By Andrew Armstrong 
The Media Creation Tool and the official ISO download page are still the only two ways to get a genuine, unmodified copy of Windows 11 straight from Microsoft. Everything else, third-party mirrors, forum uploads, “pre-activated” torrents, is either outdated or a security risk you don’t need to take.
This covers both official routes, how to verify what you’ve downloaded actually came from Microsoft, and what to do if you’re still on Windows 10 and not ready to move yet.
Quick Facts
- Both official downloads come from the same page:
microsoft.com/software-download/windows11. Anything hosted elsewhere isn’t official. - The current build offered is Windows 11, version 25H2. The tool always builds against whatever is current when you run it.
- You do not need a product key to download or start Setup. Activation happens later, or not at all if you’re just testing in a VM.
- Windows 10 support ended 14 October 2025. Consumer ESU was originally a one-year bridge to October 2026, but Microsoft has since extended it to 12 October 2027.
- There’s no 32-bit ISO any more. If you’ve still got a 32-bit install of Windows 10 kicking around, it can’t be upgraded in place.
Which download method do you actually need?
Microsoft offers three options from the same download page, and they’re not interchangeable:
| Option | Use it when |
| Installation Assistant | You want to upgrade the PC you’re currently sat at, in place, keeping your files and apps |
| Media Creation Tool | You need a bootable USB or DVD, for a different machine, a clean install, or a spare drive to keep on the shelf |
| ISO download | You want the raw disk image for a virtual machine, WDS, Rufus, or to build your own install media manually |
Most home users doing a single upgrade want the Installation Assistant. If you’re reinstalling clean, or setting up more than one PC, the Media Creation Tool or a plain ISO is less hassle.
Using the Media Creation Tool
- Go to
microsoft.com/software-download/windows11and download MediaCreationTool.exe under “Create Windows 11 Installation Media”. - Run it as administrator, accept the licence terms, and choose your language and edition (leave “Use the recommended options for this PC” ticked unless you’re building media for a different machine).
- Pick USB flash drive (8GB minimum, everything on it will be wiped) or ISO file if you’d rather burn a DVD or mount it later.
- Let it download and build the media. This pulls the current release directly from Microsoft’s servers, so there’s no separate “check for the latest version” step needed.
Downloading the ISO directly
If you just want the ISO with no tool involved: on the same download page, under “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO)”, pick the edition from the dropdown, select your language, and click Download. On a Windows PC the page nudges you towards the Installation Assistant first; the direct ISO link only shows once you’ve picked a language, so don’t assume it isn’t there.
It’s a single multi-edition image, Home and Pro are both on it, and Setup unlocks the correct one from your product key (or lets you pick during install if there’s no key yet).
Verify the ISO before you use it
Microsoft publishes a SHA256 hash next to each ISO on the download page. It’s worth the ten seconds it takes to check, especially if you downloaded on a slow or flaky connection:
# PowerShell
Get-FileHash .\Win11_25H2_English_x64.iso -Algorithm SHA256
# Or Command Prompt
certutil -hashfile Win11_25H2_English_x64.iso SHA256Compare the output against the hash on Microsoft’s page. If they don’t match, the download is corrupt or you didn’t get it from Microsoft, either way, don’t install from it.
Minimum requirements to actually install it
| Requirement | Minimum |
| Processor | 64-bit, 1GHz+, 2+ cores, on Microsoft’s supported CPU list |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Storage | 64GB, though 9GB free is enough just to run Setup |
| Firmware | UEFI, Secure Boot capable |
| TPM | TPM 2.0 |
| Account | Microsoft account and internet connection required for Home edition setup |
If a PC fails the CPU or TPM check, that’s Microsoft telling you it’s unsupported, not necessarily incapable. Registry bypasses exist to force an install anyway, but an unsupported machine can be excluded from future feature updates, so it’s not something to rely on for a work PC.
Still on Windows 10? ESU buys you time
If a machine genuinely can’t move to Windows 11 yet, enrol it in the consumer Extended Security Updates programme rather than running it unpatched. It’s on Windows 10, version 22H2 only, via Settings, Update & Security, Windows Update, where an ESU enrolment option appears if the device qualifies. There are three ways in: free if you’re syncing PC settings to a Microsoft account, 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or a one-off £/$30 payment that covers up to 10 devices on the same Microsoft account. All three give the same coverage, security-only updates through to 12 October 2027, no feature updates, no general support.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a product key to download the ISO?
No. The download itself doesn’t ask for one. You’ll be prompted during Setup, but you can skip it and activate later, or use the licence already tied to the PC’s motherboard if it previously ran Windows 10 or 11.
Is the ISO the same for a clean install and an upgrade?
Yes. Run setup.exe from within Windows to upgrade in place and keep your files, or boot from the USB/DVD for a clean install that wipes the drive.
Why does the download page only show the Installation Assistant on my PC?
The page detects you’re browsing from Windows and leads with the upgrade option. Scroll down, the Media Creation Tool and ISO sections are still there underneath it.
Are third-party ISO sites ever worth using?
No. Only Microsoft’s own download page gives you an image you can verify against a published hash. Anything else is unverifiable, and there’s no upside over the official tool, which is free and no slower.
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