Windows 11 ISO file direct download without Media Creation Tool

UPDATED 11/14/24: The latest version of Windows 11 (24H2) is available for download through Windows Update on devices running an older release or Windows 10. However, you can also download the ISO file if you want to start fresh with a clean installation or if you are trying to install Windows 11 on an unsupported hardware configuration.

In the past, the official way involved using the Media Creation Tool or workarounds to download the installation files, but since Windows 11, you can download the official ISO file directly from the Microsoft support website.

It’s important to note that Microsoft only makes the current version available for download. For instance, at the time of this writing, the current release is version 24H2, which means that versions 23H2, 22H2, and 21H2 (original) are no longer available for download. Alternatively, you can also download the ISO file using the Rufus utility and the Media Creation Tool.

In this guide, I will teach you the steps to download the Windows 11 ISO file directly from the Microsoft servers.

Windows 11 ISO file direct download

To direct download the ISO file of Windows 11 (24H2), use these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Support website.

2. Select the Windows 11 (current release) option under the “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices” section.

   

3. Click the Download button.

4. Select the installation language.

   

5. Click the Confirm button.

6. Click the Download button to save the ISO file for version 23H2 to your computer.

   

After downloading the ISO file, you can use the Rufus to create a bootable media for Windows 11.

Update November 14, 2024: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.