Laptop bloatware is still a big problem – and Windows 11 needs to step up and sort it out

image via TechRadar

August 30, 2026, 2:00 PM

• •The article says manufacturer utilities are often needed for battery, fan, GPU, RGB, and performance controls that Windows 11 does not provide natively.
• •It argues these apps have expanded beyond hardware management to include user accounts, game libraries, stores, AI features, giveaways, and cloud gaming links.
• •Examples cited include Asus MyASUS and Armoury Crate, Alienware Command Center, Lenovo Legion Space, HP Omen Gaming Hub, and MSI Center.
• •The piece points to G-Helper, an open-source Asus utility, as evidence that hardware controls can exist in a lighter, more focused app.
• •It says Microsoft should standardize more common laptop controls in Windows 11 to reduce dependence on vendor-specific software.

The article argues that laptop manufacturers increasingly bundle essential hardware controls inside large preinstalled apps that also push accounts, content services, stores, and other extras. It says these utilities can be genuinely useful because Windows 11 still lacks standardized controls for functions such as battery charge limits, fan profiles, and some performance settings. Examples including Asus MyASUS and Armoury Crate, Alienware Command Center, Lenovo Legion Space, HP Omen Gaming Hub, and MSI Center illustrate how hardware management is being mixed with broader software ecosystems. The piece contends that Microsoft should reduce the need for such software by standardizing more common device controls in Windows 11, much as it has begun to do with Dynamic Lighting.

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