A complete guide to installing Windows 11 IoT LTSC - a lightweight, bloat-free edition with no ads, no forced updates, and relaxed hardware requirements. Perfect for Windows 10 users whose devices don't meet standard Windows 11 requirements, or anyone seeking a clean, stable Windows experience without the bloat.

README.md

Windows 11 IoT LTSC: The Edition That Doesn't Suck

Stop chasing Windows 11 alternatives or experimenting with risky third-party builds to upgrade from Windows 10 or trying to debloat mainstream editions. The ideal solution is already available: Windows 11 IoT LTSC.

It's a lightweight, stable, and bloat-free edition of Windows 11 that's perfect for productivity, development, or even gaming without the unnecessary apps, ads, or forced updates found in mainstream editions. Best of all, if your PC runs Windows 10 well, it'll handle Windows 11 IoT LTSC just as smoothly, with no performance drop or compatibility issues.

In this guide, I'll walk you through everything you need to know about Windows 11 IoT LTSC: how to prepare your system, install the OS, and configure it for daily use. By the end, you'll have a streamlined Windows setup perfect for productivity, development, or even gaming without the baggage of mainstream editions.

At the time of writing, the latest release is Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024, based on Windows 11 version 24H2.

Warning

• This guide is intended for advanced users who are comfortable with installing operating systems and managing system settings. If you are not confident in performing these tasks, please seek assistance from a knowledgeable friend or professional. Always back up your data before proceeding with any installation or major changes to your system.
• I am not responsible for any loss that may result from following this guide. Proceed at your own risk.

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Table of Contents

• What Makes IoT LTSC Different?
• Prerequisites
• Backing Up Data
  • Free Backup Options
• Creating Bootable Installation Media
• Installing Windows 11 IoT LTSC
• Post-Installation Steps
  • Activate Windows
  • Install Updates
  • Manage Startup Apps
  • Adjust Privacy & Performance Settings
  • Restore Your Data
  • Enable BitLocker
  • Install Bing Wallpaper Service
• Installing & Updating Drivers
• DNS & DoH Configuration
  • Changing DNS Servers
  • Enabling DNS over HTTPS (DoH)
  • Verifying DNS & DoH
• Installing Latest UWP Apps
• Removing Legacy Apps
  • Using Control Panel
  • Using Settings
  • Using PowerShell
  • Deleting Manually
• Replacing Microsoft Edge
  • Installing Brave Browser
  • Tweaking Brave Browser
    • How to Apply the Tweaks
• Installing Office 365
• FAQs

What Makes IoT LTSC Different?

Originally designed for embedded and industrial systems, IoT LTSC has quietly become the go-to choice for power users seeking a lean, stable, and bloat-free Windows environment without compromising security or compatibility.

Unlike consumer editions, IoT LTSC comes without unnecessary clutter: no preinstalled apps, no ads, and no extraneous background processes. It also gives you full control over updates, allows removal of most features, and provides a long-term support lifecycle that ensures reliability for years.

Another advantage is its relaxed system requirements, which make IoT LTSC compatible with a wider range of hardware. This allows installation on older or less powerful machines without a significant performance hit.

Below is a comparison of the minimum system requirements for standard Windows 11 Home/Pro editions versus Windows 11 IoT LTSC:

Component	Windows 11 Home/Pro	Windows 11 IoT LTSC
Processor	1 GHz, 2 cores	1 GHz, 2 cores
RAM	4 GB	2 GB
Storage	64 GB	16 GB
Firmware	UEFI	BIOS or UEFI
TPM	TPM 2.0	Optional
Secure Boot	Required	Optional
DirectX	DirectX 12	DirectX 10 or None

Despite its lightweight design, IoT LTSC is fully compatible with modern hardware and software. You won't lose driver support, app compatibility, or essential features, it works just like regular Windows 11, minus the bloat, ads, and forced updates.

You'll continue receiving security updates for 10 years from the build release date, ensuring long-term stability. The main difference is that IoT LTSC does not include feature updates; Microsoft releases a new LTSC build roughly every 3 years.

If you want the latest features, you can upgrade to the next IoT LTSC release, but if stability is your priority, your current version will remain supported.

Prerequisites

Make sure your system meets the requirements for Windows 11 IoT LTSC. I've already covered the relaxed hardware requirements above, but you can always verify the latest details in the official Microsoft documentation. The good news is that if your PC runs Windows 10 well, it will almost certainly handle Windows 11 IoT LTSC without issues.

In addition to a compatible PC, you'll need the following:

• Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC ISO – download the latest version from here.
• USB flash drive (8GB or larger) – to create bootable installation media.
• Rufus – a free tool for creating bootable USB drives, available at rufus.ie.

Backing Up Data

Before installing Windows 11 IoT LTSC, make sure to back up any important data from your current system, including but not limited to application data such as password manager databases, browser profiles, game saves, and configuration files. The installation process can erase everything on your drive.

In some cases, IoT LTSC may create a Windows.old folder on your C: drive, even though it claims it won't. This folder contains data from the previous installation and only appears if the drive isn't formatted beforehand and even then, it's not guaranteed. Treat it as a bonus if it appears, but do not rely on it as your primary backup.

Not sure what to back up? The safest method is to copy your entire user folder (C:\\Users\YourUsername). This folder contains your personal files, documents, desktop items, downloads, and most application data.

For convenience, compress this folder into a single archive using a tool like 7-Zip with default settings which can also significantly reduce its size. In my case, by about 54% (124GB to 57GB).

During the archiving process, you may see warnings or errors about certain files. These are usually system-protected files or folders that Windows blocks from being archived. They're not important for your backup, so you can safely ignore these errors.

After creating the archive, it's strongly recommended to verify the archive's contents to ensure all important files have been properly included and are accessible. When storing the backup in a remote location, consider calculating and comparing the archive's hashes before and after transfer to detect any corruption.

Free Backup Options

• External Drive: Copy your data to an external hard drive, SD card, or USB stick (not the USB drive you plan to use for creating the bootable installation media).
• Smartphone Storage: Modern smartphones often have large storage capacities and USB 3.2 support, making them a convenient temporary backup solution with perfect transfer speeds.
• Unified Cloud Backup with Rclone: Rclone is a powerful open-source command-line tool supporting services like Google Drive, OneDrive, Proton Drive, etc. You can combine multiple free cloud storage accounts into a single virtual drive to back up large amounts of data without worrying about individual service limits.

Creating Bootable Installation Media

1. Rename the downloaded Windows 11 IoT LTSC ISO file to something simple, like Win11_IoT_LTS_2024.iso, and move it to an easily accessible location (e.g., your Desktop or Downloads folder).
2. Insert your USB flash drive into your computer. Ensure it has at least 8GB of storage and that you've backed up any important data on it, as this process will erase all contents.
3. Open Rufus as administrator and select your USB drive from the Device dropdown menu.
4. Click the SELECT button and choose the Windows 11 IoT LTSC ISO file you renamed earlier.
5. Make sure it matches the settings as described below, it can differ slightly depending on your system:
   • Image option: Standard Windows installation
   • Partition scheme: GPT
   • Target system: UEFI (non-CSM)
   • File system: NTFS
   • Cluster size: 4096 bytes (Default)
   • Volume label: (You can leave it as is or rename it)
6. Click START to begin creating the bootable USB drive. Rufus may prompt for Custom Windows installation options; you can uncheck all boxes as many of these options are not relevant for IoT LTSC.
7. Wait for the process to complete, then safely eject the USB drive.

Installing Windows 11 IoT LTSC

1. Insert the bootable USB drive into the target computer and restart it.
2. Enter the BIOS/UEFI settings. This is usually done by pressing a key like F2, F12, DEL, or ESC during startup; it varies by manufacturer and model. You can ask ChatGPT if you are unsure.
3. Disable Secure Boot if it is enabled; otherwise, it will block the installation.
4. Set the USB drive as the primary boot device in the boot order settings.
5. Save the changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI settings. The computer should now boot from the USB drive.
6. Follow the on-screen prompts to begin the Windows 11 IoT LTSC installation process. Be sure to delete any unwanted partitions.
7. Carefully select the correct edition "Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC" when asked as ISO contains multiple editions.
8. When prompted to enter a product key, select "I don't have a product key" to proceed with the installation. You can activate Windows later using the method described in the post-installation steps.

Tip

• Keeping the computer disconnected from the internet during Windows installation prevents the setup from asking you to sign in with a Microsoft account and directly lets you create a local account. It also stops Windows from checking for updates and downloading them, which speeds up the installation process.
• If you're prompted to sign in to your Microsoft account, you can bypass it by clicking Sign-in options and choosing Domain join instead to set up a local account.
• When asked to connect to a Wi-Fi network, click on I don't have internet to proceed without connecting.

Post-Installation Steps

After installing Windows 11 IoT LTSC, follow these steps to make sure your system is stable, secure, and optimized for daily use:

1. Activate Windows

• Make sure your PC is connected to the internet.

• Press Win + R, type powershell, and hit Enter to open PowerShell.

• Copy and paste the below command, then press Enter:

  irm "https://get.activated.win" | iex
  
  # Or, if above domain is blocked by your DNS/ISP, use DoH with curl:
  iex (curl.exe -s --doh-url "https://1.1.1.1/dns-query" "https://get.activated.win" | Out-String)

• The above command will open a new window as administrator, select "HWID - Windows" by entering its index (1 at the time of me writing this) and pressing Enter.

• This will activate your Windows installation absolutely for free and securely. You can verify activation status in Settings > System > Activation.

2. Install Updates

• Go to Settings > Windows Update and install all available updates, including optional ones (found under Advanced Options).
• This ensures you have the latest security patches and fixes for potential issues with peripherals.
• It may take some time, but it's strongly recommended.

3. Manage Startup Apps

• Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and switch to the Startup tab.
• Disable apps you don't need at startup to improve boot speed and overall performance.

4. Adjust Privacy & Performance Settings

• Review Settings > Privacy & Security to turn off telemetry or data collection features you don't want.
• Tweak Power & Sleep and Performance Options for smoother responsiveness, especially on older or low-spec hardware.

5. Restore Your Data

• Recover the files you backed up earlier. If you created an archive of your user folder, extract it back to the appropriate location.
• Check if a Windows.old folder was created on your C: drive during installation, it may contain files from your previous setup. Copy anything useful, then delete the folder to free up space.

6. Enable BitLocker

• If your system supports TPM, enable BitLocker to encrypt your drive.
• This provides extra protection in case of theft or loss, as BitLocker is disabled by default.

7. Install Bing Wallpaper Service

• Many users noticed that the Windows Spotlight feature is broken on IoT LTSC which means you won't get daily changing wallpapers from Bing on your lock screen or desktop.
• To fix this, you can install the Bing Wallpaper Service from Microsoft. It automatically updates your desktop background with new images from Bing.

Installing & Updating Drivers

Windows Update typically installs most drivers automatically, but it may not always provide the latest versions or the most compatible drivers, especially for gaming or specialized hardware.

To ensure your system has the most up-to-date and fully functional drivers, follow these steps:

1. Download Driver Booster from iObit's official website. This tool automatically scans your system for outdated, missing, or faulty drivers and provides a simple one-click way to update them, making it ideal even for non-technical users.
2. Open Driver Booster and click the Scan button. The program will analyze your system and list any drivers that need updating.
3. Click "Update Now" to download and install all recommended driver updates. You may need to restart your computer after the updates are installed.
4. For certain specialized or gaming-related drivers, Driver Booster may require a premium license. In such cases, you can also download the latest drivers directly from the manufacturer's website (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) to ensure full functionality.
5. Once all drivers are updated, Driver Booster can be uninstalled if you wish, as it is no longer required.

DNS & DoH Configuration

By default, Windows uses your ISP's DNS servers, which may not be the fastest or most private option. ISP DNS can be insecure, used for tracking, or even subject to censorship.

Switching to a reliable and secure DNS service like Cloudflare, improves speed, privacy, and security.

Changing DNS Servers

1. Open Settings > Network & Internet.
2. Click on Ethernet (or Wi-Fi > Hardware Properties if using a wireless connection).
3. Scroll down and click Edit button next to IP assignment.
4. Change the setting from Automatic (DHCP) to Manual.
5. Enable IPv4 and IPv6, then enter the following DNS addresses:
   • IPv4:
     • Preferred DNS: 1.1.1.1
     • Alternate DNS: 1.0.0.1
   • IPv6:
     • Preferred DNS: 2606:4700:4700::1111
     • Alternate DNS: 2606:4700:4700::1001

Enabling DNS over HTTPS (DoH)

DNS over HTTPS (DoH) encrypts your DNS queries, enhancing privacy and security. It prevents eavesdropping or manipulation of DNS data and can help bypass censorship without relying on a VPN.

To enable DoH:

1. Open Settings > Network & Internet.
2. Click on Ethernet (or Wi-Fi > Hardware Properties).
3. Scroll down and click Edit button next to IP assignment.
4. Change the setting from Automatic to Manual.
5. Enter your preferred DNS server addresses (as listed above).
6. Turn on DNS over HTTPS by selecting "On (automatic template)" for both IPv4 and IPv6.
7. Click Save to apply the changes.

Verifying DNS & DoH

To confirm that your DNS settings and DoH are working correctly, visit Cloudflare's DNS debug page.

Installing Latest UWP Apps

Windows 11 IoT LTSC does not include the Microsoft Store or any modern Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps by default and comes with only a few legacy apps which are just very older versions of modern UWP apps and can be uninstalled as discussed later in this guide.

However, you can manually enable the Microsoft Store and install latest UWP apps using the following steps:

• Open PowerShell as administrator and run the following command to install the Microsoft Store:

  wsreset -i

• Running the above command will exit immediately but it will download and install the Microsoft Store in the background. You should wait for 5-10 minutes (depending on your internet speed) before checking if the Store is installed.

• Once the Store is installed, you can open it normally from the Start Menu and sign in with your Microsoft account.

• After signing in, you can search for and install any UWP apps you need, such as:

  • Paint
  • Snipping Tool
  • Movies & TV
  • Windows Clock
  • Windows Notepad
  • Windows Calculator
  • Windows Terminal
  • Microsoft Photos

Removing Legacy Apps

Windows 11 IoT LTSC comes with far fewer preinstalled apps than mainstream editions, but you may still want to remove certain legacy apps which are just very older versions of modern UWP apps. Examples include: Paint, Notepad, Snipping Tool, Calculator, etc.

To uninstall these apps, you can use one of the following methods and use the next methods only if the previous one is not applicable or fails for some reason:

1. Using Control Panel

• Press Win + R, type appwiz.cpl, and hit Enter to open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
• Locate the app you want to remove, click on it, and select Uninstall.

2. Using Settings

• Press Win + I to open Settings.
• Navigate to System > Optional Features > View or edit optional features.
• Select the feature/app you want to uninstall and click Remove.

3. Using PowerShell

• Open PowerShell as administrator.

• Run the following command to list all installed apps:

  Get-AppxPackage | Select Name, PackageFullName

• To uninstall a specific app, run the following command, replacing PackageFullName with the actual package name from the list:

  Get-AppxPackage *PackageFullName* | Remove-AppxPackage

4. Deleting Manually

• Some legacy apps may not appear in Control Panel, Settings, or Get-AppxPackage. In such cases, you can manually delete their binaries.

• To locate the app's executable, search for it in Start Menu, right-click on the app, and select "Open file location". If it takes you to its shortcut, right-click the shortcut, open its properties, and click "Open File Location" again to reach the actual executable.

• Once you find the executable, you can delete it. You may need to take ownership of the file/folder if you encounter permission issues.

• To take the ownership, open PowerShell as administrator and run:

  takeown /f "C:\Path\To\App.exe"

Replacing Microsoft Edge

On Windows 11 IoT LTSC, Microsoft Edge comes preinstalled. While it is possible to uninstall Edge through Control Panel or Settings, doing so can cause problems with core system features like Widgets and certain UWP apps.

Equally important is Microsoft Edge WebView2. Many popular applications including Telegram, Adobe, Outlook, Zoom, OBS Studio and others depend on WebView2 to render web content. Removing it will break essential apps and system functionality.

I also strongly recommend not disabling or deleting MicrosoftEdgeUpdate.exe. This update process doesn't just keep Edge up to date, it also updates the WebView2 runtime.

Without it, WebView2 will stop receiving security patches, leaving your system vulnerable over time.

Installing Brave Browser

For users who prioritize privacy and performance, Brave Browser is one of the best alternatives. It blocks ads and trackers out of the box, includes built-in privacy protections, and typically runs lighter than Microsoft Edge.

Tip

Best Practice: Install Brave and set it as your default browser, but keep Edge (or at least WebView2 and its updater) in place to ensure system stability.

Tweaking Brave Browser

Although Brave is far more privacy-friendly than Edge or Chrome, it still includes a few features some users may consider bloat such as Brave Rewards, Brave AI, Brave News, Brave Talk, VPN, and Wallet.

These features can be disabled completely by applying Windows registry tweaks that enforce Brave policies at the system level.

How to Apply the Tweaks

1. Open Notepad.
2. Paste the registry keys (see below).
3. Save the file with a .reg extension (e.g., brave_debloat.reg).
4. Double-click the file and confirm to apply the changes.
5. Restart Brave for the changes to take effect.

Registry Keys:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\BraveSoftware\Brave]
; Disable Brave AI features
"BraveAIChatEnabled"=dword:00000000

; Disable Brave News
"BraveNewsDisabled"=dword:00000001

; Disable Brave telemetry and statistics
"BraveP3AEnabled"=dword:00000000
"BraveStatsPingEnabled"=dword:00000000

; Disable Brave Rewards
"BraveRewardsDisabled"=dword:00000001

; Disable Brave Talk
"BraveTalkDisabled"=dword:00000001

; Disable Brave VPN
"BraveVPNDisabled"=dword:00000001

; Disable Brave Wallet
"BraveWalletDisabled"=dword:00000001

; Force DNS-over-HTTPS with Cloudflare
"DnsOverHttpsMode"="secure"
"DnsOverHttpsTemplates"="https://cloudflare-dns.com/dns-query{?dns}"

If the above changes are applied successfully, Brave will show a message in the settings stating "Your browser is managed (brave://management) by your organization" and you can see enforced policies at Brave's policy page (brave://policy).

Installing Office 365

Installing Office 365 (now Microsoft 365) is straightforward and recommended, as almost all users, once in a while, need to use Office apps, even if only to view documents or for quick basic editing. You can download Office 365 for free by following the steps given below:

1. Download the Office 365 installer from here.

2. Run the installer and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.

3. After installation, you can activate Office 365 using the same activation script mentioned earlier for Windows activation. Press Win + R, type powershell, and hit Enter to open PowerShell.

4. Copy and paste the below command, then press Enter:

   irm "https://get.activated.win" | iex
   
   # Or, if above domain is blocked by your DNS/ISP, use DoH with curl:
   iex (curl.exe -s --doh-url "https://1.1.1.1/dns-query" "https://get.activated.win" | Out-String)

5. The above command will open a new window as administrator, select "Ohook - Office" by entering its index (2 at the time of me writing this) and pressing Enter.

6. This will activate your Office 365 installation absolutely for free and securely. You can verify activation status in any Office 365 app by going to File > Account.

After installation, you might see Office 365 processes running in the background even when no Office 365 apps are open. This is normal behavior as Office 365 uses background processes for features like auto-updates, cloud sync, and telemetry. If you find this concerning or if it impacts your system performance, you can disable these background processes by following these steps:

Stop the Microsoft Office Click-to-Run Service from running automatically:

• Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter to open the Services management console.
• Scroll down and locate the Microsoft Office Click-to-Run Service.
• Right-click on it and select Properties.
• In the Startup type dropdown, select Manual.
• Click Apply, then OK to save the changes.

Disabling scheduled tasks related to Office 365:

• Press Win + R, type taskschd.msc, and hit Enter to open the Task Scheduler.
• In the left pane, navigate to Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Office.
• In the middle pane, it will list all scheduled tasks related to Office 365.
• Right-click on each task and select Disable to prevent them from running automatically.

Warning

Preventing these background processes from running automatically, or permanently disabling them, may cause delayed startup times for Office 365 apps. Certain features may not function properly, and the apps may stop responding or crash entirely. If you encounter any issues, you can re-enable the services and tasks by following the same steps and restoring them to their original state. Therefore, disabling them is only advised when they significantly affect your system's performance.

FAQs

1. Is this guide sponsored or affiliated with Microsoft or any service mentioned?

No, this guide is independently created by me and is ABSOLUTELY NOT sponsored or affiliated with Microsoft or any third-party service mentioned.

2. I am unable to open certain files such as videos, images, or PDFs. How can I fix this?

Install the necessary UWP apps from the Microsoft Store as explained here. Then go to Settings > Apps > Default apps > Scroll down and click Choose defaults by file type and set your preferred apps for each file type.

3. My keyboard or other peripherals aren't working properly. What should I do?

Don't worry, this is common. Install all the latest Windows updates, including optional updates (found under Advanced Options). If the issue persists, update your drivers using Driver Booster as mentioned above.

4. Is the activation script used in this guide safe? Can I verify its authenticity?

Yes, the activation script used in this guide is totally safe. It uses well-known methods to activate Windows and Office 365 without any malicious intent. The script is open-source, and you can review its code on GitHub.

5. The Widgets option isn't showing on my taskbar. How can I enable it?

Widgets aren't included by default in Windows 11 IoT LTSC. To enable them, install the Windows Web Experience Pack from the Microsoft Store. After installation, restart your PC, then right-click the taskbar and open Taskbar settings to enable Widgets if it doesn't appear automatically.

6. System not scanning or connecting to Wi-Fi networks during initial setup?

This happens when the required network drivers are missing or not functioning properly. To temporarily fix this, connect your PC to the internet using an Ethernet cable or by connecting your smartphone via USB and enabling Hotspot > USB Tethering on your phone. Once you're online, complete the Windows setup, then follow the post-installation steps mentioned above to resolve the issue permanently.

7. I installed Microsoft Store, but now I want to uninstall it. How can I do that?

You can uninstall Microsoft Store using PowerShell. Open PowerShell as administrator and run the following command:

Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers *WindowsStore* | Remove-AppxPackage

Keep in mind that uninstalling Microsoft Store will prevent installed UWP apps from receiving updates.

8. Can I use Office 365 (now Microsoft 365) on Windows 11 IoT LTSC?

Yes. Office 365 works normally on Windows 11 IoT LTSC. You can install it using the method described above.

9. Is Windows 11 IoT LTSC suitable for gaming?

Yes. It fully supports DirectX 12 and runs modern games without issues.

10. Do I need to clean install Windows 11 IoT LTSC to move to a newer version?

Yes. In-place upgrades between LTSC versions aren't supported, a clean installation is required for new releases.