Perform clean install of Windows 11 23H2 (2025)

To clean install Windows 11, start the PC from a USB bootable flash drive, follow the on-screen instructions, skip activation, and select the “Custom” option for a clean installation. Continue choosing the setup drive, click “Next,” and complete the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE).
Windows 11 23H2 will reach the end of support on November 11, 2025, meaning the operating system will no longer receive updates or support of any kind.

UPDATED 10/27/2025: Windows 11 23H2 was officially released on October 31, 2023, and performing a clean installation from a USB flash drive is among the best methods to upgrade. Microsoft recommends using an in-place upgrade through Windows Update, but modifying the current installation can sometimes cause problems and unexpected errors due to compatibility issues and custom system configurations. When you perform a clean install of Windows 11 23H2, the chances of problems are minimal because you will wipe everything and install a fresh copy of the operating system.

It’s important to note that version 23H2 is a cumulative update for devices running version 22H2, without requiring a reinstallation. However, if you have had the same setup for a long time, starting from scratch can help resolve existing problems and improve startup times, performance, and memory usage.

Also, even though you can use different ways to perform a clean installation, the best method is to use a USB bootable media with the Windows 11 23H2 files, which you can create using the Media Creation Tool, the official ISO file, or third-party tools like Rufus.

In this guide, I will teach you how to perform a clean installation of Windows 11 23H2 from a bootable USB flash drive on computers running Windows 11 22H2, Windows 10, or an older version.

Also, the setup process for installing the Windows 11 2023 Update requires starting the computer from a USB bootable media, which means you also have to change the UEFI settings to ensure the computer starts from the USB flash drive. Since firmware settings vary by device, you should check your manufacturer’s support website for more specific details. Once you start the device in the installation setup, you can continue with the instructions below.

It’s important to note that version 23H2 will reach the end of support on November 11, 2025, for Windows 11 Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstations. However, Windows 11 Enterprise and Education will continue to be supported until November 10, 2026. After this day, you can continue to use the operating system, but Microsoft will no longer provide security updates, features, device drivers, or technical support.

Also, the company no longer provides the installation files for this version. If you still have a computer running version 23H2 or an older release, it’s recommended to upgrade to version 25H2.

Warning: This process will delete everything on your device. It’s recommended that you make a full backup of your computer before proceeding. You’ve been warned.

Clean install Windows 11 23H2 from USB
Clean install Windows 11 23H2 from ISO file

Clean install Windows 11 23H2 from USB

To do a clean install of Windows 11 23H2 from a USB, follow these steps:

Start the PC with the Windows 11 23H2 USB flash drive.

Quick note: After the release of version 24H2, Microsoft no longer offers the installation files for version 23H2. However, you can still download the older version of the operating system using the UUP Dump script.
Press any key to continue.
Click the Next button.

Quick tip: If you want to install the operating system without third-party apps (bloatware) from Microsoft partners, choose the “English (World)” or “English (Europe)” option from the “Time and Currency format” setting. If you have another language requirement, choose the correct “(World)” option for your location.
Click the Install now button.
Click the “I don’t have a product key” option if you are doing a reinstallation. If Windows 11 was previously activated after the installation, reactivation would happen automatically.
Select the edition of “Windows 11” that your license key activates (if applicable).
Check the “I accept the license terms” option.
Click the Next button.
Select the “Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)” option.
Select each partition in the hard drive you want to install Windows 11 23H2 and click the Delete button. (Typically, the “Drive 0” is the drive that contains all the installation files.)

Warning: When you delete a partition, it also deletes all data on the drive. Also, it is not required to delete the partitions from a secondary hard drive.
Select the hard drive (“Drive 0 Unallocated Space”) to install Windows 11 23H2 (2023 Update) on your computer.
Click the Next button.
Select your region setting after the installation on the first page of the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE).
Click the Yes button.
Select your keyboard layout setting.
Click the Yes button.
Click the Skip button if you do not need to configure a second layout.
The computer will automatically connect to the network using an Ethernet connection. If you have a wireless connection, you must set up the connection manually (a security key may be required) and click the Next button.
Confirm a name for the computer.

Quick note: This is an optional step, but it’s highly recommended to set a name to make it easier to identify the device in the network, on your Microsoft account, and when restoring your computer from backup. Also, after completing this step, the setup will restart to apply the new name, but it’ll start where you left off to continue with the settings.
Click the Next button. (The device will restart automatically.)
Select the “Set up for personal use” option if configuring Windows 11 Pro. The “Home” edition does not have this option.

Quick tip: Use the “Set up for work or school” option to skip the Microsoft account and create a local account.
Click the Next button.
Click the Sign in button.
Confirm your Microsoft account email or phone number to create an account.
Click the Next button.
Confirm your Microsoft account password.
Click the Next button.
Click the “More options” setting.

Quick tip: You can also click the “Restore from this PC” button to restore your files, apps, settings, and credentials from the system backup available in your OneDrive account. You can learn more about the Windows Backup app in this guide.
Click the “Set up a new device” option to continue or select the backup to restore.
Click the Create PIN button.
Create a new four-digit PIN.
Click the OK button.
Scroll down and confirm the privacy settings that best suit your situation by turning on or off the toggle switch for each setting.
Click the Accept button.
(Optional) On the “Let’s customize your experience” page, select one or more ways you plan to use the device to allow the setup to suggest tools and service customizations during this experience.
Click the Accept button to continue. Or click the Skip button to skip this part of the setup.
Click the Skip button for the Android phone link process.
Click the “Continue without” button to skip the Microsoft 365 setup.
Click the Decline button to skip the OneDrive offer.
Click the “Skip for now” button to skip the Game Pass subscription promotion.

Once you complete the steps, Windows 11 23H2 will finish the clean installation on the device.

Clean install Windows 11 23H2 from ISO file

To clean install Windows 11 23H2 with an ISO file, follow these steps:

Download the Windows 11 23H2 ISO file.
Right-click the ISO file, then select Mount.

[/tbx]Quick tip: If the option isn’t available, select the “Open with” menu and choose the “Windows Explorer” option.[/tbx]
Select the virtual drive from the left navigation pane.
Double-click the Setup.exe file to begin installing Windows 11 23H2.
(Optional) Click the “Change how Windows Setup downloads updates” option.
Select the “Not right now” option.
Click the Next button.
Click the Accept button to agree to the terms.
Click the “Change what to keep” option.
Select the Nothing option.
Click the Next button.
Click the Install button.
Click the Next button.
Choose your region setting on the first page of the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE) after the installation.
Click the Yes button.
Select your keyboard layout setting.
Click the Yes button.
Click the Skip button if you do not need to configure a second layout.
The computer will automatically connect to the network using an Ethernet connection. You must set up the connection manually on a wireless connection (a security key may be required).
(Optional) Confirm a name for the computer.

Quick note: This is an optional step, but it’s highly recommended to set a name to make it easier to identify the device in the network, on your Microsoft account, and when restoring your computer from backup. Additionally, after completing this step, the setup will restart to apply the new name, and it’ll resume where you left off to continue with the settings.
Click the Next button. (The device will restart automatically.)
Select the “Set up for personal use” option for Windows 11 Pro. This option is not available for the “Home” edition.

Quick tip: Use the “Set up for work or school” option to skip the Microsoft account and create a local account.
Click the Next button.
Click the Sign in button.
Confirm your Microsoft account email to create a Windows 11 account.
Click the Next button.
Confirm your Microsoft account password.
Click the Next button.
Click the Create PIN button.
Create a new four-digit Windows Hello PIN.
Click the OK button.
Turn on or off the toggle switch for each privacy setting to confirm the one that best suits your situation.
Click the Next button.
Click the Next button again.
Click the Accept button.
Click the More options setting.

Quick tip: You can also click the “Restore from this PC” button to restore your files, apps, settings, and credentials from the system backup available in your OneDrive account. You can learn more about the Windows Backup app in this guide.
Click the “Set up as a new PC” option.
Click the “Set up as a new PC” option again.
(Optional) On the “Let’s customize your experience” page, select one or more ways you plan to use the device to allow the operating system to suggest tools and service customization during this experience.
Click the Accept button to continue. Or click the Skip button to skip this part of the setup.
(Optional) Use the code to link your Android phone, or click the “Skip” option.
(Optional) Use the code to download the OneDrive app on your phone or click the “Skip” option.
Click the “Not now” button if you will be using a browser other than Microsoft Edge.

After you complete the steps, the clean installation process will begin, similar to using the Media Creation Tools or a USB flash drive to upgrade the system.

Update September 25, 2023: The update available on September 26, 2023, only enables some of the features for version 23H2 (including Copilot, Windows Backup, redesigned File Explorer, updated Settings, Dynamic Lighting, and others) on devices already running version 22H2. However, the system will continue to show version 22H2 on the About settings page. Once Microsoft completes this rollout, at a later time, before the end of 2023, another update will become available to finish deploying the rest of the feature update and switch the system from version 22H2 to 23H2. After this point, the company is expected to update the Media Creation Tool, Installation Assistant, and ISO file to perform an in-place upgrade or clean installation. Also, devices with older releases of the operating system may be able to update directly to version 23H2 from Windows Update.

Update November 2, 2023: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect that the Windows 11 2023 Update was released on October 31. Also, it’s important to note that the Out-of-box Experience is always changing, which means that your experience may be slightly different.

Updated November 6, 2023: This guide has been updated to reflect changes for the Out-of-box Experience for version 23H2.

Update October 27, 2025: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.