How to download Windows 11 26H2 ISO file for arm64 and Copilot+ PCs

Windows 11 26H2 is available as an official ARM64 ISO for ARM-based PCs and supported virtual machines.
Microsoft provides the official ARM64 ISO, while UUP Dump can create an ISO from Windows 11 26H2 files and updates.
The ARM64 ISO is for ARM-based processors, while Intel and AMD PCs require the x64 version.
You can use the ISO to create bootable USB media or install Windows 11 26H2 in a supported virtual machine.

If you have an ARM-based computer, you can download the Windows 11 26H2 ISO file to perform a clean install or create a virtual machine on supported hardware.

I recently needed the Windows 11 ISO file to set up a virtual machine on my Apple MacBook Air. Since it has a modern M2 chip, the regular x64 image didn’t work because it targets a different processor architecture. For ARM-based devices, you need the ARM64 version of Windows 11 26H2, which is available through Microsoft’s official download options.

Alternatively, you can use UUP Dump to obtain the Windows 11 26H2 ARM64 image. UUP Dump is a powerful tool that lets you create customized ISO images of various Windows versions, including Windows 10 and Windows 11, for both x64 and ARM64 devices. It uses the Unified Update Platform (UUP) to download the necessary files directly from Microsoft’s servers, providing another way to create an ISO from a specific Windows build.

Yes, you can use an x64 (AMD or Intel) computer to download the Windows 11 26H2 ARM64 ISO and create USB bootable media for an ARM-based computer. However, you cannot use the ARM64 ISO to set up a virtual machine or install Windows 11 on a device with an x64 processor.

In this guide, I will outline the steps to download the Windows 11 26H2 ISO file for ARM-based devices.

Download Windows 11 26H2 ISO for arm64 PCs through Microsoft
Download Windows 11 26H2 ISO for arm64 PCs through UUP Dump
Create a Windows 11 26H2 for arm64 USB bootable drive with Rufus

Download Windows 11 26H2 ISO for arm64 PCs through Microsoft

To download the ISO file of Windows 11 26H2 for arm64, use these steps:

Open the Microsoft Support website.
Select the “Windows 11 (multi-edition ISO for Arm64)” option under the “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for Arm64-based PCs” section.
Click the Download button.
Select the installation language.
Click the Confirm button.
Click the Download button to save the ISO file for version 23H2 to your computer.

After downloading the ISO file, you can proceed to create a bootable USB. Or you can mount the ISO file on a virtual machine to continue with the setup.

Download Windows 11 26H2 ISO for arm64 PCs through UUP Dump

To download the Windows 11 ISO file for arm64 devices, use these steps:

Open the UUP Dump page.
Click the Windows 11 menu and select the “26H2” version option.
Select the Windows 11 build to download the latest arm64 ISO file—for example, Windows 11, version 26H2 (26300.xxxx) arm64.
Choose the installation language with the “Language” menu.
Click the Next button.
Select the editions to include in your Windows 11 ISO file for your ARM device.
Click the Next button.
Select the “Download and convert to ISO” option.
Check the “Include updates (Windows converter only)” option.

Quick note: This is the option that will integrate the necessary updates to make the ISO file version of Windows 11 26H2 (or the latest version available at that moment).
Click the “Create download package” button to save the tool on your device.
Open the zip folder with File Explorer.
Click the Extract all button.
Select the location where you want to extract the files.
Click the Extract button.
Right-click the uup_download_windows.cmd batch file and select the Run as administrator option.

Quick note: You may get a message trying to run the script. If this is the case, choose the “Run Anyway” option.

Once you complete the steps, the script will download the necessary files from Microsoft servers and create the Windows 11 26H2 ISO file for ARM-based devices.

Create a Windows 11 26H2 for ARM64 USB bootable drive

To create a USB bootable drive for Windows 11 26H2 for ARM64, use these steps:

Open the Rufus website.
Click the link to download the latest version under the “Download” section.
Double-click the executable to launch the tool.
Click the Select button.
Open the ISO file location.
Select the Windows 11 ISO file for arm64.
Click the Open button.
Continue with the default settings to create the bootable media.
(Optional) Confirm a descriptive name for the USB drive, such as “Windows 11 USB for ARM.”
Click the Start button.
Click the OK button to skip the customization settings (if applicable).
Click the OK button to confirm the deletion of the USB drive data.

Once you complete the steps, you can use the bootable USB flash drive to install Windows 11 on ARM-based devices using a clean or in-place upgrade.

FAQs about the ISO file for ARM64 PCs

Here’s a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers about downloading the Windows 11 ISO for Copilot+ PCs and other ARM-based devices.

Can I use the ARM64 ISO on a PC with an Intel or AMD processor?

No, ARM64 ISOs only work on ARM-based processors. Use the x64 ISO for Intel and AMD devices.

Will Windows 11 ARM64 ISO work on Apple Macs’ processors?

Yes, but only through virtualization (for example, Parallels Desktop). Macs cannot natively boot Windows 11 ARM.

Can I install Windows 11 26H2 on an ARM64 Raspberry Pi?

Not officially. Some community projects support it, but drivers and stability may be limited.

What’s the difference between downloading from Microsoft and UUP Dump?

Microsoft offers prebuilt ISO files, while UUP Dump lets you generate the latest build with updates and editions.

Do I need a product key to install Windows 11 ARM64?

You can install without a key, but activation requires a valid Windows 11 license unless the device was previously activated.

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