- To download Windows 11 onto a USB, download and launch the “Media Creation Tool,” click “Accept,” “Next,” select “USB flash drive,” click “Next,” choose the USB, click “Next,” and “Finish.”
- To download Windows 11 as an ISO file, download and launch the “Media Creation Tool,” click “Accept,” “Next,” select “ISO file,” click “Next,” choose the location to save the file, click “Save,” and “Finish.”
If you plan to upgrade to Windows 11, the best method is to use Windows Update. However, Microsoft supports other methods to proceed with a new installation using the Media Creation Tool.
The Media Creation Tool is a standalone application designed to retrieve the installation files and create a USB flash drive or ISO file to perform a clean install of Windows 11.
In this guide, you will learn the easy steps to download the Windows 11 installation files with the Media Creation Tool to create a USB bootable media or ISO file.
- Download Windows 11 onto a USB with Media Creation Tool
- Download Windows 11 onto an ISO with Media Creation Tool
Download Windows 11 onto a USB with Media Creation Tool
Windows 11’s Media Creation Tool is expected to be available immediately after the official launch on October 5. Also, since the new system is based on Windows 10, the instructions will be similar to the ones for the current version of the tool.
To use the Media Creation Tool to create a bootable Windows 11 USB install media, use these steps:
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Open Microsoft support website.
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Under the “Create Windows 11 installation media” section, click the Download Now button.
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Double-click the MediaCrationTool.exe file to launch the tool.
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Click the Accept button.
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Click the Next button.
Quick note: If creating a Windows 11 USB for another device, you can also clear the “Use the recommended options for this PC” option to select the correct language. -
Select the “USB flash drive” option.
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Click the Next button.
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Select the USB flash drive from the list, but ensure it has no important files, as this process will erase everything on it.
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Click the Next button.
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Click the Finish button.
Once you complete the steps, you can start a device using UEFI with the USB drive to install Windows 11.
Download Windows 11 onto an ISO with Media Creation Tool
To download the Windows 11 ISO file with the Media Creation Tool, use these steps:
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Under the “Create Windows 11 installation media” section, click the “Download tool now” button.
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Double-click the MediaCrationTool.exe file to launch the tool.
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Click the Accept button.
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Click the Next button.
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Select the ISO file option.
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Click the Next button.
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Select the location to save the file.
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Confirm a name for the image – for example, Windows_11_Setup.
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Click the Save button.
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Click the Finish button.
After you complete the steps, the tool will download the files and create an ISO file that you can use to create a bootable media or mount to a virtual machine to install Windows 11.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows expert and the Editor-in-Chief who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He's also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 12 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows, software, and related technologies, 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+ & Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, and LinkedIn.