How to download official Windows 11 23H2 ISO file

When the Windows 11 23H2 becomes available, you will be able to the official ISO file in at least three ways, and here's how.

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@Pureinfotech
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Windows 11 23H2 ISO download
Windows 11 23H2 ISO download
  • To download the Windows 11 23H2 ISO file, open the Microsoft download page, choose the ISO download option, click “Download,” choose language, click “Confirm,” and click “Download” again.
  • You can also use the Media Creation Tool or the Rufus third-party tool.

UPDATED 11/2/2023: You have multiple ways to download the Windows 11 23H2 ISO file on your computer, including from the Microsoft support website, using the Media Creation Tool, or through third-party tools like Rufus, which also allows you to download the ISO file for any version of Windows 11 and Windows 10.

An ISO file is a file format that includes the Windows installation files, removing the need to require physical media (such as a disc or USB flash drive). The option to download the ISO file is helpful for installing the Windows 11 23H2 on a virtual machine, creating a bootable media, or mounting it in File Explorer to launch the upgrade setup.

In this guide, I’ll teach you the steps to download the Windows 11 2023 Update (version 23H2) ISO file.

Important: Microsoft has announced that the Media Creation Tool will receive an update to create a bootable media on November 15, 2023. If you use the tool before this date, it’ll create a bootable media for version 22H2. However, you can still download the ISO directly from the Microsoft servers or use the Rufus app. You have been warned.

Download Windows 11 23H2 ISO file from Microsoft website

To download the Windows 11 23H2 ISO file (x64) directly from Microsoft, use these steps:

  1. Open Microsoft Support website.

  2. Under the “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64” section, select the Windows 11 (current release) option.

    Windows 11 ISO download

  3. Click the Download button.

  4. Select the installation language.

    Select ISO file language

  5. Click the Confirm button.

  6. Click the Download button to save the current Windows 11 23H2 ISO file to your computer.

    Windows 11 x64 ISO download

Once you complete the steps, the Windows 11 23H2 ISO file will download to your computer.

Download Windows 11 23H2 ISO file from Media Creation Tool

To download the Windows 11 2023 Update ISO file from the Media Creation Tool (after November 15), use these steps:

  1. Open Microsoft support website.

  2. Under the “Create Windows 11 installation media” section, click the “Download tool now” button.

  3. Double-click the MediaCrationToolW11.exe file to launch the tool.

  4. Click the Accept button.

  5. Click the Next button.

    Media Creation Tool language settings

  6. Select the ISO file option.

    Create Windows 11 ISO file

  7. Click the Next button.

  8. Select the location to save the ISO file.

  9. Confirm the ISO file name – for example, Windows_11_23H2_ISO.

  10. Click the Save button.

  11. Click the Finish button.

After you complete the steps, the utility will download the files and create the Windows 11 2023 Update ISO file.

Download Windows 11 23H2 ISO file from Rufus app

To use Rufus to download the Windows 11 23H2 ISO file, use these steps:

  1. Open Rufus website.

  2. Under the “Download” section, click the link to download the latest version.

  3. Double-click the executable to launch the tool.

  4. Click the Settings button (the third button from the left at the bottom of the page).

  5. Under the “Settings” section, use the “Check for updates” drop-down menu and select the Daily option.

  6. Click the Close button.

  7. Click the Close button again.

  8. Open Rufus again.

  9. (Optional) Under the “Device” section, use the drop-down menu and select the USB drive to create the installation media.

  10. Under the “Boot selection” section, use the drop-down menu and select the “Disk or ISO image” option.

  11. Click the down-arrow button (on the right side) and select the Download option.

    Rufus ISO download option

  12. Click the Download button.

  13. Select the Windows 11 option.

    Rufus Windows 11 23H2 ISO download

  14. Click the Continue button.

  15. Under the “Release” section, select the Windows 11 ISO you want to download. For example, select the “23H2 (Build 226X1.xxx – 2023.xx)” option to download the ISO file.

  16. Click the Continue button.

  17. Select the Windows 11 Home/Pro/Edu option.

  18. Click the Continue button.

  19. Select the installation language of Windows 11.

  20. Click the Continue button.

  21. Select the x64 option for the operating system architecture.

  22. Click the Download button.

  23. Select the location to save the Windows 11 23H2 ISO file automatically.

Once you complete the steps, the Windows 11 23H2 ISO file will download on the computer, and you can use it to create a bootable media or install the newest release on a virtual machine.

Update November 1, 2023: This guide has been updated to reflect that the 2023 Update is now officially available for download.

Update November 2, 2023: This guide adds details about the Media Creation Tool release date.

About the author
Avatar for Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].