Tech-savvy users might often choose to customize various functions of the operating system they are running on their computer, yet they could save time if they could create a personalized installer where the aforementioned functions would already be modified. And this is where WinReducer EX-81 comes in handy.

The application can be used solely on PCs running Windows 8.1 and it can only customize Windows 8.1 ISOs. If you want to try it on Windows 8, you can download WinReducer 8.

Before you can start tweaking any settings of your OS, you need to install several third-party apps that are essential for the functioning of WinReducer EX-81, namely 7-zip, ImageX, oscdimg, SetACL and Resource Hacker.

Once you downloaded and install the required tools, you will need to complete the configuration step of the app, and only afterwards can you access the main window of WinReducer EX-81.

You will be able to specify the OS edition you want to extract from your source ISO, then select the features you want to remove from the target operating system. It needs to be emphasized that this operation needs to be completed only by experienced users, lest the output ISO will be unusable due to the numerous removed functions (either way, it is best to test it in a virtualized environment first, before installing on your real PC).

WinReducer EX-81 enables you to protect important files and sections of the OS, such as those related to ModernUI, Activation GUI or Windows Search. You can add custom entries to the desktop context menu so you can easily restart, shutdown or hibernate your PC.

In addition to the functionality tweaks, you can also apply some changes to the images displayed during boot, along with the ones used as lockscreen, picture password or wallpaper. You can even select the colors that will be used within the Modern UI of Windows 8.1

All in all, if used wisely, WinReducer EX-81 can help users reduce the size of their ISO, while also making sure the operating system’s features will match their necessities.