What is this?
A free, open-source Windows utility that locks down privacy and security: it turns off telemetry, Cortana, OneDrive and other built-in components. The author recommends running it right after a fresh Windows installation for maximum benefit.
A free, open-source Windows utility that locks down privacy and security: it turns off telemetry, Cortana, OneDrive and other built-in components. The author recommends running it right after a fresh Windows installation for maximum benefit.So it's a program on my PC - what does it take to run?It's a graphical desktop application written in C#. The only prerequisite is .NET Framework 4.8.1, and you run it like any regular Windows program.
It's a graphical desktop application written in C#. The only prerequisite is .NET Framework 4.8.1, and you run it like any regular Windows program.How do I get it?Download the latest release from the GitHub Releases page and run it. Version 16.7 (August 18, 2024) is the final build, and its SHA256 checksum is published in the README so you can verify the download.
Download the latest release from the GitHub Releases page and run it. Version 16.7 (August 18, 2024) is the final build, and its SHA256 checksum is published in the README so you can verify the download.Is the project still maintained?No. The repository is archived and the README opens by saying Optimizer is deprecated in favor of a successor called OptimizerNXT; the last release here dates to August 2024.
No. The repository is archived and the README opens by saying Optimizer is deprecated in favor of a successor called OptimizerNXT; the last release here dates to August 2024.Which Windows versions does it support?Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 and 11 are supported. Windows Server 2008-2022 also works, but only when launched with the /unsafe switch.
Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 and 11 are supported. Windows Server 2008-2022 also works, but only when launched with the /unsafe switch.What can it actually do to my system?The list is long: turn off telemetry, Cortana, CoPilot and Office telemetry, stop automatic Windows 10/11 updates, disable unneeded services and UWP apps, clean the system drive and browser profiles, fix registry issues, remove startup programs, edit the HOSTS file and system variable paths, plus a hardware inspection tool.
The list is long: turn off telemetry, Cortana, CoPilot and Office telemetry, stop automatic Windows 10/11 updates, disable unneeded services and UWP apps, clean the system drive and browser profiles, fix registry issues, remove startup programs, edit the HOSTS file and system variable paths, plus a hardware inspection tool.Can it disable Windows Defender too?Yes, but on Windows 10 1903+ it takes extra steps: either restart into Safe Mode and run Optimizer with the /disabledefender switch, or launch it with /restart=disabledefender to automate the whole thing.
Yes, but on Windows 10 1903+ it takes extra steps: either restart into Safe Mode and run Optimizer with the /disabledefender switch, or launch it with /restart=disabledefender to automate the whole thing.Anything for network tweaking and diagnostics?Quite a bit: quickly switch DNS servers from a pre-made list, flush the DNS cache, ping IPs to assess latency, look up IPs on SHODAN.io, and edit your HOSTS file directly.
Quite a bit: quickly switch DNS servers from a pre-made list, flush the DNS cache, ping IPs to assess latency, look up IPs on SHODAN.io, and edit your HOSTS file directly.If this is deprecated, what should I use instead?The author's successor project, OptimizerNXT - the README banner links to it. Optimizer itself still works and release 16.7 remains downloadable, but it will not receive further updates.
The author's successor project, OptimizerNXT - the README banner links to it. Optimizer itself still works and release 16.7 remains downloadable, but it will not receive further updates.What are similar projects?Winhance, Win11Debloat, optimizerDuck, FluentTweaker, FluentCleaner, RemoveWindowsAI, ContextMenuManager, Windows10Debloater
Winhance, Win11Debloat, optimizerDuck, FluentTweaker, FluentCleaner, RemoveWindowsAI, ContextMenuManager, Windows10DebloaterWhich topics is it in?cache-cleaner, optimize, toolbox, cleanup, optimizer, bloatware-removal, tweaks, windows-tweaker, registry-tweaks, telemetry, windows-10, windows-11
cache-cleaner, optimize, toolbox, cleanup, optimizer, bloatware-removal, tweaks, windows-tweaker, registry-tweaks, telemetry, windows-10, windows-11