Advanced Features

Replacing pinned apps layout in Start

Win11Debloat can replace the layout of pinned apps in the Windows 11 start menu for a specific user, or for all existing & new users. The script does this by replacing the binary start2.bin file, which is responsible for storing your list of pinned apps, with a provided template file. To get your own template file, simply create your desired pinned apps layout in Start and copy the start2.bin file from %localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\. You can then use this file for other users or even on other computers.

Caution

Ensure you use a valid start2.bin file from a Windows installation with version 22621 or later as a template. Using an invalid file will cause the Start layout to revert to the Windows default, and could cause other issues.

To replace the start menu, launch the script with the -ReplaceStart or -ReplaceStartAllUsers parameter, followed by the full path to the template file. Example:

& ([scriptblock]::Create((irm "https://debloat.raphi.re/"))) -ReplaceStart "C:/start2.bin"

Running as another user

Win11Debloat can apply changes to a different user profile instead of the currently logged-in user. This allows you to quickly apply changes to multiple users, without having the switch accounts. It also makes it possible to run the script for users that do not have administrator rights.

Important

The specified user must have logged on at least once, and cannot be logged in at the time the script is run.

To run Win11Debloat as another user, simply execute the script with the -User parameter, followed by the name of the user account.

Example:

& ([scriptblock]::Create((irm "https://debloat.raphi.re/"))) -User jack

Sysprep Mode

Sysprep Mode in Win11Debloat lets you modify the default user profile of your Windows installation. This ensures that any new user accounts created after running the script will automatically inherit all of the changes made by the script.

To use Sysprep Mode, launch Win11Debloat with the -Sysprep parameter.

Example:

& ([scriptblock]::Create((irm "https://debloat.raphi.re/"))) -Sysprep

Note

Some changes made with Sysprep Mode are only applied after the user has logged in for the first time. These will be visible the next time the system is booted, or after the user signs out and back in.

Windows Audit Mode

With Sysprep Mode, Win11Debloat can even make changes to a Windows image before any accounts are created. To do this, you first need to enter Windows Audit Mode by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+F3 in the OOBE (Out-Of-Box-Experience) screen. This will boot your computer into Windows' built-in administrator account. From there, start a new Powershell window as administrator and launch the script with the -Sysprep parameter as explained above. Once the script completes, simply exit Windows Audit Mode and you're done! All user accounts will have the changes automatically applied to them.

Please refer to this article from Microsoft for more information about Windows Audit Mode.