How to do an AI declutter from Windows and other devices!

[thewayne]

Two very timely articles! Now, if possible, it'd be a good idea to do a backup of your devices before performing such procedures just in case something goes wonky! But they're probably safe.

The first, from Ars Technica, delves into what we can do with Windows 11, and specifically the 25H2 update and the Edge browser. Lots of good stuff, alas I have not had time to dig into it yet.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/11/what-i-do-to-clean-up-a-clean-install-of-windows-11-23h2-and-edge/


The second is from Consumer Reports and has all sorts of nifty information on decluttering Apple devices, Android devices, Google apps, Meta stuff (Facebook et al), and Samsung devices.

https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics/artificial-intelligence/turn-off-ai-tools-gemini-apple-intelligence-copilot-and-more-a1156421356/

Comments

[starwatcher]

Thanks for these. I haven't yet installed Win 11, and the more I hear about it, the less inclined I am to do so. But with these articles, I may set aside a weekend and take the plunge.

I found this comment https://qr.ae/pCCwtx on how to install Win 11 without an account... but if something goes wrong, I don't know how to fix it. I'm a driver, not a mechanic, dammit!

[thewayne]

The Ars Technica article mentions installing without an account and I think links to articles about it.  It's pretty simple.  You can always install with an account, then create an admin account without an MS account, switch to it and delete the first one - I'm in the process of doing that.

[disneydream06]

Sounds like that's worth looking at. :)
Life without AI wouldn't break my heart. :p
Hugs, Jon

[thewayne]

I like it for search engine consolidation, but it isn't worth the environmental costs.

[kaishin108]

Thank you so much! I copied this and will try to do something. Anything would help.
Much appreciated!
Hugs, H

[thewayne]

YW!

[white_aster]

I used this one when I finally updated a week or two ago. Thankfully the computer did not explode, lose anything, or try to take over the world in the process. it also seemed to start up with a lot of crap already turned off, as if it was respecting how I'd already turned that stuff off in Win 10.

Windows gets to live on my computer for a little while longer....

[moonhare]

My newer pc has Win 11- I tried updating to their 25H2 the other day and spent the next 45 minutes unsuccessfully troubleshooting why it wouldn’t download/install. Meh. Everything else is up to date :o)

[thewayne]

That bites!  I THINK my two W11 PCs at home are running 25H2 without issues, I should double-check them.

[viridian5]

I'm still on 10, though with the extended security updates. I keep hearing crap about 11 that makes me want to put off using it as long as I can.

[thewayne]

Much like with iOS 26 on my phone and tablet, I would have preferred to stay with the previous version.