Tiny11: the light version of Windows 11 for older PCs
Tiny11 is a lightweight version of Windows 11 that works on all computers, including old ones and those declared incompatible by Microsoft, due to its less demanding requirements. Although Tiny11 is an unofficial version, it can be very useful for those who do not have the latest equipment. In this article we will explain what Tiny11 is and how you can download it.
What is Tiny11 and what does it offer?
Tiny11 is a modified and, above all, reduced version of Windows 11. In this mod you will find, in addition to the Windows interface, basic functions and programs such as the Microsoft Store to download apps, Paint and the Notepad. On the contrary, it does not include the Microsoft browser, Edge (although you can download any other) and does without other programs, such as video and photo editors, OneDrive and Office. Of course, it has the advantage of working with a local account, that is, it does not require an internet connection and thus eliminates tracking problems.
What are the installation requirements?
Launched by the well-known developer NTDEV, to run Tiny11 on a computer you only need 2 GB of RAM, compared to the minimum 4 GB of the official version, and 8 GB of storage, compared to 20 GB of Windows 11. In addition, it does not require Secure Boot or the TPM 2.0 chip, essential in principle, which allows installing the Microsoft operating system on computers that are several years old.
To accomplish this feat, NETDEV started with a 22H2 version of Windows 11 Pro, removing everything it deemed useless: in particular, the many built-in and default-installed programs and services, the famous bloatware, which can be uninstalled manually in all versions of Windows using a specialized tool, Bloatbox. Result: an optimized system, without the plugins that hinder performance and without the control of the TPM chip, which prevents Windows 11 from working on many computers.
Thanks to the installer for Tiny11 ARM64, it's even possible to run Tiny 11 on Raspberry Pi 4, the most well-known single-board computer with 2GB of RAM and a processor that runs at 1.5GHz. However, it can be more of a curious experiment than an everyday use solution since the processes were not fast enough.
How to download Tiny11?
Best of all, you don't even need to use a Microsoft account to install Windows 11, although it does require a valid license key to activate and operate the system. That is, it is not a "free" pirated copy like the ones you can find anywhere on the net, especially on direct download sites. But we must also remember that, since it is not official, it is not certain that Tiny11 will accept Windows 11 updates — particularly security patches, essential to avoid scares — even if its developer claims otherwise. For the rest, and according to the testimonials and opinions of those who have tried it, this mod works wonderfully. If you're interested, you can download it from the Internet Archive for free and then copy the ISO to a bootable USB or DVD.
What risks are there?
The technique employed by NTDEV is not new: hackers have had a lot of fun modifying operating systems to suit their needs, and since the early 2000s there have been multiple custom versions of Windows XP, for example: XP Reborn, XP Pure Power, Windows XP Ultimate Edition. Most of them have been compatible with light configurations (64 Mo of RAM, for example).
In any case, these versions are not legal because they exceed the rights granted by the user license that stipulates that Microsoft is the sole master of the Windows code. Therefore, if you decide to use it, be aware of the risks involved, both in terms of the law and the security of your PC and your data: unless you are a developer yourself, it is difficult to know exactly what is hidden in these versions or modified, which can harbor spyware and other malware.
But whether it is Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 10 or the current Windows 11, all these modified versions prove at least one thing: it is possible to optimize Windows by getting rid of a large number of unnecessary and sometimes intrusive elements to make it compatible with modest computers. Microsoft should take note.