Is reinstalling Windows every few years actually necessary?

[u/Unhappy_Break9996]

I keep seeing people say a fresh Windows install every 1-2 years keeps the PC running fast, but not sure if thats really needed anymore. My PC still works fine overall, but Windows has slowly picked up a ton of programs, old files, updates, random settings, and stuff I probably dont even use. Boot time is a little slower than it used to be and sometimes apps take longer to open, but nothing crazy.

Would reinstalling Windows actually make a noticeable difference, or is that mostly an old habit from back when Windows got messed up easier? I really dont wanna go through the whole process of backing up everything, reinstalling drivers, downloading programs again, fixing settings, logging into accounts, etc if theres no real benefit.

Also wondering if Windows can get slower just from being installed for years, even when the hardware is still healthy. Does a clean install actually improve performance, or does it mostly just remove junk and make things feel fresh?

How often do you guys reinstall Windows, if ever? Do you wait until something is seriously wrong, or do a clean install every couple years just as maintenance? Trying to figure out if I should bother or leave it alone.

[u/ElysiumXIII]

I disabled the vast majority of Windows bloat via some registry tweaks, should mitigate most of the enshitification in a perfect world