Why Does Windows 11 24H2 Now Come With 36 Ready-to-Use Apps That Never Need Updates?

What Makes Windows 11’s New 36 Pre-Installed Apps So Much Better Than Before?

Microsoft changed how Windows 11 works. Now when you install it fresh, you get 36 apps that work right away. No waiting. No downloads. No broken apps that need fixing first.

This is different from before. Old Windows would give you apps that didn’t work properly. You’d click on them and then wait while they downloaded updates from the Microsoft Store. Sometimes this took a long time. Sometimes it was annoying.

The Big Change Microsoft Made

Microsoft updated their Media Creation Tool in June 2025. This tool helps people install Windows 11 on their computers. The update was the first one since October 2024 when Windows 11 24H2 first came out.

But this update did more than just fix bugs. It packed all 36 apps with their newest versions right into the installation files. Think of it like buying a phone that comes with all your favorite apps already installed and working.

The apps include important pieces like:

• AV1 Video Extension
• AVC Encoder Extension
• HEIF and HEVC video support

These help other apps like Photos and Windows Media Player work with different file types. Before, your computer might not open certain pictures or videos until these got updated.

What Apps Come Ready to Use

Windows 11 now ships with a complete set of tools. Here’s what you get:

Basic Tools

• Calculator
• Notepad
• Sticky Notes
• Alarms & Clock

Work and Productivity

• Microsoft To Do
• Power Automate
• Office Hub
• Get Help
• Quick Assist

Photos and Media

• Photos app
• Paint
• Clipchamp
• Camera
• Snipping Tool
• Media Player
• Sound Recorder

Connection and Gaming

• Phone Link
• Xbox Game Bar
• Xbox Speech-to-Text Overlay
• Solitaire Collection

System and Security

• Windows Security
• Microsoft Store
• App Installer
• Cross Device Experience Host

Media Support Files

• WebP Image Extension
• Raw Image Extension
• Web Media Extensions
• VP9 Video Extension

The Trade-Off: More Storage Used

Having all these apps ready means they take up more space on your hard drive right from the start. Before, apps were smaller because they had fewer features. Now they’re bigger because they have all their latest features built in.

For example, Paint used to be a simple drawing program. The new Paint has more tools and options. This makes it more useful but also makes it take up more storage space.

Security Gets Better

Microsoft made this change mainly to keep computers safer. Old app versions had security holes that hackers could use. These holes are called CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures).

When apps were outdated, your computer was at risk until you updated them. Now your computer starts safe from day one because all apps have their security patches already applied.

This helps both regular users and businesses. IT teams don’t have to spend time updating every new computer. Individual users don’t have to worry about using unsafe apps while waiting for updates.

You Can Still Remove Apps

Don’t want all these apps? You can remove most of them. Microsoft gives you the choice to uninstall apps you don’t need. This helps free up storage space and keeps your computer clean.

If you live in Europe, you get even more removal options. You can uninstall the Microsoft Store or Edge browser if you want to use different programs instead.

Why This Matters for You

This change makes Windows 11 work better right out of the box. When you:

• Buy a new computer
• Install Windows fresh
• Set up a work machine

Everything works immediately. No waiting for downloads. No broken features. No security risks from old software.

The downside is that Windows takes up more space initially. But for most people, having working apps right away is worth using a bit more storage space.

Microsoft believes this approach creates a better experience for users while keeping computers more secure. The evidence suggests they’re right – fewer security problems and happier users who can start working immediately.