A transparent and lightweight modification to Windows, designed to optimize performance, privacy and usability.
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AtlasOS, or Atlas, is an open-source Windows configuration project. It applies privacy, usability and performance settings, with AtlasDesktop controls for changing individual choices after installation.
Atlas Manager is the recommended way to install Atlas. It checks your PC, installs Windows and Microsoft Store updates, walks you through your choices and then installs Atlas. It can also create an Atlas ISO and an installation USB (Beta). Download AtlasManager.exe from the latest release.
Atlas Manager is new. If it doesn't work for you, use the alternative installer, AME Wizard, with the Atlas package (.apbx) from the same release. AME Wizard calls the package a playbook.
Atlas 0.6 needs a fresh installation of Windows 11 25H2 (build 26200) or 26H2 (build 26300), unless you're upgrading from Atlas 0.4.1 or 0.5.0 on a supported build. On Windows 11 24H2, Atlas Manager moves Windows to 26H2 first. See the upgrade requirements.
Atlas disables selected Windows telemetry components and configures policies to reduce data collection. Browser and third-party application privacy settings remain separate.
Atlas configures background activity, services and power settings. Results depend on the workload and hardware; review the power-saving policy and service startup policy for the intended behavior and tradeoffs.
Atlas exposes security choices with documented consequences. Review those consequences before changing a protection setting.
Some optional security features are:
- Windows Defender & SmartScreen
- Windows Update and automatic updates
- CPU mitigations
- User Account Control
- Core isolation features
Atlas changes interface defaults, disables Windows advertisements and removes selected applications. AtlasDesktop includes configuration and restoration controls; restoration may require available packages and a working download source.
Atlas comes as a package whose files you can inspect before it runs. The Atlas package is a renamed .zip archive, with the password malte. Most of the package is PowerShell, data definitions and supporting assets.
Atlas Manager and AME Wizard install the same Atlas package, and the installation itself is Atlas PowerShell either way: every feature, retry and check is code included in the package, where you can read it. Atlas Manager is open source, in app/. With AME Wizard, Atlas's AME configuration records your choices and runs the same fixed PowerShell entry points. The package's scripts run on Windows PowerShell 5.1, which is built into Windows; the build tools in this repository use PowerShell 7. See docs/architecture.md for how an install runs, and .github/CONTRIBUTING.md for the build and test quick start.
You can also run the installer yourself, without either app. Extract the Atlas package (it is a renamed ZIP), open an elevated Windows PowerShell prompt in its Executables folder, and run .\AtlasModules\Scripts\Entry\Install-Atlas.ps1 -Option defender-enable, mitigations-default, auto-updates-disable, keyboard-shortcuts. The script checks that Windows and Microsoft Store updates are finished, copies Atlas's files to a protected directory and runs the same install plan as TrustedInstaller; see docs/architecture.md.
After installing, AtlasDesktop\9. Troubleshooting\Check Atlas Health.cmd reports what Atlas installed and which of its settings have changed since, without changing anything. The full list of toggles and install tweaks is generated into docs/catalog.
Optional Atlas Toolbox installation resolves the latest stable Toolbox release at install time. Toolbox is intentionally not pinned to an Atlas version, so a Toolbox update does not require a new Atlas release.
The binary inventory lists the executables and Windows component packages included in the Atlas package, their hashes, source repositories, licensing and known provenance limits.
The Atlas package and Atlas Manager are open source under the GPLv3 license. Atlas Manager starts the install through Atlas's own TrustedInstaller broker. The AME Wizard interface is not open source, but its TrustedUninstaller backend, which applies the package when you use AME Wizard, is available under MIT.
Atlas distributes configuration files and tools rather than a Windows ISO. It does not change Windows activation; users need their own Windows installation and license.
Start with the contributor quick start, then follow the build instructions and testing guide. The architecture describes the installer, identity boundaries and shared modules. The Atlas Manager guide covers the desktop app. Use the publication checklist to review source contents, generated artifacts and release evidence before publishing.
The reliability verification matrix lists the evidence a release needs and what is still to be verified.
Want to create your own Atlas wallpaper with some original creative designs? Visit our Branding Kit on Docs and share your creations on our GitHub Discussions!