A custom distribution of Microsoft's latest operating system reduces the Windows 11 footprint to roughly 8GB by stripping out Copilot, Edge, Teams and OneDrive. The project, called Tiny11, targets users who want a faster, leaner experience on older hardware or inside virtual machines without the usual software load.

What You Need to Know

Tiny11 is a third-party modification of Windows 11 25H2 that removes many built-in applications to shrink the install size to about 8GB. It still accepts normal Windows 10 or 11 license keys. Users should understand that the modified build does not receive official Microsoft updates, which may introduce security or compatibility risks. The project is best suited for offline environments, virtual machines or secondary devices where full support is not critical.

What Tiny11 Cuts

The stripped version eliminates several components that Microsoft bundles by default. The most notable removals include:

  • Copilot: Microsoft's AI assistant is absent from the build entirely.
  • Edge: The default browser has been removed to reduce bloat.
  • Teams: The collaboration app is not included in the base image.
  • OneDrive: The cloud storage client has been cut from the install.

By removing these and other components, Tiny11 achieves a dramatically smaller disk footprint than the standard Windows 11 installation, which typically exceeds 20GB.

Performance and Use Cases

The reduced size translates to faster installation times and lower resource consumption during operation. Users with aging laptops that ship with mechanical hard drives or limited storage can benefit from the lighter load. The build also works well in virtualized environments, where disk space and memory are at a premium. Tiny11 retains core Windows functionality and requires a standard Windows 10 or 11 product key for activation.

Why This Matters

The popularity of projects like Tiny11 reflects a growing frustration among power users and IT professionals with the increasing amount of preinstalled software in modern operating systems. Microsoft's push to integrate Copilot and other services has made Windows 11 heavier and more intrusive. Tiny11 offers a glimpse of what Windows could be without the extras. It also highlights the demand for user choice in software configuration. While not suitable for all users due to the lack of official support, the project underscores a broader desire for lighter, more controllable systems.