The Debloated Windows 11/10: Simplest One Ever

With each Windows update, Microsoft is pushing new and advanced features. But those updates are taking/consuming more and more RAM as well as storage.

And not every PC can survive those updates and run properly. Users are always searching for effective solutions to cope with these.

We at TechLatest are always trying to provide effective solutions. We have already covered a few solutions/projects like Ghost Spectre, Tiny11, and Atlas OS.

But today we are going to mention a very effective solution and as a matter of fact, this is an official Microsoft method. In this method, we are going to add an XML file named autounattend.xml to the bootable media device, and it will automatically be executed during the Windows setup.

What are Answer files (unattend.xml)?

“Answer files (or Unattend files) can be used to modify Windows settings in your images during Setup. You can also create settings that trigger scripts in your images that run after the first user creates their account and picks their default language.“

In simpler terms, the file contains a set of instructions and commands that will be executed while and after the Windows setup. If you need to read more about it, just visit this archive/guide from Microsoft’s website.

Debloated Windows 11/10 using Microsoft’s Official Method

Creating the autounattend.xml

The steps to create the autounatten.xml are simple enough only if you are from the tech field and you are fluent in Windows and XML. So, for 90% of the common users, there is a tool created by a fellow tech enthusiast to overcome this issue.

Follow the below steps to create the autounattend.xml,

1. Visit this website to access the tool.

2. Go through all the options and then check the one you need.
3. At the end of the page, click on the Download XML button.

Creating Bootable USB

Now that we have got the autounattend.xml file, we will have to add it to our Windows 11 or 10 and get started.

To do so, we have two different ways, first, we can add the autounattend.xml file after creating the bootable media or second, we can create a new ISO file that already has our autounattend.xml file and then create a bootable media using that ISO file.

Before going forward, we can download the official Windows 11 and 10 from the below links,

Method 1

In this method, we are going to create a bootable USB using Rufus and then copy-paste the above downloaded XML file into it.

1. Insert a flash drive, at least 16 GB.
2. Now, open Rufus to create bootable media for Windows 11/10.
3. Then, in the Boot selection section, select Disk or ISO image (Please select) from the drop-down menu, and click on the Select button.

4. The button will open File Explorer, navigate to the downloaded iso file, and select it.
5. And then click on the Start button.

6. A new Windows User Experience window will open, uncheck all the options, because if you check any option, Rufus will create a new autounattend.xml file which we don’t want.

7. The bootable media will be created in a couple of minutes.
8. Now, go to This PC and you will see the bootable media.

9. Finally, copy the previously downloaded XML file and paste it into the USB.

Method 2

In this method, we will modify the Windows iso to add the autounattend.xml file into it. And then from that new ISO file, we will create the bootable USB.

1. First, we need to download a tool named AnyBurn to modify the iso file.
2. Upon downloading, open the tool and click on the Edit Image File button.

2. Now, navigate to the iso file, select it, and then click on the Next button.

3. Click on the Add button.

4. Navigate to the downloaded autounattend.xml file and select it.

5. Finally, click on the Next button to start the process.

6. Now, select the location where you want to save the new iso file. And click on the Create Now button.

7. The process will be done in a couple of minutes.

8. Insert a flash drive, at least 16 GB.
9. Now, open Rufus to create bootable media for Windows 11/10.
10. Then, in the Boot selection section, select Disk or ISO image (Please select) from the drop-down menu, and click on the Select button.

11. The button will open File Explorer, navigate to the newly created file, and select it.
12. And then click on the Start button.

13. A new Windows User Experience window will open, uncheck all the options, because if you check any option, Rufus will create a new autounattend.xml file which we don’t want.

14. The bootable media will be created in a couple of minutes.

Installing the Debloated Windows 11/10

1. Restart your PC, and while booting, before the Windows logo, tap the Boot Menu key to open it.

Brand	Assigned Boot Menu Key
Acer	F12
Asus	Esc or F8
Dell	F12
HP	Esc or F9
Lenovo	F12, F8, F10
Other	Esc or F1-F12

2. You see a screen with a list of drives, choose the one you inserted/plugged in, and hit Enter.
3. Then the Windows logo will appear on the screen for a while; if you see the animated dots, it means everything is fine.

4. Next, you will be asked to select your Language, Time, and Keyboard method, and after configuring all these things, Click Next.

5. Now click on Install Now.

6. Now, the Windows 11 setup will ask you to enter the Product Key; if you have a Windows 11 product key, proceed to enter it. Otherwise, click on “I don’t have a key” or “Do this later.”

7. Now setup will ask you to choose the correct edition of which you have a License, either Home or Pro. Make sure to enter the correct edition. If you choose the wrong edition, you must perform a clean install again.

8. Accept the license terms. To do so, check the box in front of “I accept the license terms.”
9. Click Next.
10. Click Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
11. Select the drive and then click Next. [If there are multiple partitions, select each from the bottom, then click to delete until only one unallocated drive is left]
12. Select the unallocated drive list; Click New > Apply > OK.
13. Select the Primary partition from multiple partitions, and click Next.
14. Just wait for a few seconds while Windows installs.

15. When all this setup is completed, Windows will reboot into the setup automatically.

Using the Debloated Windows 11/10

As soon as the PC restarts, you will be welcomed to the usual Windows setup. Go through all the basic info and setups like System Name, Location, Time Zone, etc.

When you first visit the desktop/homepage, the script will automatically restart after the completion. After the restart, you are good to go.

You will notice that there are literally no apps on the system not even a web browser. For your help, there is a small script on the desktop named LAUNCH-CTT-WINUTIL. Open it and install the tools you need.

General FAQs

More Downloads

• [Download] Atlas OS, a Modified Gaming-Focused Windows 11
• Download and Install Tiny11 on Low-End PCs (23H2 Update)
• Ghost Spectre Windows 11 Superlite Version (23H2 – 2023 Update)