About
Windows Enterprise Defaults is designed to customize Windows images, replacing Microsoft defaults to make them enterprise-ready. While Microsoft's defaults cater to a broad range of users—from individuals to enterprises—an optimized enterprise desktop requires tailored adjustments.
This solution streamlines modifications to Windows by updating the default profile, Start menu, taskbar, user environment, and Explorer settings. It also manages Windows capabilities, features, and removes certain in-box application packages.
Windows Enterprise Defaults is not a "de-bloater", instead it focuses on making thoughtful changes without compromising the end-user experience. Though it removes some in-box applications and features, it ensures usability remains intact.
Supporting Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2016–2025, this tool works for both physical PCs and virtual machines (e.g., Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365). While primarily aimed at provisioning gold images for PCs or virtual desktops, it can also be applied to Windows Server infrastructure roles.
To see the improved end-user experience, check out the Results page.
Usage¶
The solution is intended for operating system deployment via various methods, including:
- Imported into the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit as an application for use during Lite Touch deployments - Create a New Application in the Deployment Workbench
- Imported into Configuration Manager for use during Zero Touch deployments: - Create applications in Configuration Manager
- Packaged as a Win32 application and delivered via Microsoft Intune during Windows Autopilot - Win32 app management in Microsoft Intune
- Executed in a virtual machine image pipeline using Azure Image Builder or Packer when building a gold image
- Or even run manually on a Windows PC or virtual machine gold image if you're not using automation at all
Supported Platforms¶
Windows Enterprise Defaults has been tested on Windows 10 (1809 and above), Windows 11, Windows Server 2016-2025. All scripts should work on any future versions of Windows; however, you should test thoroughly before deployment in production.
Windows PowerShell only is supported - typically during operating system deployments, there should be no strict requirement for PowerShell 6 or above. While the solution should work OK on PowerShell 6+, no testing is done on those versions.