I don’t perceive why everybody installs these Windows apps

Most of us have a listing of apps we always install on a new PC. While these lists are by no means an identical, there are a number of fashionable ones you will discover on virtually each Windows PC. Apps like Adobe Acrobat, WinRAR, CCleaner, and LocalSend have been round for thus lengthy that they’ve constructed a fame of being “important.”

But I personally do not set up any of them anymore, both as a result of I’ve discovered higher options or as a result of they merely aren’t obligatory.

Adobe Acrobat

It’s unhealthy information to your storage

Adobe Acrobat is an app you’ll discover on most PCs just because Windows doesn’t ship with a local PDF viewer. Microsoft Edge handles PDFs by default, however it’s too fundamental and much from best whenever you’re engaged on a number of paperwork without delay.

Adobe Acrobat has a free model, and it really works nice for viewing, annotating, printing, and signing paperwork. So sure, I get why so many individuals use it. My solely drawback is that it can take up enormous storage over time. It additionally by no means fails to nag you with a immediate to improve to its premium model.

For PDFs, I like PDFgear extra as a result of it’s utterly free and in addition lets me edit and convert paperwork. And if I merely need to preview a PDF, I want PowerToys’ Peek function as a result of it’s a lot quicker.

WinRAR or 7-Zip

Windows can already do their job

WinRAR and 7-Zip are two apps that’ve helped me lots, and I’ve big respect for each. They was once among the many first apps I’d set up on a brand new PC, however that’s sadly not the case anymore now that Windows 11 can deal with ZIP, RAR, 7Z, and TAR information natively. You can merely right-click on any of those information and extract their contents. Windows may even compress information into these codecs whereas providing you with management over the compression stage.

Apps like WinRAR and 7-Zip aren’t utterly ineffective, in fact. They do supply specialised instruments wanted for password defending an archive or splitting one into elements. But the reality is, these are fairly area of interest for most individuals, myself included. So, as legendary as these file compression instruments are, I don’t set up them on my PC anymore.

CCleaner

More background noise than really cleansing

We all love a PC that’s freed from litter, so apps like CCleaner are a simple promote. It guarantees to clear junk information, velocity up startup occasions, clear system logs, and optimize efficiency with a single click on. It additionally consists of instruments for cleansing the registry, updating drivers, uninstalling apps in bulk, and releasing up disk house.

The solely factor is, Windows can already deal with most of those duties natively. You have Disk Cleanup and Storage Sense for clearing temporary files and freeing up storage. Windows can also be good at dealing with routine upkeep by itself, so a lot of CCleaner’s different instruments are additionally largely pointless.

The greater drawback with CCleaner is that it does not have the cleanest fame in the case of respecting consumer privateness. So sure, even if you happen to discover it helpful, it’s nonetheless price reconsidering if you really want it.

LocalSend

It’s good, however there’s a greater one

This one’s a bit tough as a result of LocalSend is arguably among the finest apps for transferring information between units. I used it for years myself till I got here throughout PairDrop.

PairDrop fixes the two things that always bugged me about LocalSend. First, you don’t want to put in it in your units since it really works straight within the browser. You merely must open pairdop.net on each your units, and so they’ll detect one another so long as they’re on the identical community. After that, you may share pictures, movies, paperwork, archives, or anything. This makes it best for one-off transfers.

The different huge benefit is that PairDrop can work even when each units aren’t on the identical community. You can create a brief room to pair each units and share information over the web. If you need to use PairDrop to switch information to your personal units frequently, you may pair them completely too.

Any antivirus software program

You severely don’t want it

For all of the issues I hate about Windows, I’ve to present credit score to Microsoft for making it safe out of the field. The built-in Windows Security app is now succesful sufficient for protecting your system safe with none further assist.

So so long as you retain your PC up to date to the newest construct (and don’t do something foolish), a third-party antivirus tool just isn’t necessary. If something, they’ll trigger extra hurt than good by always operating background scans and blocking reliable apps from connecting to the web.

The solely cause some Windows laptops nonetheless ship with an antivirus program preinstalled in 2026 is a commerce partnership. It’s not there as a result of your PC wants it.