Nano11 is a lightweight version of Windows 11 designed to free up space on your hard drive. This ultra-compact solution is offered by NTDEV, which removes a significant number of unnecessary components.
Microsoft has now made Windows 11 its priority, rolling out the 25H2 update via ISO files. However, many users still hesitate to upgrade to the latest operating system from the Redmond giant, particularly due to its size.
Nano11 is an ultra-light version of Windows 11 of 2.8 GB
With the end of support for Windows 10 approaching and the operating system having released its final update, Nano11 is an ISO file that is only 2.8 GB in size, which takes up very little space on the hard drive. In contrast, typical installations of Windows 11 generally require 20 GB. Thus, performance on machines with limited resources is improved thanks to Nano11.
Of course, the 2.8 GB version of Windows 11 requires some sacrifices. For instance, Windows Hello, which recently received enhancements in an update, has been removed: biometric authentication through facial recognition or fingerprint scanning is no longer available. The PIN code functionality has also been removed, leaving only the traditional password as the method of login.
Moreover, Nano11 has also eliminated Windows Update to prevent automatic updates from being installed. This decision was made to avoid issues that many updates can cause, such as the problems affecting the SSD of Windows 11 since the August update. Thus, to avert any potential problems, Windows Update is absent, although this poses a significant security risk, as corrective updates are no longer easily accessible to ensure the PC’s protection.
How to install Nano11 on your PC? Here’s the complete guide
NTDEV is well aware that Nano11 is not designed for everyday use. It is intended more as a quick trial version or for use on virtual machines. It is especially suitable for older PCs that are unable to run Windows 11 due to its demanding hardware requirements. For instance, if an application or software is not compatible with Windows 10, Nano11 is the ideal choice.
Nano11 is available on GitHub and on the official website established by NTDEV. The installation process is very straightforward:
- Download the Windows 11 ISO from the official Microsoft website.
- Mount the ISO image by right-clicking on it and selecting “Mount.” Take note of the drive letter.
- Open PowerShell as an administrator.
- Run the following command to set the execution policy:
Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process - Navigate to the folder containing the script and launch it:
C:pathtoyournano11nano11.ps1 - Follow the prompts: provide the letter of the mounted drive and the Windows edition (SKU) to use.
- Wait for the process to finish: the modified ISO image will be generated in the same folder as the script, up to 3 times smaller than a standard Windows 11 image.
