How to Download Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft (Official & Safe)

Get the Windows 11 ISO straight from Microsoft, no third-party mirrors needed.

Key Takeaways

Microsoft’s download page gives you the latest version, Windows 11 26H2, as a free ISO.
One multi-edition ISO covers Home and Pro. Your product key decides which edition installs.
There is a separate Arm64 ISO for Arm-based PCs.
The download link expires after 24 hours, so start the download right away.

If you want a safe, official way to download the Windows 11 ISO, including Windows 11 Pro, this guide shows you exactly how to get the file straight from Microsoft, so you avoid shady links and outdated builds.

The ISO installs the current release, and Windows Update brings it fully up to date after setup. Want to keep your files and apps instead of starting fresh? See how to upgrade to Windows 11. Need Windows 10 instead? Go to our Windows 10 ISO guide. Questions? Contact us or leave a comment.

Table of Contents

How to Download the Windows 11 ISO

Microsoft offers three official tools on one page. The ISO is the one to pick for a clean install, a virtual machine, or an upgrade you want to run by hand.

Method 1: Direct ISO from Microsoft

Best for: Clean installs, virtual machines and making your own USB drive.

Open Microsoft’s Windows 11 download page.

Scroll to Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices, pick Windows 11 and select Download.

Choose your product language and select Confirm.

Select 64-bit Download and save the file. The link works for 24 hours.

The x64 ISO section on Microsoft’s download page.

Have an Arm-based PC? Microsoft has a separate Windows 11 Arm64 ISO.

Method 2: Media Creation Tool

Best for: Building a bootable USB drive with a guided setup.

On the same page, find Create Windows 11 Installation Media and select Download now.

Run the tool and accept the terms.

Choose USB flash drive to build a bootable drive, or ISO file to save an ISO.

Full walkthrough: our Windows 11 Media Creation Tool guide.

Method 3: Installation Assistant

Best for: Upgrading the PC you are using, with no ISO needed.

On the same page, find Windows 11 Installation Assistant and select Download now.

Run it, accept the license and follow the steps to upgrade.

Full walkthrough: how to use the Windows 11 Installation Assistant.

Third-party shortcut: sites like OS.click list direct Microsoft download links by edition and language. Only use a link that points to microsoft.com, and check the file afterwards with the steps below.

Go to Microsoft’s Windows 11 Download Page

Watch: Download and Install Windows 11

This step-by-step video shows the download and a full Windows 11 install from start to finish.

Check That Your ISO Is Genuine

A checksum (a fingerprint of the file) proves the ISO is exactly what Microsoft published and was not changed or damaged on the way. Open PowerShell and run this, with your own file path:

Get-FileHash "C:\Path\To\Win11.iso" -Algorithm SHA256

Compare the result with the SHA-256 value Microsoft lists for your language on the download page, after you select Download. If the two do not match, delete the file and download it again.

Windows 11 System Requirements

Make sure your PC meets these minimums before you install. The free PC Health Check app checks them for you.

Minimum Requirements

From Microsoft’s Windows 11 specifications page

Component	Minimum
Processor	1 GHz or faster with 2 or more cores, on a compatible 64-bit processor
RAM	4 GB
Storage	64 GB or larger
System firmware	UEFI, Secure Boot capable
TPM	Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0
Graphics	Compatible with DirectX 12 or later, with a WDDM 2.0 driver
Display	720p, larger than 9 inches diagonally, 8 bits per color channel
Internet and account	Home and Pro need internet and a Microsoft account during first setup

Tip

These are the minimums. For a smoother experience, aim for 8 GB of RAM and an SSD. If your PC falls short, see our best Surface laptops guide.

Windows 11 Home vs Windows 11 Pro

Both editions share the same Windows 11 experience. Pro adds tools for security, remote work and IT management.

Home vs Pro

The differences that matter

Feature	Windows 11 Home	Windows 11 Pro
Price (standalone)	Check on Amazon	Check on Amazon
Maximum RAM	128 GB	2 TB
CPU sockets	1	2
BitLocker encryption	No (device encryption on supported PCs)	Yes
Remote Desktop host	No (can connect as a client)	Yes
Hyper-V virtual machines	No	Yes
Windows Sandbox	No	Yes
Group Policy	No	Yes
Best for	Everyday home use	Business, IT pros and power users

Started with Home and need Pro later? You can upgrade from Settings > System > Activation without reinstalling.

Poll

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What Windows 11 Looks Like

A quick look at the Start menu, taskbar and overall design.

Common Problems and Fixes

Download link expired

Microsoft’s ISO links last 24 hours. Go back to the download page and generate a new link.

Slow download

Use a wired connection if you can and pause other large downloads on your network.

ISO will not open

Right-click the file and select Mount. If that option is missing, use Open with and choose File Explorer.

USB drive will not boot

Rebuild the drive with the Media Creation Tool. In your PC’s startup settings (BIOS or UEFI), turn on USB boot and check Secure Boot and TPM are on.

Media Creation Tool will not run

Right-click it and select Run as administrator, and make sure your antivirus is not blocking it. Download it again if it still fails.

Windows is not activated

More Help

Microsoft’s Ways to install Windows 11 page covers every official install and upgrade option. For unsupported hardware, this Reddit thread on bypassing the TPM and CPU checks is community-tested, but Microsoft does not support it, so use it at your own risk.

More Windows software guides: Windows 11 26H2 · Upgrade to Windows 11 · Media Creation Tool · Installation Assistant · Windows 10 ISO