Windows 11 on 176 MB RAM: The Tiny11 Experiment

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Windows 11 Survives on an Ultra-Low-End PC With 176 MB RAM

A developer and blogger known as NTDev demonstrated a working version of Microsoft Windows 11 running on a machine with only 176 MB of RAM. A video sharing platform hosts the demonstration for viewers to verify the claim. This RAM amount is roughly one twentieth of Microsoft’s own suggested minimum requirements. To make Windows 11 usable on such a tiny system, NTDev focused on shrinking background processes and trimming nonessential features from the operating system.

NTDev has stated that the project routes around the full functionality of Windows 11 by cutting down both capabilities and drivers. Journalists note that a text-only version of Windows 11 could technically operate on as little as 96 MB of RAM, yet NTDev managed to keep the familiar desktop appearance intact while dramatically reducing resource needs. The result is a version described as Tiny11, intended to bring Windows 11 to devices with extremely limited memory.

Based on the published footage, tasks that involve small utilities and lightweight programs appear to perform smoothly without noticeable freezes. The creator emphasizes that the Tiny11 build prioritizes essential components, delivering a usable environment even on hardware far below the standard target. The Windows 11 edition is intentionally pared down to prioritize boot speed and essential service availability.

During a series of tests, the developer indicates that the stripped system begins with a command line interface rather than the full Windows Explorer interface. This conclusion emerged after a comprehensive examination of which drivers and system services are genuinely necessary to boot Windows 11. The approach goes beyond mere reduction in features; it involves careful consideration of the driver stack, startup services, and the minimal graphical and input subsystems required to present a usable workspace.

In the narrative around Tiny11, the focus is on practicality and education. The project illustrates how modern operating systems can be customized to run under constrained hardware conditions by identifying and omitting nonessential components. This kind of optimization highlights the trade-offs between user experience and hardware limits, offering a learning path for hobbyists and professionals interested in low-resource computing.

From a hardware-agnostic perspective, the Tiny11 experiment raises questions about future software design. It demonstrates that operating systems can be made leaner without losing core usability, provided there is a careful balance between performance, security, and compatibility. The video and accompanying notes show a setup that eschews traditional graphical acceleration in favor of streamlined processes, which can be valuable for education, testing, and niche deployments. In practice, Tiny11 serves as a case study in minimalism—how far a modern OS can go when freed from the usual ecosystem demands.

Overall, the Tiny11 project is an intriguing example of what is possible when developers probe the lower bounds of hardware capability. While Microsoft’s official guidelines target mainstream devices, NTDev’s experiment challenges the assumption that modern systems must demand abundant memory. It also invites ongoing discussion about how lightweight operating systems can coexist with rich user interfaces, offering a glimpse into potential future optimizations for ultra-portable machines and specialized environments.

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