User Guide
Welcome to the official User Guide for Winutil, your all-in-one Windows toolkit!
What is Winutil?
Winutil (Chris Titus Tech’s Windows Utility) is a comprehensive PowerShell-based tool that helps you:
- Install Applications: Quickly install popular software without manual downloads
- Apply Tweaks: Optimize Windows for performance, privacy, and usability
- Fix Issues: Troubleshoot common Windows problems with one-click fixes
- Manage Updates: Control how and when Windows updates install
- Create MicroWin: Build custom, lightweight Windows installation ISOs
- Access Tools: Quick access to Windows panels and utilities
Who Should Use Winutil?
Winutil is designed for:
- Home Users: Wanting to optimize their personal PCs
- Power Users: Needing fine-grained control over Windows
- IT Professionals: Managing multiple systems efficiently
- Gamers: Optimizing systems for gaming performance
- Privacy-Conscious Users: Reducing telemetry and data collection
- Developers: Setting up clean development environments
Getting Started
New to Winutil? Start here:
- Getting Started Guide - Installation and first steps
- Application Store - Learn to install software easily
- Tweaks Guide - Optimize your system
- Features & Fixes - Troubleshoot common issues
Main Features
🚀 Application Installation
Browse and install hundreds of popular applications with a single click. No more hunting for download links or dealing with installer bloat.
⚙️ System Tweaks
Apply optimizations for performance, privacy, and usability. Choose from preset configurations or customize individual tweaks.
🛠️ Config & Fixes
Quick fixes for common Windows problems:
- Reset network settings
- Fix Windows Update issues
- Repair system files
- Access legacy Windows panels
🪟 MicroWin
Create custom Windows installation ISOs with bloatware removed, optimizations pre-applied, and unnecessary components stripped out.
🔄 Update Management
Take control of Windows Updates with options to:
- Enable/disable updates
- Security updates only
- Pause updates
- Manage driver updates
🤖 Automation
Automate Winutil configurations for:
- Multiple PC setups
- Enterprise deployments
- Consistent configurations
- Scripted installations
Quick Links
| I want to… | Go to… |
|---|---|
| Install Winutil for the first time | Getting Started |
| Install applications quickly | Application Store |
| Speed up my computer | Tweaks Guide |
| Fix Windows Update problems | Features - Fixes |
| Create a lightweight Windows ISO | MicroWin |
| Automate setup for multiple PCs | Automation |
| Understand what tweaks do | Tweaks Guide |
Safety and Best Practices
Before using Winutil:
✅ Always:
- Run PowerShell as Administrator
- Create a system restore point before major changes
- Understand what tweaks do before applying them
- Start with Essential Tweaks before Advanced ones
- Keep backups of important data
❌ Never:
- Apply all tweaks without understanding them
- Skip creating restore points
- Use on production systems without testing
- Disable security features unnecessarily
System Requirements
- Operating System: Windows 10 (1809+) or Windows 11
- PowerShell: Version 5.1 or later (included in Windows)
- Permissions: Administrator access required
- Internet: Required for downloading apps and updates
- .NET Framework: 4.5+ (usually pre-installed)
Getting Help
Need assistance?
- 📖 Documentation: You’re reading it! Use the navigation menu
- ❓ FAQ: Check Frequently Asked Questions
- 🐛 Known Issues: Review Known Issues
- 💬 Discord: Join the community Discord
- 🐙 GitHub: Report bugs on GitHub Issues
- 📺 YouTube: Watch video tutorials
Contributing
Want to help improve Winutil?
- Report Bugs: Submit issues on GitHub
- Suggest Features: Open feature requests
- Contribute Code: Submit pull requests
- Improve Docs: Help expand this documentation
- Share Knowledge: Help others in Discord
What’s in This Guide?
This User Guide covers everything you need to know:
- Getting Started - Installation, first run, basic usage
- Application Store - Installing software, using presets
- Tweaks - System optimizations and customizations
- Features & Fixes - Troubleshooting tools and utilities
- MicroWin - Creating custom Windows ISOs
- Updates - Managing Windows Update behavior
- Automation - Scripting and batch deployments
Video Tutorial
Watch the complete Winutil overview:
Ready to get started? Head to the Getting Started Guide now!