# hellzerg/optimizer

The finest Windows Optimizer

Repository: https://github.com/hellzerg/optimizer
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/optimizer
Language: C#
License: GPL-3.0
License Family: copyleft
Topics: windows-10, windows, windows-8, windows-8-1, windows-7, tweaks, windows-tweaks, cleanup, optimize, registry-hacks, privacy, startup-items, hosts-file, registry-tweaks, toolbox
Archived: true
Last push: 2026-01-20T19:04:47+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 10/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 63, release rhythm 8, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 3276, "days_push": 225, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: archived
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 18307, forks 1202 (observed 2026-08-28T04:11:26.572550+00:00)

## What it is
Optimizer is a Windows GUI configuration utility for enhancing privacy and security, applying system tweaks, disabling telemetry, cleaning the system, and managing startup items and the HOSTS file. It is a free, open-source C# desktop tool recommended after a fresh Windows install, and is now deprecated in favor of OptimizerNXT.

## Use cases
- disable windows telemetry and cortana
- debloat a fresh windows 10 or 11 install
- remove unwanted startup programs
- edit the hosts file and flush dns cache
- uninstall uwp apps and disable copilot
- clean system drive and browser profiles
- quickly change dns server
- fix common registry issues

## When to choose
- you want a one-stop GUI to harden privacy on a fresh Windows install
- you need to disable Windows telemetry, Office telemetry, or automatic updates
- you want bundled utilities like DNS switching, HOSTS editing, and startup cleanup

## When to avoid
- you are on Linux or macOS - it is Windows-only
- you want an actively developed tool - it is deprecated in favor of OptimizerNXT
- you need scripted fleet-wide configuration rather than an interactive desktop utility

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: maintenance
- function: security, privacy, configuration-management, developer-tools
- domain: windows, privacy, security, developer-tools
- platform: windows
- tags: windows-tweaks, registry-tweaks, telemetry-removal, system-optimizer, debloat, hosts-file, startup-manager, deprecated, desktop

## Member repositories
- hellzerg/optimizer (main) score 10

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:11:26.572550+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-29T17:02:04.892195+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/hellzerg/optimizer (fetched 2026-08-28T04:11:26.572550+00:00, sha 131b264aa477)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.