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In context: Microsoft released its Windows 11 24H2 update earlier this month with several AI features, including Windows Studio Effects, Live Captions, and more. However, the total install size of this new version is nearly 30GB, and it can take a long time to install.
Many users have taken to social media and online message boards to express their displeasure at having to wait for nearly two hours for the installation to complete, especially in the case of older devices.
This is where Tiny 11 (download it here) comes in. It is a lightweight version of Windows 11 designed to run on older devices, including those that do not officially meet the operating system's strict system requirements.
The project's developer, NTDEV, recently announced that the 24H2 update works with the Tiny 11 ISO builder, which can shrink Windows 11's install size to just 3.54GB using LZX compression. This is significantly lower than the 20 to 30GB of drive space needed for standard Windows 11 installations.
Well ,the good news is that you can still make the entire tiny11 fit on a DVD! (with LZX compression, of course).
– NTDEV (@NTDEV_) October 12, 2024
Behold, tiny11 based on Windows 11 LTSC 24H2! pic.twitter.com/tXS3Z8KoSw
To achieve the super-small footprint, Tiny 11 cuts out unnecessary libraries, apps, and services, offering an operating system that's much lighter on resources. This not only makes it possible to install the OS on officially unsupported devices, but also makes it run faster than the standard version, even on supported hardware.
As an example of what can be done with Tiny 11, NTDEV once showcased a Windows 11 installation ISO with a 100MB footprint by stripping down the OS to its text-only mode and getting rid of the GUI element. Once installed, the Windows 11 directories only occupied about 1.91GB, which is a fraction of what standard installations require.
Tiny 11 is a fantastic tool for people wanting to run Windows 11 on older hardware, but it isn't recommended for newer PCs. It lacks many of the critical features of Windows 11, including the ability to get direct updates from Microsoft, potentially leaving the system vulnerable to malware. However, it makes a lot of sense if you want a lean Windows 11 installation without all the unnecessary Microsoft services that can slow down performance.