Tiny11 Builder takes an original Windows 11 ISO and creates a trimmed installation ISO. For most people, the regular tiny11maker.ps1 script is the sensible choice because its output can still receive updates and additional features. tiny11Coremaker.ps1 removes more, but is intended for testing or development—not a daily-use Windows installation.
“25H2 ready” needs a version-specific caveat: NTDEV’s canonical README says the builder can be used with any Windows 11 release, while a separate fork specifically says its version 2025.11.17 was designed and tested for 24H2 and 25H2. Neither statement guarantees that every ISO, edition, architecture, or PC will work.
What Tiny11 Builder does
Tiny11 Builder is a set of PowerShell scripts that modifies a Windows 11 image you provide and outputs a smaller installation ISO. It is not a separate Microsoft Windows edition. According to the NTDEV project README, the scripts use DISM recovery compression and include oscdimg.exe from the Windows ADK to create bootable ISO images. The project also includes an unattended answer file that bypasses Microsoft Account setup during OOBE and deploys Windows with the /compact flag. These are project documentation claims, not independent performance measurements.
The README lists removed bundled consumer apps such as Clipchamp, News, Weather, Xbox, Mail and Calendar, Edge, and OneDrive for the regular builder. It notes that Outlook and Dev Home may reappear, and that Winget may need updating before apps can be installed from Microsoft Store. It does not establish a measured amount of RAM, storage, or speed saved, so treat “lean” as a description of the modified image—not a guaranteed performance improvement.
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Choose between the regular builder and Tiny11 Core
| Option | Intended use | What it removes and what remains possible | VM suitability |
|---|---|---|---|
tiny11maker.ps1 (regular) |
Ordinary use, including a lean installation for a physical PC | Removes bundled consumer apps. The project says languages, updates, and features can be added after creation. | Can be used in a VM; choose this if the VM needs a serviceable Windows image. |
tiny11Coremaker.ps1 (Core) |
Quick testing or development | Removes substantially more, including WinSxS, Windows Update, and WinRE. Defender is disabled but, according to the README, can be enabled again. Languages, updates, and features cannot be added after creation. | The project describes it as potentially useful for VM environments, but not as a full Windows 11 substitute. |
NTDEV recommends the regular script for regular use. Core’s smaller footprint comes with a major trade-off: it is not a normal, serviceable Windows installation. As the project README puts it, “tiny11 Core is not a full Windows 11 substitute but a rapid testing or development tool, potentially useful for VM environments.” Do not select Core solely because you want the smallest possible ISO.
What “25H2 ready” means
NTDEV’s canonical README says its overhauled builder can be used on “ANY Windows 11 release,” language, or architecture. The README also mentions a release dated 2025-09-06, but does not provide a per-build validation matrix or separately identify which 25H2 inputs were tested. That broad statement is not a guarantee for every source ISO or resulting installation.
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A separate, community-maintained project, Tiny11 Maker Reforged, says its version 2025.11.17 was designed and tested for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2. That claim applies to the fork and its stated version, not to NTDEV’s canonical repository. The fork says it requires an original Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2 ISO, PowerShell 5.1, and administrator rights; it also says Core support was dropped.
Before building, check the exact repository, script version, and Windows ISO you intend to use. The two projects’ compatibility statements should not be combined into a universal promise.
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What you need to build the ISO
- An original Windows 11 ISO. The NTDEV README directs users to Microsoft’s website or Rufus for downloads. For Microsoft’s current download and installation guidance, see its Windows 11 download page.
- PowerShell 5.1, run as Administrator. The canonical README documents this setup.
- Drive letters for the mounted ISO and a scratch location. The documented scripts accept these with the
-ISOand-SCRATCHparameters. - A Windows SKU selection when prompted by the script.
The documented canonical-project setup uses this process-scoped command in an elevated PowerShell session:
Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process
The README says the Process scope leaves the original execution policy intact after that PowerShell session ends. Mount the Windows ISO in File Explorer, then run the selected builder script with the ISO and scratch drive letters and choose the SKU when prompted. The script produces tiny11.iso.
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Build and use installation media
- Get and mount the source ISO. Download an original Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft or use a source allowed by the project instructions, then mount it in File Explorer.
- Open an elevated PowerShell session. Use PowerShell 5.1 as Administrator. For the canonical project’s documented setup, run
Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process. - Run the mode that fits your use. Start the regular
tiny11maker.ps1for a serviceable installation, or usetiny11Coremaker.ps1only for the narrower testing or development use described above. Provide the mounted ISO and scratch drive letters with-ISOand-SCRATCH, then select the desired SKU. - Use the resulting ISO. You can attach it to a virtual machine or create physical-PC installation media. Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool instructions call for a blank USB flash drive of at least 8 GB and warn that its contents will be erased. A USB drive is not required to build the Tiny11 ISO itself.
Tiny11 does not change official Windows 11 requirements
Microsoft’s Windows 11 system requirements list a supported processor running at 1 GHz or faster with at least two cores, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage, UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability, TPM 2.0, DirectX 12-compatible graphics with a WDDM 2.0 driver, and a display larger than 9 inches with 720p resolution. These are Microsoft’s stated minimums, not a Tiny11 performance test or evidence that a modified ISO changes device eligibility. Microsoft also says Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro for personal use require internet connectivity and a Microsoft account during initial setup.
Microsoft cautions that installing Windows 11 on a PC that does not meet minimum requirements is not recommended and may cause compatibility problems. Its download guidance says such a device will not be supported or entitled to updates. A modified image or setup bypass does not make unsupported hardware officially supported or remove those risks.
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