Finally: Windows 11 slim without annoying Microsoft tools

If you are looking for a way to enjoy the benefits of Windows 11 Without the bloatware and unwanted features that Microsoft includes, you're in luck. In this blog post, I'll show you how to create a slim, custom version of Windows 11 that only includes the tools and settings you need.

Windows 11 is the latest operating system from Microsoft and comes with many new and improved features, such as a redesigned Start menu, a new taskbar, widgets, instant layouts, and more. However, it also comes with many pre-installed apps and services that you may not want or need, such as Cortana, OneDrive, Skype, Microsoft Edge, Bing, Xbox, and more. These applications and services can take up valuable disk space, consume system resources, slow performance, and compromise your privacy.

Fortunately, there is a way to get rid of these unwanted components and create a slim, optimized version of Windows 11 that suits your preferences and needs. The process involves using a free tool called NTLite, which allows you to customize and modify various aspects of Windows 11 before installing it on your computer. With NTLite, you can remove unwanted features, drivers, updates, languages, and more. You can also add your own drivers, updates, configurations, registry settings, and more. You can even integrate your own applications and programs on the installation media.

In this blog post, I will walk you through the steps to create a Windows 11 thin using NTLite. You will need the following:

– A Windows 11 ISO file. You can download it from the Microsoft website or use the media creation tool to create one.

– A USB flash drive or DVD with at least 8 GB of space. You will use this to create bootable installation media.

– A computer running Windows 10 or Windows 11. You will use it to run NTLite and customize the Windows 11 ISO file.

– A backup of your important data. This is always recommended before making any changes to your system.

These are the steps to follow:

1. Download and install NTLite from its official website. You can use the free version for basic customization or purchase the paid version for more advanced features.

2. Launch NTLite and click the “Add” button in the upper left corner. Select “Images Folder” and browse to the location where you saved the Windows 11 ISO file. NTLite will extract the contents of the ISO file to a temporary folder and upload it as an image.

3. Select the Windows 11 edition you want to customize from the list in the left pane. You can view the details of each edit in the right panel.

4. Click the “Delete” tab at the top. Here you can see all the components that you can remove from Windows 11. They are categorized into different sections such as Apps, Drivers, Features, Services, etc. You can expand each section and select the components you want to remove by checking the boxes next to them. You can also use the search box in the upper right corner to search for specific components by name or keyword.

5. As you select each component, you will see its description and impact in the bottom panel. You will also see a warning icon if removing a component may cause problems or dependencies with other components. You can hover over the icon to see more details. Be careful not to remove any essential components that may affect the functionality or stability of Windows 11.

6. Once you have selected all the components you want to remove, click the “Apply” button in the bottom right corner. NTLite will ask you to commit your changes and show you an overview of what will be removed and what will be kept. Click "Yes" to continue.

7. NTLite will begin removing the selected components from the image. This may take some time depending on how many components you have selected and their size.

8. After removing the components, you can click the “Post-configuration” tab at the top. Here you can add your own drivers, updates, settings, registry settings, scripts, wallpapers, themes, icons, etc. to the image. You can also integrate your own applications and programs into the installation media using the “Add Application” button on

the lower left corner.

9. Once you've added everything you want to include in your Windows 11 slim image,

Click the “Apply” button again to save the changes.

10. Click the “Create ISO” button on

in the top right corner to create a new ISO file from your custom image.

11. Select a destination folder for your new ISO file and click "OK." NTLite will start creating

the ISO file, which may take some time depending on its size.

12. Once the ISO file is created, you can use it to create a bootable USB flash drive or DVD using a tool like Rufus or the Windows USB/DVD Download Tool.

13. Now you can use the bootable media to install your customized slim Windows 11 on your computer. Enjoy!

As you may have heard, Microsoft is making some changes to Windows 11 and Windows 10 to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in the European Economic Area (EEA). This is a new regulation that aims to promote fair and open competition in the digital sector. One of the implications of this regulation is that Microsoft will no longer force users to use its own products, such as Bing or Edge, as the default search engine or browser on Windows devices. Instead, users will have the option to choose their preferred alternatives and even uninstall Microsoft products entirely.

This is a big problem for many Windows users who value their freedom of choice and want to customize their devices to their preferences. However, this change is not yet available to everyone. Microsoft has announced that it will release a preview update for Windows 11, version 23H2, in the release preview channel (build 22631.2787), which will include the changes required by the DMA. This update will gradually roll out to preview devices over the coming weeks. For Windows 10 users, the preview update will arrive later.

The final deadline for Microsoft to comply with the DMA is March 6, 2024. By then, all PCs running Windows 10, version 22H2 and Windows 11, version 23H2 in the EEA will be updated to reflect the new options and settings. This means that from March 2024, all EU users will be able to permanently remove Bing or Edge from their devices if they wish. This is a significant change from the current situation, where these applications are deeply embedded in the system and cannot be easily uninstalled.

This blog post is based on information provided by the “Windows Insider Program” team in this post: https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/11/15/annunciando-windows-11-version -23h2 -preview-update-for-release-preview-channel/. It also cites analysis from Zac Bowden, senior editor at Windows Central, who confirmed that Windows 10 users will also benefit from this change:

Starting in March 2024 you will be able to delete these applications

The reader of the blog post will find out what this really means in the next paragraph. In the future, Windows will clearly differentiate between components that are essential to the functionality of the Windows operating system and apps/apps in its Settings menu and Start menu. The latter are not absolutely necessary for Windows to work. Additionally, the search function will mark system components with the addition “System”.