Windows 11, while packed with features, comes overloaded with pre-installed apps, telemetry services, and components that can make you systems, especially in virtual environments or on older hardware, very heavy and unnecessary. Even for IT enthusiasts, having a clean Windows 11 ISO has become a struggle.
This bloat can lead to unnecessary resource consumption, privacy concerns, and slower boot times. That’s where tools like the Windows-ISO-Debloater come in handy. It is a simple PowerShell script that automates the process of stripping down a Windows 11 ISO, creating a clean installation ISO which does not carry on that unnecessary stuff. You can then reduce the deployment times, and save time by not “cleaning” your Windows 11 once you install it.
As someone who’s dealt with countless Windows deployments in VMware setups, I’ve seen how debloating can transform a sluggish OS into a responsive one. In this post, I’ll dive into the technical details of using Windows-ISO-Debloater, walk through its setup and customization, and compare it to other popular methods like Tiny11 Builder and FlyOOBE that I wrote about recently here on StarWind blog.
Understanding Windows 11 Bloat and Why Debloat
Windows 11 includes a host of built-in apps and features that many users never touch: games like Candy Crush, media tools like Windows Media Player, and services tied to telemetry and AI. These elements not only inflate the ISO size but also run background processes that eat up CPU, RAM, and disk space. Debloating removes these, resulting in:
- Faster Installations – A smaller ISOs mean quicker deployment in VMs or physical machines. (You still need Internet connection, and the updates will gest pulled, however you can bypass online account necessity).
- Improved Privacy – Disabling telemetry reduces data sent to Microsoft.
- Resource Efficiency – Ideal for low-spec hardware or virtualized environments.
- Customization – Bypass hardware checks like TPM 2.0 for broader compatibility.
However, debloating isn’t without risks – removing core components can break functionality, so always test in a test VM first.
Tools like Windows-ISO-Debloater make this process scriptable and reversible through edits.
Introducing Windows-ISO-Debloater
Hosted on GitHub, this open-source PowerShell script targets Windows ISOs directly, modifying them before installation. (By running the script, you’ll create a new copy of this ISO so your original ISO will stay unaffected).
It uses built-in Windows tools like DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) to mount, edit, and repackage the image.
Unlike post-install debloaters, it creates a clean slate from the start, which is perfect for mass deployments.
Key Features and Technical Breakdown
The script focuses on automation with customizable arrays for removal:
- AppX Package Removal – Targets pre-installed apps via patterns in $appxPatternsToRemove. Examples include Spotify, TikTok, and Disney+. It uses Get-AppxProvisionedPackage and Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage cmdlets.
- Capabilities and Features – Strips optional Windows features like Windows Fax and Scan or language packs using $capabilitiesToRemove and DISM’s /Remove-Capability.
- System Packages – Removes core components such as OneDrive or Microsoft Edge with $windowsPackagesToRemove and /Remove-Package.
- Telemetry and Privacy Tweaks – Disables data collection services and UI elements.
- Driver Integration – Optionally adds drivers (e.g., Intel RAID) from a Drivers/ folder using DISM’s /Add-Driver.
- ISO Compression and Bypasses – Converts to ESD format for smaller files and skips TPM/hardware checks via registry tweaks in the mounted image.
- OOBE Customization – Integrates an autounattend.xml file to automate the Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE), enabling user folders or bypassing account setup.
Under the hood, it mounts the ISO with Mount-DiskImage, extracts editions using Get-WindowsEdition, and rebuilds with oscdimg.exe (downloaded from Microsoft if needed) or the experimental IMAPI2FS COM interface.
It’s GPL-3.0 licensed, ensuring you can modify it freely.
Tested on Windows 11 24H2 (build 26100.1742) and Windows 10 22H2, it requires admin privileges and PowerShell. No internet beyond initial tool downloads. (The 25H2 needs Internet access).
Step-by-Step Usage
1. Download and Prepare: Grab the script from GitHub: https://itsnileshhere.github.io/Windows-ISO-Debloater
Have your Windows 11 ISO ready (download from Microsoft).
2. Run Interactively: Execute .\isoDebloaterScript.ps1 as admin. It prompts for ISO path, edition (e.g., Pro), and options like removing Edge or enabling ESD compression.
3. Automated Mode: For scripting, use flags: .\isoDebloaterScript.ps1 -noPrompt -isoPath “C:\win11.iso” -winEdition “Pro” -outputISO “C:\debloated.iso” -EDGERemove yes -AIRemove yes -TPMBypass yes.
4. Customize: Edit the script’s arrays to fine-tune removals. For example, add patterns to $appxPatternsToRemove for specific apps.
5. Output and Install: The result is a bootable ISO. Burn to USB with Rufus or mount in VMware for testing.
When you run the script interactively, you are asked few questions about what you want to remove. Example below.
Warnings: Back up originals, as modifications are irreversible without re-downloading. IMAPI2FS may fail on some systems.
Note: In my testing I was using a 25H2 ISO and with the debloated ISO, during install, I was able to create a local account (the non-debloated kept logging me in with Second-factor authentication (2FA) directly without giving me option of a simple local account.)
Depending of the ISO you pick to load, the script leaves some options as “not found”. This is normal as not all W11 ISOs are equal.
In my tests, a debloated ISO shaved off 1-2GB and booted 20-30% faster in a VM. Also, the number of background processes running after the first boot is about 1/3 less than the original full-blown ISO.
Comparing Other Debloating Methods
While Windows-ISO-Debloater excels at ISO-level tweaks, alternatives vary in scope. Some focus on post-install, others on custom images. Let’s compare key players.
Tiny11 Builder: The Lightweight ISO CreatorTiny11 Builder is another PowerShell script for crafting debloated Windows 11 ISOs.
It removes bloat like Clipchamp, Xbox, and Weather, while keeping the system serviceable for updates and features.
A “Core” variant strips more, including WinSxS (Component Store), disabling updates (not good idea tbh) but ideal for testing VMs.
How It Works: Mounts the ISO, applies removals via DISM, and includes an unattended file for compact deployment and MSA bypass.
Bypasses hardware checks automatically.
Pros vs. Windows-ISO-Debloater:
- Simpler for beginners: Fewer flags, GUI wrappers available too
- Deeper core removals (e.g., Defender, Update).
- Supports any Windows 11 build.
Cons:
- Less granular: Fixed removal lists, harder to customize without script edits.
- Core version locks out post-install changes, risking instability.
- No driver integration or ESD compression out-of-box.
Tiny11 is great for quick, minimal ISOs (e.g., 25H2 builds), but Windows-ISO-Debloater offers more toggles for targeted debloating.
FlyOOBE: Post-Install and Setup Tweaker
FlyOOBE (evolution of Flyby11) focuses on OOBE customization during or after setup, not ISO creation.
It bypasses hardware restrictions, removes AI features (Copilot, Recall), and debloats apps like OneDrive post-install.
Version 2.4 enhances AI detection with RemoveWindowsAI integration.
How It Works: Runs as a toolkit for upgrades or fresh installs, offering interactive OOBE tweaks, privacy settings, and browser installs.
Uses registry edits and PowerShell for removals.
Pros vs. Windows-ISO-Debloater:
- Handles existing installs: No need to recreate ISOs.
- AI-specific focus: Strips modern bloat like Slopilot.
- Upgrades Win10 to 11 seamlessly.
Cons:
- Not ISO-centric: Changes apply after boot, potentially leaving remnants.
- Less for bulk deployments; more for individual tweaks.
- Risks breaking updates if over-debloated.
FlyOOBE complements ISO tools so you can use it for fine-tuning after a debloated install from Windows-ISO-Debloater too.
Other Notable Methods
- NTLite: GUI-based ISO editor for advanced customization, including component removal and driver integration. More user-friendly than scripts but paid for full features.
- Winhance or Win11Debloat: Post-install scripts for app removal via PowerShell. Good for quick cleanups but not ISO-focused.
- Manual PowerShell: Use Get-AppxPackage | Remove-AppxPackage for apps, but time-consuming without automation.
Enterprise Tools and Strategies for Large Organizations
For larger enterprises, debloating and deployment scale up significantly, shifting from scripts to centralized management. Microsoft Intune is a core tool, enabling cloud-based device management, app deployment, and policy enforcement via Endpoint Manager.
Other options include Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (formerly SCCM) for on-premises or hybrid setups, handling task sequences for OS imaging.
Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) and Windows Deployment Services (WDS) are free for creating and pushing custom images.
Debloating in enterprise often uses Group Policy Objects (GPOs) to disable telemetry, remove apps, and tweak settings across domains.
Intune policies can deploy PowerShell scripts like Win11Debloat for in-place removals.
For master images, enterprises use tools like MDT to build “golden” images with apps and drivers, then deploy via WDS or Autopilot.
Acronis Snap Deploy is indeed used by some for imaging, supporting offline/online creation and multicast deployment to multiple machines, especially in mixed Windows/Linux environments.
Final Words
Windows-ISO-Debloater stands out for its balance of automation, customization, and ISO-level efficiency, making it a top choice for IT pros building clean Windows 11 images. Compared to Tiny11’s simplicity or FlyOOBE’s post-setup flexibility, it offers granular control without sacrificing usability.
However, you should always test thoroughly and do not debloat too aggressively as you might lose needed features.
If you’re virtualizing Windows in VMware or Hyper-V, a debloated ISO can save resources and simplify management.
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