Download Windows 11 ISO Free: Official Microsoft Method

You can download the original Windows 11 installation image, the ISO file, straight from Microsoft at no cost, and you do not need a product key to do it. The key only matters later, when you activate Windows. Below: the official download steps, how to check the file is genuine, what the PC needs, and how to make a bootable USB drive.

Microsoft changes the wording and layout of its download page from time to time. The steps follow the page as it stands at the time of writing: three options, a drop-down for the ISO, then a language choice.

Pick the right download

The page at microsoft.com/software-download/windows11 offers three different tools. They do different jobs:

Option	Use it when	Notes
Windows 11 Installation Assistant	You want to upgrade the PC you are sitting at	x64 only; needs Windows 10 version 2004 or later, administrator rights and 9 GB of free disk space
Create Windows 11 Installation Media (Media Creation Tool)	You want a bootable USB drive, or an ISO, for a clean install or for another PC	Needs a blank USB drive of at least 8 GB; everything on the drive is erased
Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO)	You want the ISO file itself, for a virtual machine, a custom USB, or later use	One multi-edition ISO; your licence decides which edition is activated

This post focuses on the third option, the ISO, and covers the Media Creation Tool as a way to make the USB drive.

Download the ISO step by step

Open the Windows 11 download page in your browser. Check that the browser shows HTTPS and the host name www.microsoft.com.
Scroll down to Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices.
In the drop-down, choose Windows 11 (multi-edition ISO for x64 devices) and select Download Now.
Choose the product language and select Confirm. Pick the language you want installed; if you are upgrading in place, pick the language of the current Windows.
Select 64-bit Download. The file is several gigabytes, so allow some time.

The download link Microsoft gives you is valid for 24 hours from when it is created. If it expires, go back to the page and generate a new one. This ISO is for x64 PCs. For an Arm64 PC, use the Arm64 download Microsoft offers separately from the x64 ISO.

Verify the file is genuine

Windows ISOs are large and widely copied, so it is worth confirming that yours has not been altered or corrupted. The Microsoft page lists the SHA-256 hash for each language of the file. Calculate the hash of what you downloaded in PowerShell:

Get-FileHash "$HOME\Downloads\Win11_English_x64.iso" -Algorithm SHA256

Use the full path and file name of your own download, which may differ from the example. Compare the Hash value with the one in Microsoft’s table for your release and language. If they match exactly, the file is intact and unmodified. If they differ, first check that you are comparing against the right release, architecture and language; if it still differs, do not use the file and download it again. The Get-FileHash cmdlet works in both Windows PowerShell 5.1 and PowerShell 7.

Check the PC can run Windows 11

Before you install, check the hardware against Microsoft’s published minimum requirements for Windows 11:

A compatible 64-bit processor with at least two cores and a 1 GHz clock speed
4 GB of RAM
64 GB of storage
UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability
TPM version 2.0
A DirectX 12 compatible graphics card with a WDDM 2.0 driver
A display larger than 9 inches diagonally with 720p resolution and 8 bits per colour channel

Processor speed and core count are only part of the CPU requirement: the processor model also has to be on Microsoft’s supported list. Home and Pro for personal use also need an internet connection and a Microsoft account during first setup.

Two quick checks from an administrator PowerShell window show whether the PC has the firmware features:

Get-Tpm
Confirm-SecureBootUEFI

Get-Tpm reports whether a TPM is present and ready, but not its version, so also run tpm.msc and check that Specification Version says 2.0. Confirm-SecureBootUEFI returns True when Secure Boot is on and False when the PC supports it but it is switched off; an error means the firmware does not support it, as on a PC that starts in legacy BIOS mode. You can also run msinfo32 and look at the BIOS Mode and Secure Boot State lines. Microsoft says that installing Windows 11 on a PC that does not meet the requirements is not recommended and that such a PC is not entitled to receive updates.

Make a bootable USB drive

The easiest supported route is Microsoft’s own tool:

On the same download page, select Download Now under Create Windows 11 Installation Media and run the tool.
Accept the licence, then confirm the language and edition (the defaults come from the current PC; clear Use the recommended options for this PC to change them). The tool creates x64 media.
Choose USB flash drive and select a blank drive of at least 8 GB. Everything on it will be deleted.
Wait for the download and creation steps to finish. The tool downloads the installation files itself; it does not reuse an ISO you already have.

If you already downloaded the ISO and want to use it, the free, open-source tool Rufus can write it to a USB drive. Take care when copying the contents of the ISO to a USB drive by hand: the main installation file inside is often larger than 4 GB, which a drive formatted as FAT32 cannot hold. The Media Creation Tool and Rufus handle that for you.

Do you need a product key?

Not to download, and you can skip the key during installation. Windows may then activate automatically if the PC already has a matching digital licence or an embedded OEM key; otherwise you need a valid licence, and some personalization settings stay limited until Windows is activated. The multi-edition ISO contains several editions, so install the one your licence covers. If you are choosing between editions, see our guide to Windows 11 Home vs Pro.

Why to use Microsoft’s download and not a repack

Many sites offer a “free Windows 11 ISO” with a bundled downloader, a “pre-activated” copy or a cracked key. Unofficial modified images and downloaders can contain malware, and a compromised installer can compromise the whole installation. Use Microsoft’s official download, then verify the SHA-256 hash as shown above.

Problems you may run into

The download link stopped working. It is valid for 24 hours. Generate a new one from the page.
You cannot find the ISO option. It is the third section of the page, below the Installation Assistant and the Media Creation Tool. Scroll all the way down, or open the page in a desktop browser if you are on a phone or tablet.
The hash does not match. Check the release and language first, then download the file again and compare again.
Setup says the PC cannot run Windows 11. Check TPM 2.0, Secure Boot and UEFI mode as above. Your firmware settings screen may call the TPM by a vendor name such as fTPM or PTT.

Common questions

Is the official Windows 11 ISO really free?

The download is free. Windows itself needs a licence to be activated and to remove the limits on an unactivated copy.

Which edition does the ISO install?

The multi-edition ISO includes several editions of Windows 11. A licence key or an existing digital licence unlocks the right edition, and Setup asks you to choose one if no key is provided.

Can I use the ISO in a virtual machine?

Yes. Hypervisors such as Hyper-V, VirtualBox and VMware can boot from an ISO directly. The virtual machine still has to meet the Windows 11 requirements, including enough RAM, storage and CPU cores, plus virtual TPM and Secure Boot support in the hypervisor.

How big is the download?

The size varies by release, language and architecture, so check the size shown before you start the download.

Keep reading

Windows 11 Home vs Pro: What You Actually Get and When Pro Is Worth It — Which edition to install from the multi-edition ISO.
How to Enable BitLocker in Windows 10 and 11 (Step by Step) — Encrypt the drive once Windows is installed.
Windows Boot Process Step by Step (and How to Fix Each Stage) — What happens when the PC starts from your new USB drive.

Sources

Related: Putting this ISO on a FAT32 USB stick and a large file will not copy? See why FAT32 stops at 4 GiB and how to get around it.

How to Download the Original Windows 11 ISO for Free (Official Microsoft Method)