Windows 11 25H2 download using Media Creation Tool

You can use the Media Creation Tool to download the Windows 11 2025 Update onto a USB or to create and ISO file, and here's how.

Media Creation Tool for 25H2
Media Creation Tool for 25H2 / Image: Mauro Huculak
  • To create a Windows 11 25H2 USB flash drive with the Media Creation Tool, download the tool from Microsoft, launch the setup, click “Accept,” click “Next,” choose “ISO file,” click “Next,” “Next,” and “Finish.”
  • To create a Windows 11 25H2 ISO file, download the tool from Microsoft, launch the setup, click “Accept,” click “Next,” choose “USB flash drive,” click “Next,” select a location, and click “Finish.”
  • The tool will be available once the feature update is released to the public.

When the time comes to upgrade to Windows 11 25H2 (2025 Update), you may want to use the Media Creation Tool to create a USB bootable media or an ISO file. Although you can use other tools like Rufus and Ventoy, the Media Creation Tool is the official Microsoft utility that has been designed to download the installation files and create a bootable media or ISO file to perform an in-place upgrade or clean install of Windows 11.

The software giant only makes the current version available for download, so you can’t choose the version to download and install. For example, once version 25H2 is released on October 14, 2025, you won’t be able to use the tool to download version 24H2 or 23H2.

In this guide, I will teach you how to use the Media Creation Tool to create a USB bootable media or ISO file for Windows 11.

Important: These steps are meant to download the tool after the feature update becomes available. If you download the Media Creation Tool before version 25H2 is officially released, you’ll be downloading the current version of the operating system (version 24H2) at that time. You have been warned.

Create Windows 11 25H2 USB using Media Creation Tool

To create a bootable Windows 11 25H2 USB install media with the Media Creation Tool, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Microsoft support website.

  2. Click the Download Now button under the “Create Windows 11 installation media” section.

  3. Double-click the mediacreationtool.exe file to launch the Media Creation Tool.

  4. Click the Accept button.

  5. Click the Next button.

    Media Creation Tool language settings

    Quick note: Clear the “Use the recommended options for this PC” option to select the correct language, architecture, and edition to create a Windows 11 25H2 USB for another device.
  6. Select the USB flash drive option.

    USB flash drive option

  7. Click the Next button.

  8. Select the USB flash drive from the list. Quick note: This process will delete everything on the drive, so make sure to back up any important files.

    Select USB to download Windows 11

    Quick note: This process will delete everything on the drive, so make sure to back up any important files.
  9. Click the Next button.

  10. Click the Finish button.

Once you complete the steps, you can start a device using UEFI with the USB drive to install Windows 11 25H2.

Create Windows 11 25H2 ISO file using Media Creation Tool

To download the Windows 11 25H2 ISO file with the Media Creation Tool, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Microsoft support website.

  2. Click the Download Now button under the “Create Windows 11 installation media” section.

  3. Double-click the mediacreationtool.exe file to launch the Media Creation 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 file.

  9. Confirm a name for the image – for example, Windows_11_25H2_Setup.

  10. Click the Save button.

  11. Click the Finish button.

After you complete the steps, the Media Creation Tool will create an ISO file that you can use to create bootable USB media. You can also mount the ISO file in File Explorer to launch the Windows 11 25H2 setup without needing a USB flash drive.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert and founder of Pureinfotech in 2010. With over 22 years as a technology writer and IT Specialist, Mauro specializes in Windows, software, and cross-platform systems such as Linux, Android, and macOS.

Certifications: Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), VMware Certified Professional (VCP), and CompTIA A+ and Network+.

Mauro is a recognized Microsoft MVP and has also been a long-time contributor to Windows Central.

You can follow him on YouTube, Threads, BlueSky, X (Twitter), LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].