Install Windows 11 with Minimal Bloat: Rufus Extended, Flyoobe, Tiny11

Windows 11 can be installed without the usual preinstalled apps and telemetry-heavy extras, but doing so cleanly and safely requires a mix of the right tools, careful preparation, and an honest appraisal of the trade‑offs: you can substantially reduce “bloatware” at install time using tools like Flyoobe, Rufus (with its extended installer options), or community builders such as Tiny11, but each approach changes upgradeability, support and security posture in measurable ways.

Background / Overview​

Microsoft ships Windows 11 with a set of inbox apps, automatic add‑ons and configuration defaults intended for broad consumer scenarios. Many power users and IT pros prefer a minimal baseline: fewer background services, no forced store app installs, and reduced telemetry. Community tools and scripts—some open source—let you tune the installer image before first boot so the system arrives lean rather than removing extras after the fact. These methods range from lightweight tweaks you can make with Rufus to full image rebuilds using Tiny11 or Flyoobe-powered customizers.
This article explains the practical paths, provides detailed step‑by‑step instructions for the most popular approaches, evaluates the security and support implications, and gives a recommended workflow and checklist to minimize risk while maximizing control.

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The Big Picture: Methods and tradeoffs​

• Rufus (extended Windows 11 mode)
• Pros: Quick, official ISO, creates USB that skips account/hardware checks; minimal tinkering.
• Cons: It’s a community workaround for unsupported installs; future Windows updates might tighten checks again.
• Flyoobe (GUI customizer)
• Pros: Fine‑grained OOBE (Out‑Of‑Box Experience) toggles, lets you toggle AI/telemetry/OOBE options before writing media.
• Cons: Still relies on official ISO and Rufus/Media Creation options for the actual image; requires learning the UI.
• Tiny11 / Tiny11core (community builder)
• Pros: Deep image pruning and high‑ratio compression can yield very small ISOs and minimal installations.
• Cons: Aggressive profiles may disable Windows Update, remove Defender or serviceability components—this reduces updateability and increases security risk if you don’t provide alternate patching/protection. Real outcomes (ISO sizes, installed footprint) vary by profile and compression flags. fileciteturn0file11turn0file18
• Post‑install cleanup (PowerShell, Talon, O&O AppBuster, winget)
• Pros: Conservative; keeps system serviceability intact while removing most inbox apps.
• Cons: Doesn’t prevent the Windows Setup from downloading store apps or provisioning some components during OOBE unless you block network access at install time. fileciteturn0file8turn0file16

Key guidance repeated across community documentation: if your goal is the cleanest possible first‑boot, prepare the media to prevent network/OOBE provisioning and use a local account during setup. Disconnect the target machine from the network (or use the “I don’t have internet” flow) and disable automatic re‑downloads of inbox apps. fileciteturn0file1turn0file8

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Before you start: safeguards and prerequisites​

• Backup EVERYTHING. Full image or file‑level backups are mandatory; many of these workflows wipe drives or produce non‑serviceable images.
• Gather tools:
• Official Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft.
• Rufus (latest release).
• Flyoobe (if you prefer a GUI-based OOBE customizer).
• Tiny11 builder (if you plan to construct a pruned ISO).
• USB drive (16 GB recommended).
• A second computer to prepare media, and an external backup drive.
• Understand your goals: Do you want a supported, updateable Windows 11 install with fewer apps (conservative)? Or a highly trimmed, single‑purpose image (aggressive) that might forfeit regular servicing?
• Make a recovery plan: create rescue media and a way to restore the original image if the trimmed install breaks driver compatibility or software expectations.

These precautions are not optional. Community builders explicitly warn that aggressive pruning profiles can remove servicing components and Windows Update access—trade those conveniences knowingly.

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Option A — Rufus + “Extended” installer: fast, low friction​

Rufus added an “Extended Windows 11 installation” option that automates several well-known workarounds (skip TPM/Secure Boot checks, offer local account flow). For many users this is the fastest way to avoid forced Microsoft account sign‑in and to prevent OOBE from fetching additional store apps while you install.
Step-by-step (conservative, recommended for most users):

• Download the official Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft.
• Download and run Rufus on a prepared Windows machine.
• Insert your target USB (16 GB+).
• In Rufus:
• Select the USB device.
• Click SELECT and choose the Windows 11 ISO.
• Choose the image option labelled for extended/compatibility (the Rufus UI shows options like “Extended Windows 11 installation (no TPM/no Secure Boot/8GB‑RAM)” — pick the one matching your intent).
• Let Rufus build the USB. fileciteturn0file17turn0file11
• Boot the target PC from the Rufus USB.
• When the setup reaches “Let’s connect you to a network,” either:
• Choose “I don’t have internet” and continue with a local account; or
• If the installer still routes you, use Shift+F10 and run OOBE\BYPASSNRO to re‑trigger limited setup and create a local account. fileciteturn0file1turn0file4
• Complete setup and do not connect to the internet until you’ve finished first‑boot housekeeping.

Why this works: Rufus automates registry and wrapper tweaks that previously had to be applied manually to bypass hardware checks or forced Microsoft account flows. It’s a practical, lower‑risk choice compared with rebuilding an ISO from scratch. But remember—Microsoft calls these unsupported for hardware‑compat bypasses, and future servicing could change behavior. fileciteturn0file11turn0file17

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Option B — Flyoobe: GUI-driven OOBE control (recommended if you want granular OOBE control)​

Flyoobe is an open‑source tool that modifies the Windows ISO* to adjust OOBE options—what runs when the system first boots and what provisioning happens. It can control AI features, telemetry toggles, and which partner apps get scheduled for download.
Practical Flyoobe workflow:

• Download Flyoobe from its GitHub release page and extract the FlyoobeApp ZIP.
• Run Flyo.exe and choose Upgrade (in‑place) or Reinstall (clean).
• If doing a clean install, download the official Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft and point Flyoobe at it.
• Under the “Rufus” or “Media Creation Tool” option, select your preferred image creation method; Flyoobe will hand off to Rufus or produce a modified ISO.
• In Flyoobe’s OOBE section, review every toggle. For “AI” or telemetry settings, use the check/toggle to turn off the selected items before finalizing.
• Finish and create the USB image, then install from that USB while keeping the target machine offline and using a local account.

Caveat: Flyoobe simplifies the granular selection of OOBE defaults, but it still relies on official bits; it’s a middle ground between Rufus’ installer wrapper and Tiny11’s deeper image rebuild. Always verify the Flyoobe release you download and run it in a controlled environment first. fileciteturn0file0turn0file8

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Option C — Tiny11 / Tiny11core: deep pruning (power user mode)​

Tiny11 is not a single binary but a community builder script and workflow that removes large swathes of inbox apps and reconfigures the image for maximum compactness. It uses PowerShell scripts (e.g., tiny11maker.ps1) to produce a trimmed ISO. This is the strongest way to remove bloat, but has the biggest consequences.
Typical Tiny11 workflow:

• Download an official Windows 11 ISO and mount it (double‑click in File Explorer).
• Download Tiny11 from the project repository and extract.
• In an elevated PowerShell session:
• Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted (or Bypass -Scope Process).
• Run tiny11maker.ps1 and point it at the mounted ISO drive letter.
• Choose the edition/profile: standard, core, or nano (each progressively removes more pieces).
• The script generates a Tiny11 ISO. Use Rufus to write that ISO to a USB and install. fileciteturn0file11turn0file18

Important technical notes and cautions:

• Tiny11 builders often use aggressive package removals and apply high‑ratio compression (LZMS/LZX). That can shrink ISOs to a few GB, depending on profile and compression flags, but precise numbers are configuration dependent—don’t treat any fixed GB claim as universal. fileciteturn0file11turn0file7
• Some Tiny11 profiles intentionally remove Windows Update, Windows Defender, or servicing components to achieve the smallest footprint. Those profiles are explicitly non‑serviceable and significantly increase long‑term security risk unless you substitute alternate update/AV solutions.
• For most users who need a secure, updateable machine, use the standard Tiny11 profile only after confirming what the script removes. Use core/nano only for single‑purpose devices isolated from critical networks. fileciteturn0file11turn0file18

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Post‑install: what to remove, what to keep, and how​

If you used a Rufus‑based or Flyoobe media, you’ll have a mostly standard Windows that simply didn’t provision extra apps during OOBE. You can then:

• Use Settings > Apps > Installed apps to uninstall store apps manually.
• Use PowerShell (admin) to enumerate and remove packages:
• Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Select Name, PackageFullName
• Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage (use carefully)
• Use community tools like Talon, O&O AppBuster, or IObit Uninstaller for UI convenience—create a restore point first. fileciteturn0file13turn0file16

Remember: some components (Edge’s core WebView runtimes, system servicing packages) are tightly integrated and cannot be removed safely without breaking functionality. The community consensus is that “removing Edge completely” is unrealistic for a fully functional, supported system—tuck it away or replace the default browser, but don’t expect to erase WebView or Edge update components without consequences.

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Security, licensing, and update implications (be explicit)​

• Unsupported installs: bypassing TPM/Secure Boot or using an image that removes servicing components may cause Microsoft to treat the device as unsupported. That could affect future feature updates or even security patches—plan accordingly. fileciteturn0file17turn0file18
• Windows Update & Defender: Tiny11 profiles that disable Windows Update or Defender create a maintenance gap. If you disable these, you must have an alternative patching and protection strategy (e.g., isolated network, third‑party AV, manual patching).
• Driver compatibility: aggressive removals can also strip drivers or language packs. If the target hardware relies on OEM drivers, test thoroughly before wide deployment.
• Warranty & enterprise support: running a community‑modified image on OEM hardware could impact manufacturer support or corporate compliance—treat such installs as outside standard support channels.

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Practical checklist: clean install without bloat (recommended conservative workflow)​

• Backup system and data; export licences, product keys, and browser bookmarks.
• Download official Windows 11 ISO and verify checksum (if available).
• Choose method:
• Rufus (Extended mode) for fast, low‑risk minimal provisioning.
• Flyoobe for finer OOBE control before media creation.
• Tiny11 only if you understand the servicing trade‑offs and need extreme minimalism. fileciteturn0file17turn0file0turn0file11
• Use Rufus or Flyoobe to create the USB. Disable network at first boot.
• At OOBE, choose “I don’t have internet” or use OOBE\BYPASSNRO if needed.
• Create a local account and complete setup offline.
• Post‑install: install drivers, set updates to manual (if required), uninstall remaining inbox apps conservatively.
• Reconnect to internet and immediately update drivers and the OS (unless you intentionally disabled Windows Update—then follow your alternate patching plan).
• Create an image backup of the freshly configured system for quick recovery.

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Quick tips and troubleshooting​

• If setup insists on a Microsoft account and you can’t use Rufus or OOBE tricks, press Shift+F10 at the network screen and run OOBE\BYPASSNRO to return to the limited setup flow. fileciteturn0file1turn0file4
• To speed installations across many machines, build a single customized ISO and deploy with PXE/iVentoy or image‑based tools—this reduces repetitive manual steps.
• Verify each community tool release and run it on a test machine first. Community scripts evolve; read their README and change logs before running. fileciteturn0file11turn0file18

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What claims to trust — and which to treat with caution​

• Trust: Rufus’ extended installer and wrapper options have been widely reported by multiple independent community writeups to skip TPM/Secure Boot checks and alter the account flow. That behavior is consistent across numerous reports. Use Rufus when you want a supported ISO with installer tweaks and minimal risk. fileciteturn0file17turn0file11
• Caution: Claims of a single fixed ISO or installed footprint (for example, “Tiny11 always produces a 3.54 GB ISO”) are configuration dependent. Tiny11 outputs depend on chosen profile, included components and compression flags—results vary by build. Treat any specific size claim as an example, not a guarantee. fileciteturn0file7turn0file11
• Caution: Removing Edge/WebView or deeply integrated components may break third‑party apps or UWP/WebView‑dependent features. Expect some apps (or Windows features) to misbehave if core platform components are stripped.

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Verdict and recommendation​

For most enthusiasts and IT pros seeking a reliable, low‑bloat Windows 11 install while retaining updateability and security, the best balance is:

• Use Rufus (extended installer) or Flyoobe to prevent provisioning and forced Microsoft account prompts at OOBE, keep the system offline for first‑boot, and then perform a measured post‑install cleanup (PowerShell, Talon, O&O AppBuster) to remove remaining inbox apps. This keeps Microsoft servicing intact while preventing the worst of the out‑of‑box additions. fileciteturn0file17turn0file0turn0file8

Only choose Tiny11/core/nano profiles if you fully understand and accept the consequences: non‑serviceable images, manual patching, and potential instability on some hardware. Use those builds for single‑purpose devices (kiosks, disposable VMs, test rigs) rather than primary workstations that must stay patched and secure. fileciteturn0file11turn0file18

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Final checklist (printable)​

• [ ] Full backup and recovery media created
• [ ] Official Windows 11 ISO downloaded
• [ ] Rufus latest installed (or Flyoobe/Tiny11 downloaded)
• [ ] Modified USB created and tested on a non‑production machine
• [ ] Target PC offline during install; choose local account
• [ ] Drivers installed and system imaged after setup
• [ ] Windows Update & security plan confirmed (especially if using Tiny11)

Installing Windows 11 without bloat is entirely achievable and can produce a faster, quieter, more private system—provided you prepare, choose an approach that matches your needs, and accept the maintenance tradeoffs inherent in any community‑modified or deeply pruned OS image. fileciteturn0file8turn0file11turn0file17

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Source: Guiding Tech How to Install Windows 11 Without Bloatware