Last Updated on May 9, 2026
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.
This custom ISO will also have a built-in local account, so you will not need to configure Windows to use an online Microsoft account during setup.
Running the Chris Titus Tech WinUtil App
To create this custom debloated Windows ISO file, we will be using the Chris Titus Tech WinUtil application.
You can either run the app via PowerShell for free or download the executable version for $10 to support the developer.
To use the free PowerShell method, you will need to open an administrative PowerShell window on your computer.
Simply type or copy and paste in the following command and press Enter:
irm “https://christitus.com/win” | iex
This command will download and open the WinUtil application automatically.
This powerful tool can be used for much more than just making a debloated Windows installation ISO file.
To see how the application works for debloating an existing installation of Windows, check out our other video tutorial!
Configuring Your MicroWin ISO Options
To start the ISO creation process, click on the MicroWin tab located at the top of the WinUtil application.
To proceed, you will either need to have a standard Windows ISO file already downloaded to your computer, or you can have the tool download one for you.
Just keep in mind that if you choose to download one during the process, it will take a bit longer to complete.
You will need to choose the option to use your own ISO file or get the newest ISO 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 on your hard drive and select it.
You can then switch your view back to the PowerShell window to see the live progress of the extraction.
Once this first step is complete, you will see a message in PowerShell that says “Check the UI for further steps!!!”
This prompt is simply telling you to switch back to the main WinUtil app window for the next step.
Setting Up Your Built-In Local Admin Account
Next, you can choose which exact version of Windows you want to install, such as Pro, Home, or Education.
You can also have the app create a new local admin account for the Windows installation right here.
This specific user account will be configured and logged in automatically after Windows finishes installing.
You can even leave the password box completely blank if you do not want the user to have a password at all.
If you have any specific drivers that you might need for your hardware, you can inject them directly into the new ISO file using this menu as well.
After you have everything configured to your liking, click on the Start the process button at the bottom.
You will be asked where you want to save your new debloated Windows ISO image file.
This will not replace or modify your existing ISO file, but rather create a brand new one.
Monitoring the Automated Debloating Process
The utility will then mount your current Windows ISO file so it can use the raw data contained within it to build your new custom ISO file.
You can go back to the PowerShell window and see exactly what is being done during the creation process.
It will do things such as instantly remove unnecessary Windows features and rip out many of the built-in UWP applications.
Once the modification process is complete, it will dismount your Windows image.
It will then write some final files to the image and perform an automated cleanup process to finalize the build.
Installing Your Clean Windows Operating System
You should now have your new custom debloated Windows installation ISO file fully configured and ready to use.
You can use a tool such as Rufus or Ventoy to flash this image onto a drive and create your bootable USB flash drive.
The process for installing Windows will be exactly 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, completely bypassing the forced Microsoft Account screen!
Once you are logged in, you will have your perfectly clean, debloated desktop ready to go.
When you click on the Start button, you will see how clean the Start menu looks since there are only a very limited amount of core Windows apps installed.
You will still have full access to necessary things such as Notepad, Edge, and Photos.
You can also use the Microsoft Store at any time to quickly reinstall any of the specific apps that were removed if you change your mind later.
One massive added bonus of this debloated version is that it naturally restores the older, classic Windows 10 right-click menu, so you no longer need to click on “Show more options” to do your work!
Check out this article on how to create a custom debloated windows installation ISO file with a built in local account.
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