● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 neutral
Developer Boots Windows 11 26H2 with 128MB RAM, 3.1% of Recommended Minimum
Key points
- Windows 11 26H2 booted with 128MB RAM.
- This is 3.1% of Microsoft's 4GB minimum requirement.
- Desktop, File Explorer, Start menu, and Notepad function.
- The system is "painfully slow" and not practical for use.
Windows 11 on Minimal RAM
NTDEV, known for the Tiny11 project, demonstrated running Windows 11 26H2 with only 128MB of RAM. This achievement is significantly below Microsoft's official requirement of 4GB of RAM for Windows 11.
Despite the severe memory constraints, the stripped-down installation managed to load the Desktop and File Explorer, access the Start menu, and run the Notepad application. The developer noted that the system operates very slowly, indicating it is a technical demonstration rather than a practical solution for older hardware.
Previous Experiments and Methodology
This is not NTDEV's first attempt to push Windows 11's hardware limits. In 2023, the developer ran Windows 11 with 176MB of RAM by trimming system components, drivers, and background services, using an IDE storage interface to reduce driver needs.
The specific details of components removed for the 128MB RAM test were not fully disclosed, but the project builds on years of similar experimentation with minimal Windows installations.
Other Stripped-Down Windows Projects
Last month, NTDEV also showcased a Windows 11 installation that fit into a CD-ROM-sized ISO file (under 700MB) using an upcoming Pico11 tool. This version retained a functional desktop and could run basic applications like Calculator, Settings, Notepad, and Paint.
That particular test was conducted on a virtual machine with 4GB of allocated RAM, where the operating system used approximately 883MB.
Implications and Purpose
These experiments highlight the extent to which Windows can be stripped down while retaining core functionality. They serve primarily as technical demonstrations to explore the operating system's limits, rather than providing practical alternatives to standard Windows installations. Removing essential components and services can lead to significant performance limitations.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
Developer NTDEV successfully booted Windows 11 26H2 on a system with only 128MB of RAM, significantly below Microsoft's 4GB recommendation. This technical experiment demonstrates the operating system's minimal operational requirements after extensive stripping of components, drivers, and services.