There’s no denying that Windows 11 is a chunky operating system that ships with many components you’ll never use – from pre-installed apps to background services that eat up valuable system resources. Fortunately, it’s not that difficult to create a custom lightweight Windows 11 installation that’s lighter, faster, and more in line with your needs.
Three Ways to Slim Down Windows 11
When it comes to creating a lightweight Windows 11 installation, you have three main approaches to choose from:
- Custom ISO creation: Using tools like MSMG Toolkit and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management), you can create a completely customized Windows 11 installation image from scratch.
- Automated ISO creation: Solutions like Tiny11 or AtlastOS automate the process of creating a lightweight Windows 11 ISO by automatically removing commonly unwanted components and making the required configuration changes with minimal user input.
- Post-installation debloating: Win11Debloat or Bloatynosy and other similar tools let you optimize an existing Windows 11 installation, removing unwanted features and tweaking system settings after Windows is already installed.
Each of these approaches comes with its own set of advantages and trade-offs. Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect from each method:
| Approach | Pros | Cons | Time Required | Technical Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custom ISO creation | Maximum control, smallest possible installation size | Complex process, requires significant time investment | 2-3 hours | High |
| Automated ISO creation | Simple process, predictable results | Less customization options, limited to script’s presets | 30-45 minutes | Low |
| Post-installation debloating | Can be applied to existing installations, reversible changes | May not achieve as small a footprint as pre-installation methods | 15-30 minutes | Low |
For regular home users, I recommend focusing on automated ISO creation tools like Tiny11 or post-installation optimization scripts because they offer the best balance of results and ease of use – you’ll get a significantly lighter Windows 11 installation without spending hours tweaking individual components.
Create a Lightweight Custom Windows 11 ISO
Created by NTDEV, Tiny11 is an open-source PowerShell script that automates the process of creating a streamlined Windows 11 ISO that’s significantly smaller and lighter than the original, while maintaining essential functionality for daily use, especially on older machines.
Instead of requiring you to manually select which components to remove, it automatically strips out commonly unused features and bloatware, including, Clipchamp, Edge, OneDrive, News, Weather, and more depending on which version of Tiny11 you choose:
- Standard Tiny11: Perfect for daily use, this version removes bloatware and unnecessary components while maintaining Windows Update functionality and the ability to add features back if needed.
- Tiny11 Core: A more aggressive variant that strips Windows down to its bare essentials. While it creates an even lighter system, you can’t add features back or use Windows Update. It’s primarily meant for single-purpose computers.
For most users, I recommend sticking with the standard version of Tiny11. Here’s how to use it:
First, you’ll need to download the Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft’s website (scroll down until you see the “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices” section) and Tiny11 Builder from GitHub.
With everything downloaded, you can mount the Windows 11 ISO by right-clicking it in File Explorer and selecting the Mount option. Make note of the drive letter assigned to it – you’ll need this in a moment. Then, Press Win + X and open PowerShell as administrator. Enter the following command to allow the Tiny11 script to run on your computer:
Set-ExecutionPolicy unrestrictedNext, extract the Tiny11 Builder files to a folder and run the script (right-click the script and select the Run with PowerShell option). You’ll be asked to provide the drive letter where your Windows 11 ISO is mounted and select which edition of Windows you want to use (like Home or Pro). Make sure to select the edition that corresponds to your Windows 11 license key.
From there, Tiny11 Builder handles everything automatically – removing unnecessary components, configuring system settings, and creating your new ISO file. The whole process typically takes about 30-45 minutes, and when it’s done, you’ll find your custom Windows 11 ISO (named tiny11.iso) in the same folder as the script, and you can use it to create a Windows 11 USB installer.
Tip: If you ever decide to install OneDrive on a machine running Tiny11, then you’ll need to open the Registry Editor, go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\OneDriveand change the value of “DisableFileSyncNGSC” to 0.
Optimize Your Existing Windows 11 Installation
If you don’t want to reinstall your operating system from scratch, then you can use a debloater tool to remove unwanted components from an existing Windows 11 installation. I personally recommend Win11Debloat due to its simplicity and effectiveness.
In addition to removing unwanted apps, Win11Debloat can also disable telemetry, tracking, and various UI elements that can make Windows 11 feel cluttered. All changes made by the script are reversible, so there’s nothing stopping you from changing your mind in the future.
To use Win11Debloat, you need to press Win + X and open PowerShell as administrator. Then, you can use the quick method by copying and pasting this command:
& ([scriptblock]::Create((irm "https://debloat.raphi.re/")))The script will automatically download and launch Win11Debloat.
When the menu appears, you have two main options:
- Default Mode: This automatically removes common bloatware and applies recommended settings. It’s the safest option and what I recommend for most users.
- Custom Mode: This lets you choose exactly what to remove and which settings to change. It’s great if you want more control, but make sure you read the descriptions carefully.
After making your selection, the script will work its magic. The whole process typically takes about 15–30 minutes, and you’ll need to restart your computer when it’s done.
Beyond the basic cleanup, Win11Debloat offers several additional features you can explore through its custom mode or by using command-line parameters. For example:
- Use
-DisableCopilotto remove Windows Copilot - Use
-TaskbarAlignLeftto move taskbar icons to the left - Use
-DisableWidgetsto remove the widgets panel and weather widget - Use
-RevertContextMenuto restore the Windows 10-style right-click menu
Remember that while Win11Debloat is generally safe to use, it’s always a good idea to create a system restore point or, better yet, back up your entire system drive using CloneZilla before making significant changes to your Windows installation.
All images and screenshots by David Morelo.
