The Bloatware Delivery System
When you purchase a new Windows 10 laptop or desktop PC from major manufacturers like Dell, HP, Lenovo, or ASUS, it often comes pre-installed with “bloatware”—various control centers, support assistants, and promotional software created by the manufacturer.
A common tactic for power users is to immediately wipe the hard drive and perform a clean installation of Windows 10 to get rid of this bloatware. However, many users are shocked to find that even after a clean install, Windows 10 will quietly connect to the internet, identify the motherboard brand, and automatically download the manufacturer’s control panel apps in the background via Windows Update. If you want a truly clean, Microsoft-only installation, you must explicitly tell Windows to stop downloading third-party manufacturer apps.
How to Stop Automatic Manufacturer App Downloads
You can block these automated downloads by changing your Device Installation Settings.
- Click the Start button and type
Change device installation settings. - Press Enter to open the Control Panel window.
- A small prompt will appear asking: “Do you want to automatically download manufacturers’ apps and custom icons available for your devices?”
- The default selection is “Yes (recommended)”.
- Change the selection by clicking the radio button next to “No (your device might not work as expected)”.
- Click the Save Changes button.
- If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to confirm.
Windows Update will still automatically download necessary hardware drivers (like generic audio or graphics drivers) so your PC functions correctly, but it will no longer attempt to bundle and automatically install the manufacturer’s heavy, branded software suites or custom control panels.