WinUtil
A Windows script that installs apps, applies system tweaks, and fixes common settings.
- Stars
- 65.4k
- Forks
- 3.8k
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- PowerShell
- Last update
- 4 days ago
- Type
- Dev tool
What it is
WinUtil is a PowerShell script from Chris Titus Tech that gathers common Windows setup tasks in one place. It can install programs, apply tweaks that reduce bundled extras, troubleshoot settings, and configure Windows Update. People use it mainly to set up a fresh Windows install quickly instead of doing each step by hand.
- Install a batch of commonly used programs on a new Windows PC
- Apply the Standard preset to set sensible defaults without manual choices
- Review config/preset.json to see exactly what a preset will change before running it
- Adjust Windows Update settings through the utility's options
Great for
- People setting up a new or freshly reinstalled Windows PC
- Users who want a preset configuration instead of picking every option
- Technical users who want to read the config files and see what each preset changes
- Anyone who wants to remove preinstalled bloat with a guided tool
Not ideal for
- Users on shared or managed work machines, since it makes system-wide changes and needs administrator rights
- People who want every change explained and reversible without reviewing the script first
- Users who are not on Windows, since it is a PowerShell tool for Windows
How to get it
- 1
See the README
You'll need: Windows with PowerShell · Administrator rights
Stable branch (recommended), run in admin PowerShell
irm https://christitus.com/win | iex - 2
Run it
- Open PowerShell or Terminal as Administrator
- Run the stable command from the Quick Start section
- Choose the programs or tweaks you want in the window that opens
- Or run the preset command with -Preset Standard for a predefined configuration
- 3
Get the most out of it
- Read config/preset.json to see what Standard, Minimal, and Advanced each change before using them
- Use the -Preset parameter to repeat the same setup on several machines
- Check the official documentation and Known Issues page before running on a critical machine
- Use the development branch command only if you want unreleased changes
Downloads
Strengths
- Bundles several setup tasks into one tool
- Offers presets for automated, repeatable setup
- Open source under the MIT license, so the code can be inspected
Trade-offs
- Makes system-wide changes and requires running as Administrator, so review options before applying
- Runs a script fetched from the internet with the iex command, which carries trust risk; download and read it first if that concerns you
- The README mentions a paid .NET version for sponsors and a store link, so the free version may have different scope
How it compares
| Project | Stars | Type | Level | Updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| winutil (this) | 65.4k | Dev tool | beginner | 4 days ago | People setting up a new or freshly reinstalled Windows PC |
| Win11Debloat | 61.5k | CLI | beginner | 4 days ago | People setting up a new Windows PC who want fewer preinstalled apps and less promotional content |
Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.