updated
Oct 14, 2026
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Tiny11 Builder is a free Windows app that takes an official Windows 11 ISO and builds a smaller one, with bundled apps, OneDrive and the hardware checks removed, ready to write to a USB stick with Rufus.
Tiny11 Builder makes a slimmed-down Windows 11 installer, with the bundled apps and extras stripped out before Windows is even installed.
It now comes as a proper Windows app instead of a PowerShell script, so you pick options on screen rather than typing commands.
It is free, but this new app is a first preview, so test what it builds before trusting it with a real PC.
What Tiny11 Builder Actually Does
Windows 11 arrives with apps, services and settings many people never use. Tiny11 Builder takes an official Windows 11 ISO, removes the parts you choose, and saves a new, smaller ISO you can install from.
It never touches the Windows you are running. It only works on a copy of the installation image, and it refuses to overwrite an existing ISO.
- Gets Windows for you. One click downloads the latest official Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft, or you can point it at your own.
- Strips the extras. Bundled apps, Edge, OneDrive and automatic drive encryption, plus the Windows 11 hardware checks.
- Turbo mode. Faster image processing, at the cost of more CPU and temporary disk space.
- Resumes builds. An interrupted build can pick up from its last saved stage.
- Recipes. Save your choices and reuse them for the next build.
Tiny11, Core or Custom - Which to Pick
| Mode | What it removes | Pick it if |
|---|---|---|
| Tiny11 | Bundled apps and unwanted features, keeping Windows Update, Defender, recovery and the Store | You want a lighter Windows you can still use every day |
| Tiny11 Core | Much more, including update and recovery support, and it switches Defender off | You need the smallest possible Windows for a test virtual machine |
| Custom | Only what you tick, from apps down to services and drivers | You know exactly which components you want gone |
Core is for test machines only:
A Core build cannot receive Windows updates, has no recovery image and runs without antivirus. Those changes cannot be undone, so never use Core on a PC you rely on.
Custom has its own risk: removing protected system parts can leave Windows unable to boot. The app warns you before risky choices, but it does not check whether one removal breaks another.
How to Build Your ISO
- Download the x64 zip for an Intel or AMD PC, or the ARM64 zip for a Snapdragon PC, and extract the whole zip.
- Open Tiny11Builder.exe and approve the administrator prompt.
- Choose Tiny11, Core or Custom, then let it download Windows 11 or select your own ISO.
- Review the options, start the build, and wait for the new ISO. A full build can take half an hour or more.
- Test the ISO in a virtual machine, then write it to a USB stick to install.
For the testing step, VMware Workstation Pro is now free to download and use.
To write the finished ISO to a stick, use Rufus or keep several ISOs on one drive with Ventoy.
What You Need
Tiny11 Builder runs on Windows 10 version 2004 or newer, as well as Windows 11, and needs administrator rights. The .NET and Windows App SDK pieces it needs come inside the zip, so there is nothing else to install.
Plan for plenty of free disk space on an NTFS drive, since it unpacks the whole Windows image while it works. It builds from current Windows 11 releases, including Windows 11 26H2.
Licensing still applies:
A Tiny11 build is still Windows 11 and needs a valid licence. The app does not bypass activation, and Microsoft's terms apply to the image you download.
Easier Ways to a Leaner Windows 11
The tell is whether you want a custom image or just a cleaner install. For most people, building a whole new ISO is more than they need.
- Rufus can skip the hardware checks, the Microsoft account and Copilot while writing a normal Windows ISO, as our look at a leaner Windows 11 with Rufus shows.
- Flyoobe upgrades an existing PC to Windows 11 and cleans up the setup screens, with no new ISO at all.
- Windows 11 Installation Assistant is Microsoft's own route for PCs that already meet the requirements.
Already installed and just want apps gone? IObit Uninstaller removes many bundled apps from a running Windows. Our guide to installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware covers older PCs.
The SSD and USB Tools category has more tools for building and installing Windows.
Quick questions
Is Tiny11 Builder free?
Yes. It costs nothing, and the developer accepts donations. You still need a valid Windows 11 licence for the system you install.
Is it safe to use?
It only edits a copy of the Windows image, never your running PC. The Tiny11 mode keeps updates and Defender; Core and risky Custom choices are meant for test machines.
Will a Tiny11 build still get Windows updates?
The standard Tiny11 mode keeps Windows Update. Core removes it for good, and big feature updates can bring some removed apps back.
Can I install Tiny11 on a PC without TPM 2.0?
Usually, yes, since the build removes the hardware checks. The developer calls this best effort, so it may not hold on every new Windows release.
What happened to the PowerShell script?
The original scripts are still in the project. This WinUI app is a new rewrite that does the same job through a step-by-step window.
Download Tiny11 Builder 0.1.1 Preview and build your first ISO, or be the first to tell us how you got on.
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