundColor Cyan

#-----------------------------------------
# 0. Ensure we're running as Administrator
#-----------------------------------------
$principal = New-Object Security.Principal.WindowsPrincipal([Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent())
if (-not $principal.IsInRole([Security.Principal.WindowsBuiltInRole]::Administrator)) {
    Write-Error "Run this script in an elevated PowerShell window (Run as administrator)."
    exit 1
}

#-------------------------------------------------------------------
# 1. System-wide telemetry & consumer crap (HKLM\Policies)
#-------------------------------------------------------------------

Write-Host "[1/6] Tightening telemetry and consumer features..." -ForegroundColor Yellow

# Telemetry: 0 = Security, 1 = Basic, 2 = Enhanced, 3 = Full
New-Item -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection" -Force | Out-Null
New-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection" `
    -Name "AllowTelemetry" -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null

# Turn off Microsoft consumer experience / suggested apps, ads, “fun” stuff
New-Item -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CloudContent" -Force | Out-Null
New-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CloudContent" `
    -Name "DisableWindowsConsumerFeatures" -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null

# Hide Recommended section in Start (where supported)
New-Item -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\current\device\Start" -Force | Out-Null
New-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\current\device\Start" `
    -Name "HideRecommendedSection" -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null

#-------------------------------------------------------------------
# 2. Per-user bullshit: suggestions, ads, tips, “recommended” content
#   (HKCU\ContentDeliveryManager & a couple of Explorer knobs)
#-------------------------------------------------------------------

Write-Host "[2/6] Killing Start/Settings suggestions, Spotlight-style junk..." -ForegroundColor Yellow

# ContentDeliveryManager controls various “suggested content” and promo stuff
$cdmPath = "HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ContentDeliveryManager"
New-Item -Path $cdmPath -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Out-Null

# 0 = disabled
$cdmValues = @{
    "SystemPaneSuggestionsEnabled"    = 0  # Suggestions in Start / taskbar
    "SubscribedContent-338388Enabled" = 0  # Start menu suggestions
    "SubscribedContent-338389Enabled" = 0  # Lock screen suggestions
    "SubscribedContent-338393Enabled" = 0  # Suggested content in Settings
    "SubscribedContent-353694Enabled" = 0  # More Settings suggestions
    "SubscribedContent-353696Enabled" = 0
    "SubscribedContent-353698Enabled" = 0
}

foreach ($item in $cdmValues.GetEnumerator()) {
    New-ItemProperty -Path $cdmPath -Name $item.Key -PropertyType DWord -Value $item.Value -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Out-Null
}

# Stop Start menu from tracking frequently used programs (if key exists)
$advPath = "HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced"
if (Test-Path $advPath) {
    Set-ItemProperty -Path $advPath -Name "Start_TrackProgs" -Type DWord -Value 0 -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
} else {
    Write-Host "  - Explorer\\Advanced key not found in HKCU, skipping Start_TrackProgs tweak."
}

#-------------------------------------------------------------------
# 3. Disable some telemetry-related services
#-------------------------------------------------------------------

Write-Host "[3/6] Disabling telemetry services (where present)..." -ForegroundColor Yellow

$services = @(
    "DiagTrack",          # Connected User Experiences and Telemetry
    "dmwappushservice"    # WAP Push Message Routing Service
)

foreach ($svcName in $services) {
    $svc = Get-Service -Name $svcName -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    if ($svc) {
        try {
            if ($svc.Status -ne "Stopped") {
                Stop-Service -Name $svcName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
            }
            Set-Service -Name $svcName -StartupType Disabled -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
            Write-Host "  - Disabled service $svcName"
        } catch {
            Write-Warning "  ! Failed to change service $svcName : $($_.Exception.Message)"
        }
    }
}

#-------------------------------------------------------------------
# 4. Remove Widgets / News feed (Web Experience Pack)
#-------------------------------------------------------------------

Write-Host "[4/6] Removing Widgets / News feed (Web Experience Pack)..." -ForegroundColor Yellow

try {
    $webExpPkgs = Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Where-Object { $_.Name -like "*WebExperience*" }
    foreach ($pkg in $webExpPkgs) {
        Write-Host "  - Removing $($pkg.Name) for all users..."
        Remove-AppxPackage -Package $pkg.PackageFullName -AllUsers -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
} catch {
    Write-Warning "  ! Failed to remove Windows Web Experience Pack: $($_.Exception.Message)"
}

#-------------------------------------------------------------------
# 5. Remove preinstalled junk / nagware apps
#   (Office hub, Teams consumer, Xbox, News, Clipchamp, etc.)
#-------------------------------------------------------------------

Write-Host "[5/6] Removing preinstalled junk apps..." -ForegroundColor Yellow

# Patterns for common crap. Non-matches are harmless.
$appPatterns = @(
    "Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub",     # Microsoft 365 / Office hub
    "Microsoft.WindowsFeedbackHub",     # Feedback hub
    "Microsoft.Xbox*",                  # Xbox everything
    "Microsoft.GamingApp",              # Xbox app
    "Microsoft.GetHelp",
    "Microsoft.Getstarted",
    "Microsoft.Todos",
    "Microsoft.BingNews",
    "Microsoft.News",
    "Clipchamp.Clipchamp",
    "Microsoft.OutlookForWindows",
    "MicrosoftTeams",                   # Consumer Teams
    "Microsoft.SkypeApp"
)

foreach ($pattern in $appPatterns) {
    $pkgs = Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Where-Object { $_.Name -like $pattern }
    foreach ($pkg in $pkgs) {
        try {
            Write-Host "  - Removing $($pkg.Name) for all users..."
            Remove-AppxPackage -Package $pkg.PackageFullName -AllUsers -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
        } catch {
            Write-Warning "  ! Failed to remove $($pkg.Name): $($_.Exception.Message)"
        }
    }
}

#-------------------------------------------------------------------
# 6. Optional: soften Edge / OneDrive presence (NOT full removal)
#   (Full removal is messy and often undone by updates)
#-------------------------------------------------------------------

Write-Host "[6/6] (Optional) Hiding some OneDrive/Edge noise..." -ForegroundColor Yellow

# Disable OneDrive from starting automatically for this user (doesn't uninstall)
$runKey = "HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run"
if (Test-Path $runKey) {
    Get-ItemProperty -Path $runKey | ForEach-Object {
        $_.PSObject.Properties | Where-Object { $_.Name -like "*OneDrive*" } | ForEach-Object {
            Write-Host "  - Removing OneDrive auto-start entry: $($_.Name)"
            Remove-ItemProperty -Path $runKey -Name $_.Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
        }
    }
}

# NOTE: If you really want to *uninstall* OneDrive or Edge, you can do it manually, e.g.:
#   winget uninstall "Microsoft OneDrive"
#   winget uninstall "Microsoft Edge"
# but both tend to get resurrected by Windows Update and can break random flows.
# I'm leaving them out of the automatic script on purpose.

Write-Host ""
Write-Host "=== Done. Reboot is recommended to apply everything. ===" -ForegroundColor Green