Generate autounattend.xml files for Windows 10/11

This service lets you create answer files (typically named unattend.xml or autounattend.xml) to perform unattended installations of both Windows 10 and Windows 11, including 24H2.

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Region and language settings:

Install Windows using these language settings:

Windows display language: Windows features like Settings and File Explorer will appear in this language. It must match the language of your Windows 10/11 .iso file.

Choose language preferences and keyboard layouts Select one or more languages in order of preference. The first language will also determine the initial regional format, which defines how numbers, dates, times and currency are formatted. You can change the regional format later. Specify the first language and keyboard layout

Language: Keyboard layout / Input Method Editor:

Specify a second language and keyboard layout

Language: Keyboard layout / Input Method Editor:

Specify a third language and keyboard layout

Language: Keyboard layout / Input Method Editor:

Home location: Windows and apps might use your country or region to give you local content.

Select language settings interactively during Windows Setup

Processor architectures:

When you select multiple processor architectures, a single autounattend.xml file will be created that is applicable to all of these architectures.

Setup settings:

Bypass Windows 11 requirements check (TPM, Secure Boot, etc.) Allow Windows 11 to be installed without internet connection

This effectively runs the oobe\BypassNRO.cmd command, which was discovered by Reddit user AveYo. You still have to click the I don't have internet button during Windows Setup.

Only check this option if your computer really does not have internet access. If you just want to create local (“offline”) user accounts in Windows 11, you can always do so in the User accounts section of this form.

Computer name:

Let Windows generate a random computer name like DESKTOP-ZFAH8Z2 Choose a computer name yourself

Use this name:

Provide a Windows PowerShell script to set the computer name dynamically

Your script will be evaluated at runtime. The script must return a single string, which must be a valid computer name. You can also use a script such as return Read-Host -Prompt 'Enter computer name'; to create an interactive prompt.

Compact OS: Let Windows decide whether to use Compact OS Use Compact OS Do not use Compact OS

Time zone:

Let Windows determine your time zone based on language and region settings Set your time zone explicitly

This is useful when your country or region spans multiple time zones, like Australia or the United States. Use this time zone:

Partitioning and formatting:

Partition the disk interactively during Windows Setup Let Windows Setup wipe, partition and format your hard drive (more specifically, disk 0) using these settings:

Choose partition layout GPT

The GPT partition layout must be used for UEFI systems. Set the size of the EFI System Partition (ESP) to MB.

MBR MBR The MBR-based partition layout must be used for legacy BIOS systems.

Choose how to install Windows RE Install on recovery partition

Create a separate partition with a size of MB and install Windows RE to it.

Install on Windows partition This will install Windows RE in C:\Recovery. No recovery partition will be created. Remove Windows RE This will delete the C:\Recovery folder and thus free about 600 MB of disk space. No recovery partition will be created. Windows 24H2 seems to ignore this setting and will always create a recovery partition with a minimum size of 600 MB.

Use a custom diskpart script to configure your disk(s):

If your disk is already partitioned and formatted, enter a diskpart command that has no effect, like REM or SELECT DISK=0. Also note that drive letter assignments (e.g. ASSIGN LETTER=R) will not persist.

Choose partition to install Windows to after script has run Install Windows to the first available partition that has enough space and does not already contain an installation of Windows Install to another partition:

Disk (0-based):
Partition (1-based):

Windows edition:

Use a generic product key

Such a key can be used to install Windows, but will not activate it. You can change the product key later. Install this edition of Windows:

Enter your own product key during Windows Setup You can also enter your key in the autounattend.xml file. To do this, find the <Key>00000-00000-00000-00000-00000</Key> element and replace the text with your key. Also use this if you plan to install an Enterprise edition of Windows.

User accounts:

Let Windows Setup create the following local (“offline”) accounts:

Account name	Password	Group

First logon

Some settings might not be applied until an administrator logs on for the first time. You should therefore let Windows log you on to an administrator account once – this does not affect subsequent logons. Choose which account to use for this:

Logon to the first administrator account created above Activate built-in account Administrator and logon to this account

Set its password to:

Do not logon The installation ends with the sign-in screen being shown.

Obscure all account passwords in your autounattend.xml file with Base64

Add a Microsoft (“online”) user account interactively during Windows Setup Add a local (“offline”) user account interactively during Windows Setup

Password expiration:

Passwords do not expire This is in accordance to NIST guidelines that no longer recommend password expiration. Use Windows default Passwords expire after 42 days. Use custom password expiration:

Passwords expire after days.

These settings only apply to local accounts. Also, the password of the built-in account Administrator never expires.

Account Lockout policy:

Use default policy By default, Windows will lock out an account after 10 failed logon attempts (threshold) within 10 minutes (window). After 10 minutes (duration), the account is unlocked automatically. Disable policy Disabling Account Lockout might leave your computer vulnerable to brute-force attacks. Use custom policy:

Lock out an account after failed logon attempts within minutes. After minutes, unlock the account automatically.

File Explorer tweaks:

Choose which files are hidden in File Explorer Use File Explorer default setting This will hide any file that has the Hidden attribute set. Hide protected operating system files This will only hide files that have both the Hidden and the System attribute set. Show all files This setting is recommended for advanced users.

Choose how to display the search box in the taskbar Show search box Icon only Hide

Always show file extensions By default, File Explorer would hide extensions for known file types. Disable widgets This hides the news and weather widget in the lower-left corner in Windows 11. Use classic context (right-click) menu in Windows 11 Left-align the taskbar in Windows 11 Delete preset icons (like Edge, File Explorer, Outlook, Microsoft Store) from the taskbar You can pin your preferred apps to the taskbar later. Hide the Task view button from the taskbar Always show all tray icons On Windows 10, this will simply set the EnableAutoTray registry value. On Windows 11, this will create a scheduled task that runs periodically in the background and sets all tray icons visible. Open File Explorer to This PC instead of Quick access

System tweaks:

Disable Windows Defender

This disables certain services (Sense, WdBoot, WdFilter, WdNisDrv, WdNisSvc, WinDefend) during Windows Setup and thus prevents the MsMpEng.exe process from running. This method was adapted from an article by Rudy Mens.

Disable Windows Update

This will create a scheduled task that pauses updates for one week again and again.

Disable User Account Control (UAC) Disable Smart App Control This turns Smart App Control off in Windows 11. Note that you will not be able to turn it back on. Disable SmartScreen in Windows and Edge Disable Fast Startup Disable System Protection / System Restore Windows will not create restore points for drive C: and thus use less disk space. Enable long paths This sets the LongPathsEnabled registry value, which enables several programs (including PowerShell, 7-Zip and TreeSize) to use long paths with up to 32,767 characters without resorting to the \\?\ prefix. Enable Remote Desktop services (RDP) Harden ACLs This removes write permissions on C:\ for the Authenticated Users group. In particular, this prevents unprivileged users from creating bogus folders such as C:\Windows . Allow execution of PowerShell script files This runs the command Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy 'RemoteSigned', which allows the execution of unsigned .ps1 files. Do not update Last Access Time stamp This runs the command fsutil.exe behavior set disableLastAccess 1, which can improve file system performance. Prevent Windows Update from rebooting your computer This creates a scheduled task that periodically moves your active hours, tricking Windows into thinking your device is in use all the time. Turn off system sounds This changes the sound scheme from Windows Default to No sounds for all users. Disable app suggestions / Content Delivery Manager This sets several registry values that prevent the silent download and installation of suggested apps. Prevent device encryption Windows 11 would otherwise enable BitLocker encryption automatically. Hide Edge First Run Experience Make Edge uninstallable This will modify the C:\Windows\System32\IntegratedServicesRegionPolicySet.json file such that Edge can be uninstalled even outside the European Economic Area. Note that Windows updates will reset the file to its original state. Therefore, if you want to uninstall Edge, do so right after Windows has been installed. This setting currently does not work on 24H2. Audit process creation events

Each time a new process is created, Windows writes an event to the Security log. This is a powerful tool for troubleshooting. Include command line in log events

Virtual machine support:

Install Oracle VirtualBox Guest Additions Install VMware Tools Install VirtIO Guest Tools and QEMU Guest Agent (e.g. for Proxmox VE)

Make sure to check the usage notes for how to properly configure your VM.

WLAN / Wi-Fi setup:

Configure Wi-Fi interactively during Windows Setup Skip Wi-Fi configuration Choose this if you have a wired connection to the internet. Configure Wi-Fi using these settings:

Network name (SSID):
Connect even if not broadcasting:
Authentication:
Password:

If both your Wi-Fi router and your computer's Wi-Fi adapter support it, make sure to select WPA3. Otherwise, Windows Setup will try to switch from WPA2 to WPA3 and require manual interaction.

You should not enter your actual Wi-Fi password here. Once you have downloaded the autounattend.xml file, find the password enclosed in <keyMaterial>…</keyMaterial> and adjust it.

Configure Wi-Fi using an XML file created by netsh.exe wlan export profile key=clear on another computer:

Express settings: Disable all Windows will not send diagnostic data, personalized input or your location history to Microsoft. Choose this if you value privacy. Enable all Windows will send data to Microsoft to provide location-based services, improve language recognition, and show personalized ads. Choose settings interactively during Windows Setup This lets you enable some settings while disabling others.

Lock key settings:

Use default lock key states and behaviors Configure the initial state and behavior of lock keys as follows:

Key	Initial state	When pressed
Caps Lock
Num Lock
Scroll Lock

This will affect all users and also the login screen.

Personalization settings:

These settings are particularly useful if you want to use Windows without activation when the Personalization settings page is not available.

Colors Use default color theme Use custom color theme

Choose color theme for taskbar and Start menu:
Choose color theme for apps:
Accent color:
Show accent color on Start menu and taskbar:
Show accent color on title bars and window borders:
Windows and surfaces appear translucent:

Desktop wallpaper Use default wallpaper settings Use a solid color background:

Remove bloatware:

Windows comes with several apps that many users do not want or do not need. Check all the apps you want removed during Windows Setup:

Bloatware removal works best with the original Windows 10 and 11 .iso images downloaded from Microsoft. I did not perform any tests with custom images.

Start menu customization:

Windows 10

Configure the tiles that are initially shown in the Windows 10 Start menu. You can add or remove tiles later. On Windows 11, this setting is simply ignored.

Use default tiles If you select apps in the Remove bloatware section above, Windows 10 will automatically remove their tiles from the Start menu. Remove all tiles Configure tiles using an XML file created by PowerShell's Export-StartLayout cmdlet on another Windows 10 computer:

Windows 11

Configure the pins that are initially shown in the Windows 11 Start menu. You can add or remove pins later. On Windows 10, this setting is simply ignored.

Use default pins Avoid this setting if you select apps in the Remove bloatware section above, as Windows 11 will deceptively retain their pins in the Start menu. Remove all pins Configure pins using a JSON file created by PowerShell's Export-StartLayout cmdlet on another Windows 11 computer:

Run custom scripts:

Scripts to run in the system context, before user accounts are created

Run as a file.
Run as a file.
Run as a file.
Run as a file.

Scripts to modify the default user's registry hive

This will automatically mount the C:\Users\Default\NTUSER.DAT hive, run your scripts and unmount the hive again. Your scripts will be run before user accounts are created – hence, they will affect all user accounts, including the built-in account Administrator. You must access the keys in this hive as follows:

.reg	`[HKEY_USERS\DefaultUser\…`
.cmd	`HKU\DefaultUser\…`
.ps1	`Registry::HKU\DefaultUser\…`

Run as a file.
Run as a file.
Run as a file.

Scripts to run when the first user logs on after Windows has been installed

The first user to log on is typically an administrator. In this case, these scripts will run with elevated privileges.

Run as a file.
Run as a file.
Run as a file.
Run as a file.

Scripts to run whenever a user logs on for the first time

Run as a file.
Run as a file.
Run as a file.
Run as a file.

Restart File Explorer after scripts have run This will restart the explorer.exe process that is responsible for displaying Start menu, taskbar and Desktop. If your scripts in this section make changes to any of these elements, check this box so that they take effect immediately.

Your scripts will be run as follows:

.cmd	`C:\Windows\Setup\Scripts\unattend-01.cmd`
.ps1	`powershell.exe -NoProfile -Command "Get-Content -LiteralPath 'C:\Windows\Setup\Scripts\unattend-02.ps1' -Raw \| Invoke-Expression;"`
.reg	`reg.exe import "C:\Windows\Setup\Scripts\unattend-03.reg"`
.vbs	`cscript.exe //E:vbscript "C:\Windows\Setup\Scripts\unattend-04.vbs"`
.js	`cscript.exe //E:jscript "C:\Windows\Setup\Scripts\unattend-05.js"`

Windows Defender Application Control:

Do not configure WDAC policy Configure a basic WDAC policy using these settings:

Applications in C:\Windows, C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86) are allowed to run. Applications stored elsewhere and those in known user-writable folders such as C:\Windows\Temp or C:\Windows\Debug\WIA are not allowed to run. To disable this WDAC policy later, simply delete the file C:\Windows\System32\CodeIntegrity\CiPolicies\Active\{d26bff32-33a2-48a3-b037-10357ee48427}.cip and reboot. To create a more customized policy, see my online WDAC generator.

Choose how to enforce the policy Auditing mode Logs drivers and applications that would have been blocked. Auditing mode on boot failure When the policy blocks a system driver and thus would prevent Windows from booting, use audit mode. Otherwise, use enforcement mode. Enforcement mode Drivers and applications will be blocked unless allowed by the policy.

Choose script enforcement Restricted PowerShell will run in Constrained Language Mode. See Script Enforcement for details. Unrestricted PowerShell will run in Full Language Mode.

Placeholders for more components:

You can optionally generate templates for all available components, with respect to their valid configuration passes. Look for  comments in the generated autounattend.xml file and fill in the desired settings yourself.

Microsoft-Windows-Audio-AudioCore: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-Audio-VolumeControl: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-Authentication-AuthUI: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-BLB-WSB-Online-Main: specialize oobeSystem
Microsoft-Windows-BrowserService: generalize
Microsoft-Windows-CodeIntegrity: offlineServicing
Microsoft-Windows-CoreMmRes: generalize specialize auditSystem auditUser oobeSystem
Microsoft-Windows-Deployment: generalize specialize auditSystem auditUser oobeSystem
Microsoft-Windows-DeviceAccess: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-DeviceGuard-Unattend: offlineServicing
Microsoft-Windows-DiagCpl: offlineServicing generalize specialize
Microsoft-Windows-Disk-Failure-Diagnostic-Module: offlineServicing generalize specialize
Microsoft-Windows-DNS-Client: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-Embedded-BootExp: specialize oobeSystem
Microsoft-Windows-Embedded-EmbeddedLogon: offlineServicing specialize
Microsoft-Windows-Embedded-KeyboardFilterService: offlineServicing
Microsoft-Windows-Embedded-ShellLauncher: oobeSystem
Microsoft-Windows-Embedded-UnifiedWriteFilter: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-EnhancedStorage-Adm: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-ErrorReportingCore: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-Fax-Service: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-GPIOButtons: offlineServicing specialize
Microsoft-Windows-HelpAndSupport: specialize oobeSystem
Microsoft-Windows-IE-ClientNetworkProtocolImplementation: oobeSystem
Microsoft-Windows-IE-ESC: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-IE-InternetExplorer: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-International-Core: specialize oobeSystem
Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE: windowsPE
Microsoft-Windows-LUA-Settings: offlineServicing
Microsoft-Windows-MapControl-Desktop: specialize oobeSystem
Microsoft-Windows-MediaPlayer-Core: offlineServicing
Microsoft-Windows-MicrosoftEdgeBrowser: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-MobilePC-Sensors-API: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-NetBT: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-NetworkBridge: generalize
Microsoft-Windows-NetworkLoadBalancing-Core: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-OutOfBoxExperience: generalize specialize
Microsoft-Windows-PartitionManager: offlineServicing
Microsoft-Windows-PnpCustomizationsNonWinPE: offlineServicing auditSystem
Microsoft-Windows-PnpCustomizationsWinPE: windowsPE
Microsoft-Windows-PnpSysprep: generalize specialize
Microsoft-Windows-PowerCPL: generalize specialize
Microsoft-Windows-Printing-Spooler-Core: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-RasServer: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-RemoteAssistance-Exe: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-SecureStartup-FilterDriver: offlineServicing specialize auditSystem oobeSystem
Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP: generalize
Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP-UX: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-ServerManager-SvrMgrNc: generalize specialize
Microsoft-Windows-Setup: windowsPE
Microsoft-Windows-SharedAccess: generalize
Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup: offlineServicing windowsPE generalize specialize auditSystem auditUser oobeSystem
Microsoft-Windows-SHWebSVC: oobeSystem
Microsoft-Windows-SMBServer: generalize
Microsoft-Windows-SNMP-Agent-Service: generalize specialize
Microsoft-Windows-SQMAPI: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-STObject: generalize specialize
Microsoft-Windows-StorPort-RegistrySettings: specialize auditSystem auditUser oobeSystem
Microsoft-Windows-SystemMaintenanceService: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-SystemRestore-Main: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-SystemSettingsThreshold: generalize specialize
Microsoft-Windows-TabletPC-Platform-Input-Core: offlineServicing specialize oobeSystem
Microsoft-Windows-TapiSetup: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-TCPIP: windowsPE specialize
Microsoft-Windows-TerminalServices-CentralPublishing: oobeSystem
Microsoft-Windows-TerminalServices-LicenseServer: oobeSystem
Microsoft-Windows-TerminalServices-LocalSessionManager: offlineServicing generalize specialize
Microsoft-Windows-TerminalServices-Publishing-WMIProvider: offlineServicing generalize specialize
Microsoft-Windows-TerminalServices-RDP-WinStationExtensions: generalize specialize
Microsoft-Windows-TerminalServices-RemoteConnectionManager: offlineServicing generalize specialize
Microsoft-Windows-Tpm-Tasks: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-TwinUI: offlineServicing specialize oobeSystem
Microsoft-Windows-UnattendedJoin: offlineServicing specialize
Microsoft-Windows-WDF-KernelLibrary: offlineServicing
Microsoft-Windows-WiFiNetworkManager: offlineServicing specialize oobeSystem
Microsoft-Windows-WinRE-RecoveryAgent: oobeSystem
Microsoft-Windows-WLANSVC: offlineServicing windowsPE specialize oobeSystem
Microsoft-Windows-WorkstationService: generalize specialize
Microsoft-Windows-WPD-BusEnumService: specialize
Microsoft-Windows-WWANUI: generalize specialize
Networking-MPSSVC-Svc: specialize
Security-Malware-Windows-Defender: offlineServicing specialize oobeSystem

Download settings: Use filename notautounattend.xml rather than autounattend.xml Windows Setup will not process the notautounattend.xml file automatically. Instead, you need to run a command such as setup.exe /Unattend:D:\notautounattend.xml. This is useful to prevent Windows Setup from inadvertently wiping your hard drive, and lets you specify additional parameters such as /NoReboot. In particular, calling setup.exe /NoReboot /Unattend:D:\notautounattend.xml offers a great opportunity to remove 8.3 file names during Windows Setup while still using an answer file.

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