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If you have been using Microsoft Windows for any amount of time, you have most likely noticed how much extra stuff comes included with the operating system such as all the default Windows apps and other features. And as Microsoft comes out with newer versions of Windows or updates the current version, it only seems to get worse. And if you buy a computer with Windows already installed, then you will most likely have even more junk installed that you do not want or need.
What many people like to do after installing Windows is to “debloat” the operating system by removing apps and features that they do not need to streamline the way the OS works. But even if you use the Windows ISO file that you can download from Microsoft, it will still come with the bloatware included. In this article, we will be showing you how to create a custom debloated Windows installation ISO file that also has a build in local account so you will not need to configure Windows to use a Microsoft account.
To create this custom debloated Windows ISO file, we will be using the Chirs Titus Tech WinUitl application. You can either run the app via PowerShell for free or download the executable version for $10.
To use the PowerShell method, you will need to open an administrative PowerShell window and type (or copy\paste) in the following command.
Irm “https://christitus.com/win” | iex
This will then open the WinUtil application which can be used for much more than making a debloated Windows installation ISO file. To see how the application works for debloating an existing installation of Windows, check out this video.
To start the ISO creation process, you will either need to have a Windows ISO file already downloaded to your computer or you can download one during the process. Just keep in mind that if you download one during the process, it will take a bit longer to complete. To begin the process, click on the MicroWin button within the WinUtil application.
You will then need to choose the option to use your own ISO file or download one automatically depending on your situation. Once you make your selection, click on the Get Windows ISO button. If you are using your own Windows ISO file, you will need to browse to its location and select it.
You can then switch back to the PowerShell window to see the progress.
Once the first step is complete, you will see a message that says Check the UI for further steps which is telling you to back to the WinUtil app for the next step.
Next, you can choose which version of Windows you want to install (Pro, Home, Education etc.). You can also have the app create a new local admin account for the Windows installation that will be configured and logged in automatically after Windows is installed. You can even leave the password box blank if you do not want the user to have a password. If you have any drivers that you might need for your hardware, you can inject them into the new ISO file as well.
After you have everything configured, click on the Start the process button and you will asked where you want to save your new debloated Windows ISO image file. This will not replace or modify the existing ISO file but rather create a new one.
It will then mount your current Windows ISO file so it can then use the data contained within it for your new ISO file.
You can then go back to the PowerShell window and see exactly what is being done during the creation process. It will do things such as remove Windows features and many of the Windows built in UWP applications.
Once the process is complete, it will dismount your Windows image, write some files to the image and then perform some cleanup.
You should then have your new custom debloated Windows installation ISO file configured and can now use it to install Windows. You can use a tool such as Rufus or Ventoy to create a bootable USB flash drive.
The process for installing Windows will be the same as it is when using a standard Windows ISO file. But after the installation is complete, your new local account will be automatically logged on to the computer.
Once you are logged in, you will have your new debloated desktop and when you click on the Start button, you will see how clean the Start menu looks since there are only a limited amount of Windows apps installed. You will still have access to things such as Notepad, Edge, Photos and so on and can use the Microsoft Store to install any of the apps that were removed. One added bonus is that it uses the older classic Windows 10 right click menu, so you do not need to click on Show more options.
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