Windows 10

When a new version of Windows 10 is released, Microsoft likewise releases new ISO disk images of the operating system to perform clean installs or create a bootable recovery environment. This article provides two ways you can download the latest Windows 10 ISO images from Microsoft.

An ISO image is a sector-by-sector re-create of the Windows DVD stored as a unmarried '.iso' file on your computer. You can then burn down this ISO file onto another DVD, create a bootable USB drive, mountain it as a drive letter in Windows, or extract its files using 7-Zip.

ISO images are handy as they allow you to create bootable media that can exist used as a recovery surroundings for troubleshooting or performing clean installs of the latest Windows x. You can also use them to make Windows x virtual machines using Hyper-V, VirtualBox, or VMware.

Microsoft recommends using their Windows 10 Media Creation Tool (MCT) to download the latest ISO prototype or create a bootable USB drive.

This article will evidence you how to use the MCT to download the latest ISO or fox Microsoft'south site into letting you download the ISO images directly instead.

Method 1: Use the Media Cosmos Tool to create an ISO

Microsoft offers a tool chosen the Media Cosmos Tool that lets you download the latest Windows 10 ISO to a file or burn down it to a USB drive.

To utilise the Media Creation Tool to get the latest ISO, please follow these steps:

  1. Visit the Windows 10 download page using your spider web browser.
  2. Under 'Create Windows 10 installation media,' click on the 'Download tool now' link and save the executable. At the time of this writing, the MCT executable is named MediaCreationTool20H2.exe.
  3. One time downloaded, run the programme, and Windows will prompt you for permission to allow it to run. At this prompt, click Yes, and the MCT will load and set up a few things before information technology can go on.

    MCT: Getting things ready

  4. When washed, y'all volition be shown a license agreement. To keep, click on theHave button.
  5. The tool volition now state it is 'Getting a few things set up,' and when done, display a prompt asking if you would like to upgrade the computer or 'Create installation media (USB flash bulldoze, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC.

    What do you want to do?

    At this prompt, select the Create installation media option and so press the Next push button.
  6. The Media Creation Tool volition at present download and verify the necessary files to create an ISO or a bootable USB drive. This procedure tin can take some fourth dimension, so please be patient.

    Downloading Windows 10 files

  7. When done, the MCT will enquire what language, compages, and Windows edition you want for your ISO image. By default, the MCT will employ your local language and architecture, but you can uncheck Use the recommended options for this PC checkbox to select other options.

    When done, click on theNext button.

    Select language, architecture, and edition

  8. You will now be asked if you wish to create a bootable USB bulldoze or a Windows ten ISO. As nosotros are creating an ISO file, select the ISO file option and pressSide by side.

    Create a USB drive or ISO file

  9. You will now be prompted to select a location to save your ISO file. Select a folder to save the ISO file to, and so click on theSave push button.
  10. The Media Creation Tool volition now create the ISO file in the specified location. Please be patient while the file is created.

    Creating the ISO file

  11. When the Media Cosmos Tool has finished creating the ISO, yous can close the program by clicking on the Endbutton.

    Windows 10 ISO created

Y'all will now have the latest Windows 10 ISO image file saved to your binder, which can be used for virtual machines or to create bootable media at a later engagement.

Method ii: Download the latest Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft

When you lot go to Microsoft's "Download Windows 10" folio, you lot are but given the option to update to a new version using Windows Update or to using the Microsoft Windows ten Media Creation Tool.

However, information technology is possible to play a joke on Microsoft's Windows x download page into offer an ISO epitome instead by changing your browser's user agent to a non-Windows operating system.

To download the latest Windows x ISO epitome, please follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Windows 10 download page in any Chromium-based browser, such as Chrome or the new Microsoft Edge.
  2. Click on the Chrome carte, soMore Tools,and then click onDeveloper tools,as shown below.

    Chrome-dev

  3. Now press theCtrl + Shift + 1000 keyboard combination to open up the Device toolbar. This toolbar lets yous impersonate another device, such every bit a mobile phone or a tablet. When switching to another device, it too changes the browser's user amanuensis, which the website uses to place a company's operating organization.

    Click on the menu that showsResponsive and select iPad or iPad Pro and then that you can view the folio better.

    Chrome emulation

  4. When you kickoff select one of these devices, the screen size will be gear up to 50%. Please alter it to 100%, as shown below, then that y'all can see the web page better.

    Change zoom level

  5. Now press the F5 key on your keyboard to refresh the page, and Microsoft's site volition now offer you the Windows 10 ISO instead of the Media Creation Tool.

    At present click on the drop-down pointer under 'Select edition' and select the 'Windows 10' option under the proper name of the latest feature update. At the fourth dimension of this article's writing, the latest version is Windows x 20H2, otherwise known as the Windows ten October 2020 Update.

    Once selected, click on theOstend button.

    Select Windows 10 October 2020 Update

  6. Later on a few seconds, Microsoft's site will at present inquire y'all to select your ISO'southward product language.

    Select Language

    Select your linguistic communication and press the Confirm push button once again.
  7. Finally, you will be asked whether you want to download a 32-bit or 64-flake version of the Windows 10 ISO. Most people want to download the 64-bit version of Windows 10.

    Select type

  8. When yous click on the download button, you will be asked what folder yous wish to save the ISO file, as shown below. After selecting the binder to salve the ISO, click on theSave button to download it.

    Download Windows 10 ISO

    The current ISO epitome is 5.8 GB, so it may take some fourth dimension to download depending on your Internet connection speed.

The ISO download link generated by Microsoft's site volition remain valid for 24 hours and exist shared with other people during that time frame. After 24 hours, the link will no longer piece of work, and yous volition need to create a new one again using the above steps.

What should you do with the ISO?

Now that you have a copy of the latest Windows x ISO paradigm, y'all may exist wondering what you should do with information technology.

This ISO image tin can now be mounted in virtual machines to upgrade a Windows installation or install a new one. You tin also excerpt the ISO file to find a detail Windows system file.

Finally, y'all can use the ISO paradigm and a free utility like Rufus or Universal USB Installer to create a bootable Windows x USB drive.

Withal, if the goal was to create bootable media, it would have been easier to have the Media Creation Tool brand it for yous, as explained in the steps above.

Once you create a bootable Windows 10 USB drive or Windows 10 DVD, y'all can employ it to perform a clean install of Windows 10. A make clean install is when you completely reformat a PC and reinstall Windows 10, and then yous have a clean installation of the operating arrangement without whatever additional software or drivers.

Some other common use for bootable Windows ten USB drives is that they tin be used as a recovery environment to remove malware and troubleshoot Windows 10 crashes, bugs, and freezes.

Windows 10 Recovery Environment
Windows 10 Recovery Surroundings

For either purpose, y'all need a spare USB drive that tin can be used to create the bootable Windows 10 USB media.

If you do non have a spare USB drive, you can buy a 32GB Sandisk bulldoze for about $8.99 or a v-pack of 64GB USB drives for $24 on Amazon.

BleepingComputer strongly recommends that every Windows user creates bootable Windows 10 USB media that tin can be used for troubleshooting.

We accept used the Windows ten Recovery Environment many times in the past to troubleshoot issues in Windows. Having the bootable USB Windows media available can salvage a lot of frustration when your PC is not working correctly.

Update 1/2/2021: Added info on using the MCT as well.