Guide · Open source
How to use winutil: run it, pick presets and avoid mistakes
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
WinUtil is a PowerShell script from Chris Titus Tech that brings common Windows setup tasks into one tool. It can install programs, apply tweaks that remove bundled extras, troubleshoot settings and configure Windows Update. This guide shows you how to open it with the right permissions, run it, use presets and check what it will change before you commit.
WinUtilChrisTitusTech/winutil · ★ 65.4k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Confirm your setup. Make sure you are on Windows with PowerShell and that you have Administrator rights. Do not run it on a managed work machine without permission.
- 2Open an admin terminal. Right-click Start and choose Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Terminal (Admin), or search for PowerShell and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
- 3Run the stable command. Paste irm https://christitus.com/win | iex into the admin window and press Enter to launch WinUtil.
- 4Choose a preset or manual options. Pick Standard, Minimal or Advanced if you want a preset, or select options yourself in the interface.
- 5Check what the preset changes. Open config/preset.json in the GitHub repository to see exactly which options the preset enables before you apply it.
- 6Apply and review the results. Run the chosen changes, then check your settings and the project's known issues page if something behaves differently.
Check whether winutil is right for your PC
WinUtil is aimed at people setting up a new or freshly reinstalled Windows PC who want a preset configuration instead of choosing every option by hand. It is also useful if you want to read the config files and see what each preset changes.
It is not a good fit for shared or managed work machines. It makes system-wide changes and needs administrator rights, so check with whoever manages the computer first. It is also a Windows-only PowerShell tool, so it does not apply to other operating systems.
- Prerequisites: Windows with PowerShell and Administrator rights
- Good for: new or reinstalled Windows PCs, preset setups, reviewing configs
- Avoid if: the PC is managed by someone else, or you need every change explained and reversible without reading the script
Open an admin PowerShell or Terminal window
WinUtil must be run as Administrator because it performs system-wide changes. Open PowerShell or Terminal with admin rights using one of the two methods below.
- Start menu: right-click Start, then choose Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Terminal (Admin)
- Search: press the Windows key, type PowerShell or Terminal, then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter
Run the stable winutil command
The README recommends the stable branch. In your admin PowerShell window, run the command below. It downloads the script and runs it in one step.
The README also lists a development branch, which uses a different address (christitus.com/windev). The stable branch is the one the project recommends.
irm https://christitus.com/win | iexApply a preset without manual selection
If you do not want to pick each option, you can apply a predefined configuration. The README lists three presets: Standard, which gives balanced defaults for most users; Minimal, which makes minimal changes; and Advanced, which applies deep tweaks for power users.
Before you run a preset, read what it changes. The project publishes the preset file at config/preset.json in the GitHub repository, so you can see exactly which options each preset enables.
- Standard: balanced defaults for most users
- Minimal: minimal changes to suit every user
- Advanced: deep tweaks for power users
& ([ScriptBlock]::Create((irm https://christitus.com/win))) -Preset StandardReview the tweaks before applying them
Tweaks are the part of WinUtil that reduces bundled extras and changes Windows settings. Because these changes are system-wide, treat each one as a decision rather than a default. The project's documentation at winutil.christitus.com has more detail, and a known issues page is linked from the project.
If you want to understand a change, open the preset file or the project's documentation first. If you cannot tell what a change does, skip it.
- Read config/preset.json to see what each preset does
- Check the known issues page at winutil.christitus.com/knownissues/
- Report problems on the project's GitHub issues page
Know the alternatives and the limits
Other projects cover similar ground. The README names Win11Debloat, Sophia Script for Windows and Chris Titus Tech's dotnet WinUtil as comparable projects. Each has its own scope, so compare them against the specific changes you want.
The README also mentions a Faster Dotnet Implementation sold through a store, and says that sponsors with a recurring subscription get access to a .NET alternative. The free PowerShell script is the one described in this guide.
- Win11Debloat
- Sophia Script for Windows
- Chris Titus Tech's dotnet WinUtil
What people use it for
- Setting up a freshly installed Windows PC with a balanced preset
- Removing preinstalled bloat using guided tweaks
- Configuring Windows Update from one tool
- Reading the preset file to learn what each Windows setting does
- Troubleshooting common Windows settings from one place
Frequently asked questions
Is winutil safe to run?
WinUtil is open source under the MIT licence, so you can read the script and the preset file yourself. It makes system-wide changes and needs Administrator rights, so review the presets first and avoid it on machines you do not own or manage.
Do I need administrator rights to use winutil?
Yes. The README says WinUtil must be run as Administrator because it performs system-wide changes. Open PowerShell or Terminal with admin rights before running the command.
What is the winutil command?
The stable command recommended in the README is irm https://christitus.com/win | iex, run in an admin PowerShell window. The README also lists a development branch at christitus.com/windev.
What is the difference between the Standard, Minimal and Advanced presets?
Standard gives balanced defaults for most users, Minimal makes minimal changes, and Advanced applies deep tweaks for power users. To see exactly what each one changes, read config/preset.json in the GitHub repository.
Is winutil free?
The project is licensed under MIT, and the script is in the GitHub repository. The README also mentions a paid Faster Dotnet Implementation and a .NET alternative for sponsors with a recurring subscription, which are separate from the free script.
What are the alternatives to winutil?
The README names Win11Debloat, Sophia Script for Windows and Chris Titus Tech's dotnet WinUtil as comparable projects. Pick based on which changes you want, since each covers a different scope.
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Our verdict
WinUtil suits people setting up a new or reinstalled Windows PC who want a preset to start from and are willing to read what it changes. Skip it on shared or managed work machines, or if you want every change explained and reversible without reviewing the script first.
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