Microsoft has officially released Windows 11 and ISO images that allow you to create bootable media to perform clean installs of the operating system and troubleshoot bugs and problems.
If you are not familiar with ISO images, they are a sector-by-sector copy of a DVD into a disk image file that you can save on your computer. These ISO images can then be used to create bootable media, such as a bootable USB drive, or mounted directly as a drive letter in Windows.
How to download a Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft
Now that Windows 11 is released, Microsoft has also made an ISO image available to download.
To download the latest Windows 11 ISO, follow these steps:
- Go to Download Windows 11 page in your favorite web browser.
- When the website opens, scroll down until you see 'Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO),' and then select 'Windows 11,' and click on 'Download.'
- You will now be prompted to select your language. When you have chosen the language you want to use, click on the 'Confirm' button.
- The site will now show you a 64-bit Download button, which opens your generated download link. This link is only valid for 24 hours.
Click on this button to download the Windows 11 ISO. - When the download is complete, you can close the web browser.
What should you do with the ISO?
Now that you have a Windows 11 ISO, you can use it to perform a clean Windows 11 install on a new device, as backup bootable media, or a bootable device to enter the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot issues with your computer.
When installing Windows 11, you must have a valid Windows 10 product key. For Windows 7 users, you will not be able to use the media to perform an upgrade but rather do a clean install instead.
To create a bootable Windows 11 USB drive, you will need at least a 16GB flash drive, while 32GB is recommended to store other files or programs you may want in your recovery environment.
If you do not have a spare USB drive, you can purchase a 32GB Sandisk drive for about $8.99 or a 5-pack of 64GB USB drives for $27 on Amazon.
You can then create a bootable USB drive from the ISO and use it to install the operating system.
As previously said, the bootable USB drive is also excellent for troubleshooting tasks, such as removing malware, deleting a stubborn file, removing problematic Windows updates, or diagnosing why Windows 11 no longer boots.
It is suggested that all users create new bootable media from the Windows 11 ISOs as new versions are released.
Comments
GranularDwelling17 - 2 years ago
The link to create a bootable USB drive ends in an Error 404 - Not Found. Microsoft says the download is no longer available.
WolfDog - 2 years ago
The correct instruction for creating a USB drive to install Windows 10 or Windows 11 is at: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/install-windows-from-a-usb-flash-drive
noelprg4 - 2 years ago
the Windows 11 ISO downloads from the Insider Preview downloads page have been revised/updated on TH Sept. 23 to contain build 22000.194 instead of 22000.132
noelprg4 - 2 years ago
the Windows 11 ISO downloads from the official (non-insider) Win11 ISO download page have been revised/updated mid-November 2021 to contain build 22000.318 instead of 22000.194 and have slightly renamed files that end with "v1"