Windows 10 ISO Download: Getting the File and USB Stick Ready

Downloading Windows 10 as an ISO or Bootable USB Stick

If you need a full Windows 10 installation — on a bootable USB stick, or as an ISO you can burn to DVD or mount directly — Microsoft’s own Media Creation Tool is the official, safe way to get it, rather than relying on a third-party mirror of unknown provenance. Step by step:

1. Download the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft’s official Windows 10 software download page.
2. Run it and choose either “Create installation media for another PC” (for a bootable USB stick) or “Download an ISO file” if you’d rather burn a DVD or mount it directly in a VM.
3. Follow the prompts to select language, edition, and architecture, then let it download and build the media.

Using Microsoft’s own tool guarantees you get an untampered, genuine Windows image, and it will automatically fetch the current build rather than an older version that might be missing recent updates.

Still Works in 2026, With a Couple of Caveats (Updated for 2026)

Windows 10 passed its free-support end date on 14 Oct 2025, but Microsoft’s Windows 10 software download page and the Media Creation Tool linked from it are still live and functional as of 2026 — unlike the older Windows 8.1 recovery-media tool, this one hasn’t been pulled or redirected. Two things worth knowing before you rely on it: right around the October 2025 EOL date, Microsoft briefly shipped a broken build of the tool that crashed silently for some users (fixed in a later release, but worth double-checking your Media Creation Tool is a current build if the run fails); and if the tool or its download page has changed layout since this was written, it’s still worth going in with the expectation that Microsoft could quietly retire it the way it did with the 8.1 tool, so bookmark this page rather than the download link itself. If you’re building media for a machine that’s still on Windows 10 rather than upgrading to 11, remember it will need Extended Security Updates (ESU) to keep receiving security patches — free via a Microsoft account and 1,000 Rewards points, or a paid option, covering support through 12 Oct 2027.

Resources

• Download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from Microsoft