How to use Tiny11 Builder to create custom Windows 11 ISO without junk apps

You can now create a custom ISO file to perform a true clean installation of Windows 11 without the extra apps.

Tiny11 Builder script
Tiny11 Builder script / Image: Mauro Huculak

UPDATED 5/3/2024: You can use the “Tiny11 Builder” script to create a custom debloated ISO file of Windows 11, and in this guide, I will show you how to complete this process. In a never-ending quest, Microsoft keeps adding features to its operating system to the point that a clean installation seems to have lost its meaning since the setup installs many default apps, forces you to sign in with a Microsoft account, and pushes a lot of unwanted advertisements out of the box, and this is when the Tiny11 Builder script comes in handy.

Tiny11 Builder is a third-party script created by X user @NTDEV_ that grabs the official Windows 11 ISO and reprocess it to remove any apps you may consider junk (such as Clipchamp, News, Weather, Xbox, Get Help, Get Started, Media Player, Quick Assist, OneDrive, and even Microsoft Edge) from the image. It also uses the unattended answer file to skip the Microsoft account requirement and deploy the image with the “compact” flag to make it smaller. This allows you to perform a truly clean installation of the operating system.

In the past, I remember the developer publishing a new “Tiny11” ISO for every new version of Windows 11, but for more transparency to eliminate worries about using installation media modified by a third party, you can now use the open-source script that anyone can access to understand how it works. Furthermore, the script only uses Microsoft tools (no external tools involved), including Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) and the Oscdimg executable that is part of the Windows ADK to create bootable ISO files.

In this guide, I will teach you the steps to create a trimmed-down custom image that installs Windows 11 without the extra unnecessary apps.

Warning: Although you can access the script to understand how it works, you will still modify the original installation image, which may also introduce some installation issues. As such, use these steps at your own risk.

Create Windows 11 ISO without default apps using Tiny11 Builder

To create a Windows 11 ISO file with the Tiny11 Builder script, use these steps:

  1. Open Microsoft Support website.

  2. Select the Windows 11 option under the “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO)” section.

    Windows 11 22H2 ISO download option

  3. Click the Download button.

  4. Select the installation language.

    Windows 11 install language

  5. Click the Confirm button.

  6. Click the Download button to save the Windows 11 ISO file.

    Windows 11 22H2 ISO direct download

  7. Open Tiny11Builder GitHub page.

  8. Click the latest zip file available under the “Assets” section.

    Tiny11 Builder zip download

  9. Save the file containing the script on your computer.

  10. Open the folder location.

  11. Select the Tiny11Builder-main-zip file.

  12. Click the Extract all button.

    Tiny11 Builder extract zip

  13. Click the Extract button.

  14. Open File Explorer.

  15. Open the Windows 11 ISO folder location.

  16. Right-click the ISO file and choose the Mount option.

  17. Confirm the drive letter of the virtual drive where the ISO is mounted.

    File Explorer mounted ISO letter

  18. Open Start.

  19. Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and choose the Run as administrator option.

  20. Type the following command to allow the Tiny11Builder script to run on the computer and press Enter:

    Set-ExecutionPolicy unrestricted

    Unrestricted execution policy

  21. Type the following command to run the Tiny11Builder script and press Enter:

    & "C:\PATH\TO\SCRIPT\tiny11maker.ps1"

    Tiny11 Builder run script in PowerShell

  22. Type “R” and press Enter.

  23. Confirm the drive letter of the Windows 11 mount point and press Enter.

    Tiny11 Builder confirm drive letter

  24. Confirm the index number for the edition of the operating system to create the image and press Enter.

    Tiny11 Builder script OS index number

  25. Press Enter to complete the process and exit the script.

  26. Type the following command to set the more secure PowerShell execution policy and press Enter:

    Set-ExecutionPolicy Restricted

Once you complete the steps, the script will create a custom ISO file without the default apps inside the folder containing the “tiny11maker.ps1” file. You can then use these instructions to install Windows 11 using the Tiny11 ISO.

According to the developer, this script removes the Clipchamp, News, Weather, Xbox, Get Help, Get Started, Office Hub, Solitaire, People, Power Automate, To Do, Alarms, Mail and Calendar, Feedback Hub, Maps, Soujnd Recorder, Your Phone, Media Player, Quick Assist, Internet Explorer, Tablet PC Math, Microsoft Edge, and OneDrive.

It’s important to note that while this custom image helps you install the operating system without many of the default apps, you can also use the “Word” option to install Windows 11 without bloatware and use tools to debloat the operating system after the installation.

Ask in the section below if you have a comment or question.

Update May 3, 2024: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process. The developer also notes that the latest release of the scripts supports ESD (Electronic Software Download) files in addition to WIM files, and cleans up the remains of Microsoft Edge for a cleaner experience. The ESD file is the encrypted version of the Windows installation image.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].