UnattendedWinstall leverages Microsoft's Answer Files (or Unattend files) to automate and customise Windows installations.
It enables modifications to Windows Settings and Packages directly in the Windows ISO during setup.
- Provides transparency by allowing inspection of all changes in the answer file.
- Runs directly on official Windows ISOs from Microsoft, eliminating the need for unofficial sources.
- Uses a Microsoft-supported feature designed for streamlined mass deployment of Windows installations.
- Enables automated configuration across multiple devices, saving time and effort by eliminating repetitive manual setups.
Note
UnattendedWinstall has been tested and optimised for personal use. For those interested in customising further, create your own answer file following this video guide.
- Windows 10 or Windows 11
- (Tested on Windows 10 22H2 & Windows 11 24H2)
- (32-bit, 64-bit and arm64 is supported)
The UnattendedWinstall answer file comes with detailed descriptions for nearly all configurations and registry tweaks, which are available for inspection here on GitHub. For customisation, download the answer file and open it in editors like VSCode.
Click to Show
- Base Answer File Generation:
- Tweaks & Optimisations:
- Additional Tweaks:
- Bypasses Windows 11 system requirements
- Allows execution of PowerShell scripts by default
Sets all internet connections as metered by default. Saves data usage on limited data plans- Skips forced Microsoft account creation during Windows setup
- Removes preinstalled bloatware apps except Microsoft Edge, Notepad and Calculator
- Copilot and Recall is Disabled.
- Sets privacy-related registry keys to disable telemetry
- Limits Windows Update to install only security updates for one year
- Optimises registry with various optimisation and customisation-related keys
- Disables unnecessary scheduled tasks
- Configures Windows services for optimal performance
- Enables the Ultimate Performance power plan
To use an answer file, include autounattend.xml at the root of your Windows Installation Media to be executed during Windows setup.
Important
Ensure the answer file is named autounattend.xml; otherwise, it won’t be recognised by the installer.
Click to Show Instructions
-
Download the
autounattend.xmlfile and save it on your computer. -
Create a Windows 10 or Windows 11 Bootable Installation USB drive with Rufus or the Media Creation Tool.
Important
- Some users have reported issues with the Media Creation Tool when creating the Windows Installation USB. Use it at your own discretion.
- When using Rufus, don’t select any of the checkboxes in “Customise Your Windows Experience,” as it creates another
autounattend.xmlfile that might overwrite settings in the UnattendedWinstall file.
-
Copy the
autounattend.xmlfile you downloaded in Step 1 to the root of the Bootable Windows Installation USB you created in Step 2. -
Boot from the Windows Installation USB, do a clean install of Windows as normal, and the scripts will run automatically.
Click to Show Instructions
- Download the
autounattend.xmlfile and save it on your computer. - Download the Windows 10 or Windows 11 ISO file depending on the version you want.
- Download and install AnyBurn
- In AnyBurn, select the “Edit Image File” option.
- Navigate to and select the Official Windows ISO file you downloaded in Step 2.
- Click on “Add” and select the
autounattend.xmlfile you downloaded in Step 1, or just click and drag theautounattend.xmlinto the AnyBurn window. - Click on “Next,” then on “Create Now.” You should be prompted to overwrite the ISO file; click on “Yes.”
- Once the process is complete, close AnyBurn.
- Use the ISO file to install Windows on a Virtual Machine OR use a program like Rufus or Ventoy to create a bootable USB flash drive with the edited Windows ISO file.
Important
- When using Rufus, don’t select any of the checkboxes in “Customise Your Windows Experience,” as it creates another
autounattend.xmlfile that might overwrite settings in the UnattendedWinstall file.
- Boot from the Windows Installation USB, do a clean install of Windows as normal, and the scripts will run automatically.
Click to Show Instructions
- Download the
autounattend.xmlfile and save it on your computer. - Download the Windows 10 or Windows 11 ISO file, depending on the version you want.
- Download and install Ventoy to your desired USB flash drive.
- Prepare the folder structure:
- In your newly created Ventoy USB disk, create the following folders:
ISOandTemplates.
They should be at the root of the drive. - Inside of the
ISOfolder, create a new folder calledWindows. - Copy your Windows ISO files in the
ISO\Windowsfolder. - Copy your
autounattend.xmlinto theTemplatesfolder.
- In your newly created Ventoy USB disk, create the following folders:
- Start VentoyPlugson. Depending on your OS, the steps might differ.
- On Windows, run the
VentoyPlugson.exefile. - A new browser window should open up with a Ventoy web interface ready to go.
- Select the
Auto Install Pluginmenu from the list. - Click on the
Addbutton. - Select [parent] to make the whole Windows ISO folder benefit from the plugin.
- In the Directory Path, paste in the absolute path to your
Windowsfolder.
example:F:\ISO\Windows(ReplaceFwith your drive letter.) - In the Template Path, paste in the absolute path to your
autounattend.xmlfile.
example:F:\Templates\autounattend.xml(ReplaceFwith your drive letter.)
(PSA: If you have moreautounattend.xmlfiles, you can add them later on!) - Click on
OKand you should see a message saying that the configuration has been saved successfully. - Close the VentoyPlugson browser window and stop the VentoyPlugson application.
- On Windows, run the
- Boot from the Ventoy USB drive in the computer where you want to install windows.
- After selecting a Windows ISO to boot from, you will be prompted to boot with the
/Templates/autounattend.xmlfile. - Select that option and the
autounattend.xmlwill be automatically executed during installation.
- After selecting a Windows ISO to boot from, you will be prompted to boot with the
- Use the Chris Titus Tech Windows Utility (Video).
- No, in-place upgrades do not support answer files.
- Feature updates are delayed for a year; however, security and driver updates continue as usual.
Click to Show Instructions
If you’re unable to connect to the internet after installation, it’s likely because your Wi-Fi or LAN (Ethernet) drivers are missing. Windows sometimes doesn’t include all necessary drivers for network adapters, especially if they’re specific to your device.
To resolve this, follow these steps:
- Download your network driver from the manufacturer’s website on another computer with internet access. Look for Wi-Fi or LAN drivers specific to your device model.
- Transfer the driver to your Windows installation via USB drive.
- Install the driver on your Windows system and restart if necessary.
After installation, you should be able to connect to the internet.
Click to Show Explanation
I spent a lot of time trying to find a way to uninstall Microsoft Edge during Windows installation. However, it was challenging because of differences between Windows 10 22H2 and Windows 11 24H2. My goal is to use Microsoft’s supported uninstall methods, and I plan to add an easy Edge removal option in future releases.
In the meantime, if you wish to remove Edge after Windows installation, consider using this script (EdgeRemover).
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