New script significantly reduces Windows 11 installation size

With Microsoft adamant about not changing the hardware requirements of Windows 11, some users have turned to third-party projects like tiny11 – designed to remove hardware constraints, remove what are considered 'unnecessary' components to create a lightweight, less resource-hungry installation that can run on machines that are not officially supported. However, there is still room for optimization. For those who are not satisfied with the latest tiny11 release (which now supports Windows 11 version 25H2), you can try nano11 – a new script that is 'extremely' streamlined.

NTDEV, the creator of tiny11, has just released a new version of nano11 – a special script that goes even further in trimming down the original Windows 11. According to the developer, nano11 can reduce the size of a Windows 11 installation by less than a third, creating an ISO file that is just over 2GB. When combined with LZX compression, this ISO can give you a Windows 11 installation that is just 2.8GB in size after installation, in stark contrast to the nearly 20GB that Windows 11 normally takes up on your drive.

Of course, this 'extreme pragmatism' comes at the cost of many features. With nano11, users will lose many components, such as Windows Hello, unnecessary drivers, wallpapers, IMEs, and many others. More importantly, nano11 removes Windows Update, which means you cannot update or patch the operating system. In other words, nano11 is not suitable for everyday use. It is only intended for testing, to see how much Windows 11 can be 'squeezed' while still retaining the minimum core functions, creating a super-light operating system for technical people and those who love to tinker. In addition to its super small size, nano11 also significantly shortens installation time.

nano11 works with all versions of Windows 11. Like tiny11builder, it uses official Microsoft tools to strip every component from the original installer. You can download nano11 directly from GitHub .

Isabella Humphrey

Update 15 September 2025