microsoft downloads iso downloads Download Original Windows 10 1507 ISO (32-bit / 64-bit) Here's how you can download Windows 10 Pro, Home (x86, x64) ISO images officially and legally directly from Microsoft. You can use these images for recovery or reinstalling Windows 10 later on. Windows 10 is a huge release from the Redmond-based software giant. In fact, it's so big that it's expected to break the Internet during its rollout period. And with a lot riding on this big release, Microsoft is also aiming to push its OS to at least a billion devices in two to three years. Bold claim indeed. Packed to the rafters with new and improved features, Windows 10 breaks away from the tried and tested Windows releases which we have become accustomed to and dives head first into territory which blurs the line between the present and future. With great features to boot such as Continuum tablet mode, Microsoft has made sure that its desktop operating system is ready for the next-generation of hardware from different manufacturers. All that sounds good on paper and things get even better knowing that Windows 10 will be a free upgrade for Windows 7 Service Pack 1 and Windows 8.1 Update users. And if you're a qualifying individual, you can grab Windows 10 from Windows Update right now, or you can take the geek route and download the ISO files directly from Microsoft onto your PC later on which you can use to create a bootable USB or DVD. Download Windows 10 ISO Image. 1. Download the official tool for downloading latest Windows 10 ISO files from here and launch it. 2. Click on the 'Create installation media for another PC' option. Click on 'Next.' 3. Over here you'll be presented with three options: Language, Edition and Architecture. Carefully fill in the form for the Windows 10 ISO you wish to download. Once you've decided what you want to download, click on 'Next'. We would suggest reviewing your choices once more just in case. 4. Select the 'ISO file' option, select the place you wish to save it and then click on the 'Save' button to begin the download process. If you have a slow Internet connection, then the download can take up to a few hours, so be patient while things are in progress. We would also suggest that you not use your PC during this time period to make sure that everything goes as smoothly as possible. Done downloading your Windows 10 ISO file? You are all set to either create a bootable Windows 10 USB drive or a bootable Windows 10 DVD or if you like, you can backup the ISO file onto an external drive for safe keeping. If you just want to upgrade straight away, then be sure to check out: Download and Install Windows 10 Right Now. Windows 11 ISO. Everything about Windows 11 shows that Microsoft is fully focussed on user experience and revamping the interface to make its OS more modern and practical. We can't wait for the free upgrade to become available! After years of work on the modernization of the Windows ecosystem , Windows 11 will soon become a reality. Microsoft's brand new OS was officially announced on Thursday June 24. Windows 11 is visually renewed and integrates new technologies that promise a better user experience . Several of the new Windows 11 OS features were initially thought for the cancelled Windows 10X project. This is our Windows 11 ISO download page, and we will talk about how to get Windows 11, and look to answer the question of when will Windows 11 come out. Before downloading the Windows 11 ISO Image. We strongly recommend that you only use official downloads of the Windows 11 disc image, and stay clear of the Windows 11 leak which was leaked before the Windows 11 event. Avoid downloading from peer-to-peer sources as the download could contain a virus, or simply the wrong version. Additionally, with the Windows 11 release, a developer version of Windows 11 was leaked before the official release. It is possible that this version of the Windows 11 ISO file download is still online. It is best to refrain from installing this and simply using the official version. Windows 11 Key Features. Android apps : Windows 11 will be able to run Android apps, made possible through the integration of Amazon's Appstore into the Windows Store. Android apps can be pinned to the taskbar and used at the same time with traditional Windows applications. Startup sound : A startup sounds returns to Windows 11 after its absence (at least by default) in Windows 8 and Windows 10. New wallpapers : Now you can choose from different backgrounds for the light and dark modes . The available wallpapers are divided into the collections 'Captured Motion', 'Glow', 'Flow' and 'Sunrise', Each category has different visual characteristics and effects. Better tactile experience : Windows 11 includes new touch gestures (inherited from Windows 10X) to return to Start, open and close apps, multitasking and more. Also, the touch keyboard is completely renewed with shortcuts for emojis, GIFs and stickers visible at the top. Centered Start menu : For the first time in Windows history, the Start menu will be located in the middle of the task bar . Users do still have the freedom to move the menu to the left or right. Window management : By placing the cursor on the Maximize button, it is possible to rearrange your windows and distribute them on your screen to see 2, 3 or 4 apps at the same time. Renewed Microsoft Store : The Windows application store has been reimagined to be more modern and faster , besides offering better conditions to app developers. Battery health : Windows 11 provides more details and recommendations regarding the status and usage of your PC's battery. Voice and pen features : The operating system includes new possibilities for voice input and using a stylus. Visual design : Windows 11 will look considerably distinct from its predecessors. Most of the icons have been redesigned, task and application windows now have rounded corners and there are animations when opening and closing apps. Widget panel : Things like MSN news, traffic and weather information can be accessed with a single click on the toolbar, or by swiping towards the left of the screen. Gaming : Windows 11 will offer the best experience ever for gaming. Several Xbox Series X/S features, such as Automatic High Dynamic Range (HDR) and DirectStorage, will be available in Windows 11. Moreover, thanks to the new Xbox Game Pass for PC service, gamers will have access to over 100 high-quality games. When will Windows 11 be released? The Windows 11 release date has not yet been fixed. We currently have a rough release date of before the 2021 holidays, so later this year. It is however possible to sign up for the Windows 11 beta from July, giving users access to Windows 11 before the final release. Can I Download Windows 11 for Free? At the Windows event we found out the answer to the question of will Windows 11 be free, and we have good news. The operating system will be offered as a free upgrade for current Windows 10 users. It may also be free to install the Windows 11 download for users of older Windows versions, as long as they upgrade their machine to Windows 10 first. To get your hands on the Microsoft Windows 11 upgrade, you can either wait until the final release later this year, or join the public beta as mentioned previously. How to Know if Your PC Supports TMP 2.0. TPM 2.0 is one of the key installation prerequisites of Windows 11. It is very easy to check if your PC meets this requirement. Simply press the Windows + R keys simultaneously and type “tpm.msc” in the text field that pops up and hit Enter to confirm. In the Windows that now appears, you will find your computer's TPM version next to "Specification Version": Windows 11 Requirements for Your PC. Your computer must have the following minimum requirements to be able to install Windows 11: Processor 1GHz single-core processor. Memory : 4 GB RAM memory. Storage : 64 GB free disk space. Graphic Card : DirectX 12 compatible. The PC must support TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot . In order to assure yourself that your computer meets the requirements to run Windows 11, you can do a compatibility check using the Microsoft PC Health Check app. Download Windows 10. Before updating, please refer to the Windows release information status for known issues to confirm your device is not impacted. Windows 10 May 2021 Update. The Update Assistant can help you update to the latest version of Windows 10. To get started, click Update now . Create Windows 10 installation media. To get started, you will first need to have a license to install Windows 10. You can then download and run the media creation tool. For more information on how to use the tool, see the instructions below. Here’s when to use these instructions: You have a license to install Windows 10 and are upgrading this PC from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. You need to reinstall Windows 10 on a PC you’ve already successfully activated Windows 10. If you are installing Windows 10 on a PC running Windows XP or Windows Vista, or if you need to create installation media to install Windows 10 on a different PC, see Using the tool to create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) to install Windows 10 on a different PC section below. Note : Before you install Windows 10, check to make sure your PC meets the system requirements for Windows 10. We also recommend going to the PC manufacturer's website for any additional info about updated drivers and hardware compatibility. Select Download tool , and select Run . You need to be an administrator to run this tool. On the License terms page, if you accept the license terms, select Accept . On the What do you want to do? page, select Upgrade this PC now , and then select Next . After downloading and installing, the tool will walk you through how to set up Windows 10 on your PC. All Windows 10 editions are available when you select Windows 10, except for Enterprise edition. For more information on Enterprise edition, go to the Volume Licensing Service Center. If you don't have a license to install Windows 10 and have not yet previously upgraded to it, you can purchase a copy here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/get-windows-10. If you previously upgraded to Windows 10 on this PC and you’re reinstalling it, you don’t need to enter a product key. Your copy of Windows 10 will automatically activate later using your digital license. Follow these steps to create installation media (USB flash drive or DVD) you can use to install a new copy of Windows 10, perform a clean installation, or reinstall Windows 10. Before you download the tool make sure you have: An internet connection (internet service provider fees may apply). Sufficient data storage available on a computer, USB or external drive for the download. A blank USB flash drive with at least 8GB of space or blank DVD (and DVD burner) if you want to create media. We recommend using a blank USB or blank DVD, because any content on it will be deleted. When burning a DVD from an ISO file, if you are told the disc image file is too large you will need to use Dual Layer (DL) DVD Media. Check a few things on the PC where you want to install Windows 10: 64-bit or 32-bit processor (CPU). You’ll create either a 64-bit or 32-bit version of Windows 10. To check this on your PC, go to PC info in PC settings or System in Control Panel, and look for System type . System requirements. Make sure the PC meets the system requirements for Windows 10. We also recommend going to the PC manufacturer's website for additional info about updated drivers and hardware compatibility. Language in Windows. You'll need to choose the same language when you install Windows 10. To see what language you're currently using, go to Time and language in PC settings or Region in Control Panel. Edition of Windows. You should also choose the same edition of Windows. To check what edition you're currently running, go to PC info in PC settings or System in Control Panel, and look for Windows edition . Windows 10 Enterprise isn’t available in the media creation tool. For more info, go to the Volume Licensing Service Center. Microsoft Office products . If you just purchased a new device that includes Office 365, we recommend redeeming (installing) Office before upgrading to Windows 10. To redeem your copy of Office, please see Download and install Office 365 Home, Personal, or University on your PC. For more information, check How to upgrade to Windows 10 on new devices that include Office 365. If you have Office 2010 or earlier and choose to perform a clean install of Windows 10, you will need to locate your Office product key. For tips on locating your product key, check Find your Office 2010 product key or Enter the product key for your Office 2007 program. Using the tool to create installation media: Select Download tool now , and select Run . You need to be an administrator to run this tool. If you agree to the license terms, select Accept . On the What do you want to do? page, select Create installation media for another PC , and then select Next . Select the language, edition, and architecture (64-bit or 32-bit) for Windows 10. This table will help you decide which edition of Windows 10 you’ll choose: USB flash drive. Attach a blank USB flash drive with at least 8GB of space. Any content on the flash drive will be deleted. ISO file. Save an ISO file to your PC, which you can use to create a DVD. After the file is downloaded, you can go to location where the file is saved, or select Open DVD burner , and follow the instructions to burn the file to a DVD. For more info about using an ISO file, see Additional methods for using the ISO file to install Windows 10 section below. After completing the steps to install Windows 10, please check that you have all the necessary device drivers installed. To check for updates now, select the Start button, and then go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and select Check for updates. You may also wish to visit your device manufacturer’s support site for any additional drivers that may be needed. Note: Drivers for Surface devices may be found on the Download drivers and firmware for Surface page. Before you install Windows 10, it’s a good idea to save any work and back up your PC before you start. If you used the media creation tool to download an ISO file for Windows 10, you’ll need to burn it to a DVD before following these steps. Attach the USB flash drive or insert the DVD on the PC where you want to install Windows 10. Restart your PC. If your PC does not automatically boot to the USB or DVD media, you might have to open a boot menu or change the boot order in your PC's BIOS or UEFI settings. To open a boot menu or change the boot order, you'll typically need to press a key (such as F2, F12, Delete, or Esc) immediately after you turn on your PC. For instructions on accessing the boot menu or changing the boot order for your PC, check the documentation that came with your PC or go to the manufacturer's website. If you do not see the USB or DVD media device listed within the boot options, you may need to reach out to the PC manufacturer for instructions for temporarily disabling Secure Boot in your BIOS settings. If changing the boot menu or order doesn't work, and your PC immediately boots into the OS you want to replace, it is possible the PC had not fully shut down. To ensure the PC fully shuts down, select the power button on the sign-in screen or on the Start menu and select Shut down. If you downloaded an ISO file for Windows 10, the file is saved locally at the location you selected. If you have a third-party DVD burning program installed on your computer that you prefer to use for creating the installation DVD, that program might open by going to the location where the file is saved and double-clicking the ISO file, or right-click the ISO file, select Open with and choose your preferred DVD burning software. If you want to use the Windows Disk Image Burner to create an installation DVD, go to the location where the ISO file is saved. Right-click the ISO file and select Properties . On the General tab, click Change and select Windows Explorer for the program you would like to use to open ISO files and select Apply . Then right-click the ISO file and select Burn disc image . If you want to install Windows 10 directly from the ISO file without using a DVD or flash drive, you can do so by mounting the ISO file. This will perform an upgrade of your current operating system to Windows 10. Where to Download Windows 10, 8.1, and 7 ISOs Legally. Chris Hoffman is Editor-in-Chief of How-To Geek. He's written about technology for over a decade and was a PCWorld columnist for two years. Chris has written for The New York Times, been interviewed as a technology expert on TV stations like Miami's NBC 6, and had his work covered by news outlets like the BBC. Since 2011, Chris has written over 2,000 articles that have been read nearly one billion times---and that's just here at How-To Geek. Read more. Walter Glenn is a former Editorial Director for How-To Geek and its sister sites. He has more than 30 years of experience in the computer industry and over 20 years as a technical writer and editor. He's written hundreds of articles for How-To Geek and edited thousands. He's authored or co-authored over 30 computer-related books in more than a dozen languages for publishers like Microsoft Press, O'Reilly, and Osborne/McGraw-Hill. He's also written hundreds of white papers, articles, user manuals, and courseware over the years. Read more. You can reinstall Windows from scratch using the product key that came with your PC, but you’ll have to find installation media yourself. Microsoft offers free ISO files for downloading; you just have to know where to look. There are a few ways to do this, but they’re all on the straight and narrow–you won’t have to visit a shady BitTorrent site to download ISOs that may be filled with malware. Instead, you get official installation media straight from Microsoft. NOTE: Depending on the OEM version of Windows that you are running, you might run into an issue using the OEM key with a retail version of Windows. If it won’t activate, you can always install and then call Microsoft to get them to straighten it out and allow your copy to activate. The most important thing is that you have a valid license key. Download the Windows 10 or 8.1 ISO Using the Media Creation Tool. If you’ve got access to a Windows machine, the official method for downloading ISOs for Windows 8.1 and 10 is the Media Creation Tool. The process for using the tool is largely the same for both versions of Windows, so we’ll be using the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool for our example. We’ll just note where anything differs. One caveat you should be aware of up front is that you can no longer download an ISO for Windows 8–just 8.1. And the product keys are different for Windows 8 and 8.1, so if you have a Windows 8 product key, you can’t just use it to install Windows 8.1. Instead, you’ll have to install Windows 8, then do a free upgrade to 8.1. After you do the upgrade, Windows will assign the new product key to the installation. You can find that product key in a number of different ways and save it for the future. After that, you should be able to do a clean installation of Windows 8.1 using the new product key and won’t have to worry about installing Windows 8 first and going the upgrade route. Start by downloading either the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool or the Windows 8.1 Media Creation Tool. Once the file has downloaded, just double-click it to start the tool and then click “Yes” to give it permission to make changes to your PC. When the tool starts, click “Accept” to accept the license terms. Note that the Windows 8.1 version of the tool does not ask you to accept license terms. (If you don’t want to use the Media Creation Tool and just want to download an ISO file directly, just change your browser’s user agent to a non- Windows browser like Apple Safari on iPad while you’re viewing the download page. Microsoft will offer you a direct download of the Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 ISO file instead of the standard Media Creation Tool, which only runs on Windows.) When the tool asks what you want to do, select “Create installation media for another PC” and then click “Next.” The Windows 8.1 version of the tool also does not provide this option; it just defaults to creating installation media for another PC (which is what we want). The tool will suggest a language, edition, and architecture for Windows based on information about the PC on which the tool is running. If you’re going to use the installation media on that PC, go ahead and just click “Next.” If you’re planning to install it on a different PC, clear the “Use recommended options for this PC” check box, select options that are more appropriate for the license you have, and then click “Next.” Note that if you’re using the 8.1 version of the tool, you actually start with this screen. The tool also won’t recommend options; you have to select them yourself. Remember, your license will only work with the correct version of Windows–if your license is for 64-bit Windows 10 Pro, you can’t install 32-bit Windows 10 Home with it, so ensure your selections here match what’s listed on your product key. Next, select whether you want the tool to create a bootable USB flash drive with the installation media, or just create an ISO file that you can use or burn to a DVD later. We’re going with the ISO file in this example, but the process is much the same either way. If you go with the USB option, you’ll need to provide a USB drive with at least 3 GB of space. Also, the USB drive will be formatted during the process, so make sure there’s nothing on it you need. Select the option you want and then click “Next.” Choose a place to save the finished ISO file (or point the tool toward the right USB drive if that’s the option you chose). At this point, the Media Creation Tool will begin downloading the files and assembling your ISO, which can take a fair bit of time depending on your internet connection. When it’s finished, you can click “Open DVD Burner” if you want to go ahead and create a disc or just click Finish if you don’t want to make a disc right now. Now that you have your new ISO saved, you’re ready to make use of it however you see fit. You could go ahead and perform a clean installation of Windows (which technically you don’t even need a product key to do), use the ISO to create a virtual machine, or just save it for when you need it down the road. Download the Windows 7 SP1 ISO Directly From Microsoft’s Website. Microsoft makes the Windows 7 SP1 ISO available for direct download through their site. The only catch is that you’ll need a valid product key in order to download the file–and OEM keys (like the one that came on a sticker under your laptop) won’t work. If that’s you, proceed to the next section. If you do have a valid retail key, head to the Windows 7 download page, enter your product key, and click “Verify” to start the download process. After your product key is verified, select the product language you want to download and then click “Confirm.” Next, choose whether you want the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows 7. When you click whichever version you want, the download will begin. Note that download links generated by the site are only valid for 24 hours. Of course, you could always come back and walk through the verification and selection process again to generate new links. After downloading the ISO file, you can burn it to a DVD by right-clicking it in Windows Explorer and selecting “Burn disc image” to burn it to a disc. If you want to install Windows 7 from a USB drive, the best way is to use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool to put that ISO file onto a USB drive. The downloaded ISO you’ll get from Microsoft includes Windows 7 with Service Pack 1. When you install Windows 7, you can avoid the hassle of downloading and installing the hundreds of updates that came out after SP1 by installing the Windows 7 SP1 Convenience Rollup. Even better, why not take a little extra time and slipstream the Convenience Rollup right into your Windows 7 ISO? That way, whenever you install Windows 7 in the future, you’ll have one ISO with all the updates (at least up through May 2016) already included. Download Any Windows or Office ISO Using a Free Third-Party Tool. Microsoft used to make all these ISOs available through a site called Digital River, but it doesn’t anymore. Instead, they’re stored on its TechBench site. The ISOs can be hard to find, though, and for versions of Windows other than the most current, the site tries really hard to push you into using the Media Creation Tool instead. Enter the Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool. This free utility provides a simple interface that lets you select the version of Windows you want, then downloads an ISO for that version straight from Microsoft’s download servers. This includes various builds of the Windows 10 Insider Preview. You can also use the tool to download ISOs for certain versions of Microsoft Office. First, head over to HeiDoc.net and grab the Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool. It’s free and it’s a portable tool, so there’s no installation. Just launch the executable file. In the main window, choose the version of Windows or Office you’d like to download. Click the “Select Edition” drop-down menu and then choose the edition you want. Note that in addition to the regular editions of the product (such as Home or Professional), you can also download regions specific editions such as Windows N (which is sold to the European market and does not include multimedia apps like Media Player and DVD Maker) and Windows K (which is sold to the Korean market). After you select the edition you want to download, click “Confirm.” Next, use the drop-down menu that appears to choose the product language you want to download and then click the “Confirm” button under the language drop-down menu. Finally, choose whether to download the 32-bit or 64-bit version of the product. Clicking either download button will initiate the download using the ISO download tool, so you’ll need to keep it open until the download finishes. Alternatively, you can use the “Copy Link” buttons to the right to copy the direct download link to your clipboard and then download the file using your browser. Either way, note that most links generated by the tool are only valid for 24 hours, though you can always come back and generate new links. And that’s all there is to using the Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool. Yes, you could accomplish some of this by digging around the TechBench site, but using this clever little utility is quicker and saves a lot of hassle. Plus, for some products, like Windows 8.1, finding the direct download on the site is next to impossible. Microsoft also provides other software via the TechNet Evaluation Center. For example, you could download a trial version of Windows Server 2012 R2 and enter a legitimate product key to get the full version. Just click the “Evaluate Now” header on the site to see what trial versions of software are on offer. You will need to sign in with a Microsoft account before downloading. Using ISOs. If your device is hard to use because of an issue, or if you want to switch out of the Dev Channel or stop receiving preview builds, you might need to use an ISO for a clean installation or in-place upgrade. ISOs are available for both Windows 10 Insider Preview Builds and for Windows. In-place upgrade with a Windows Insider Preview ISO. Download your chosen ISO from the Windows Insider ISO page by saving it to a location on your device or creating a bootable USB. Open File Explorer and go to where you saved the ISO. Select the ISO file to open it, which lets Windows mount the image so you can access it. Select the setup.exe file to launch the install process. During setup, select the Keep Windows settings, personal files, and apps option. Clean installation with a Windows Insider Preview ISO. Back up all your files and applications. A clean install with a Windows Insider Preview ISO will erase all of your files, settings, and applications. Download your chosen ISO from the Windows Insider ISO page by saving it to a location on your device or creating a bootable USB. Open File Explorer and go to where you saved the ISO. Select the ISO file to open it, which lets Windows mount the image so you can access it. Select the setup.exe file to launch the install process. During setup, select the Change what to keep option, and then choose Nothing on the next screen to complete a clean intall. Once it's finished installing, make sure your Windows Insider settings are correct. Creating a bootable USB for Windows Insider ISOs. If you're having certain issues that prevent you from downloading an ISO to your device, or you need to quickly set up a new device in the Windows Insider Program, a bootable USB made from a Windows Insider ISO file can help. There are many third-party software applications that are capable of converting a USB drive into a bootable format. We're using Rufus in this example since it's free and lightweight on system resources. You can use any software that can format the USB into a bootable format and convert the ISO into the decompiled installation files. Download your chosen ISO from the Windows Insider ISO page by saving it to a location on your device you can easily remember. Connect a USB drive that's at least 8GB. Back up any data on the drive you want to save, because any data on it will erased. Launch Rufus or your preferred software. Configure the Rufus menu options: If you have multiple drives connected via USB (external hard drive, thumb drive, etc.), make sure you select the right device from the dropdown. Partition scheme and target system type should be set to MBR partition scheme for BIOS or UEFI . File system should be set to NTFS . If for some reason this doesn't work on your device, you can re-create it using FAT32. Cluster size can stay on 4096 bytes (Default) For New volume label , enter a name of your choosing. Under Format Options , 1 Pass should be selected from the first dropdown. Select the checkboxes beside Quick format , Create a bootable disk using , and Create extended label and icon files . Beside Create a bootable disk using , choose ISO Image from the dropdown, then select the disk icon next to the dropdown and navigate to the ISO file you downloaded. Select Start , and Rufus will format your USB and decompile the ISO. Once it's finished, you're all set. Now you can use it on a device. If you use this drive to upgrade a device that already has Windows on it, connect it to the device, open File Explorer, locate the drive, and launch setup.exe to get started. If you use this drive to do a clean Windows install, connect it to the device and reboot. You may also need to adjust your BIOS or UEFI settings to allow it to boot from a USB-based drive. Clean installation with a Windows 10 ISO. Back up all your files and applications. A clean install with a Windows 10 ISO will erase all of your files, settings, and applications. Download the latest Windows 10 ISO by saving it to a location on your PC or creating a bootable USB. Open File Explorer and go to where you saved the ISO. Select the ISO file to open it, which lets Windows mount the image so you can access it. Select the setup.exe file to launch the install process. During setup, select the Change what to keep option, and then choose Nothing on the next screen to complete a clean intall.