Installation media, such as a USB flash drive, can be used to install a new copy of Windows, perform a clean installation of Windows, or reinstall Windows.
To create installation media, go to the software download website, where step-by-step instructions can be found. On that website, you can select a version of Windows and create installation media on ar a USB flash. Alternatively, an ISO file can be created for use in virtual machines (VMs) or for burning the installation media onto a DVD:
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Go to the Download Windows 11 site.
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Under Create Windows 11 Installation Media, select Download Now. The MediaCreationTool.exe tool is downloaded.
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Run MediaCreationTool.exe. The media creation tool walks through creating installation media.
Support for Windows 10 will end in October 2025
After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11.
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Go to the Download Windows 10 site.
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Under Create Windows 10 Installation Media, select Download Now. The MediaCreationTool.exe tool is downloaded.
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Run MediaCreationTool.exe. The media creation tool walks through creating installation media.
Important: Back up your files before you install or reinstall Windows on your PC. Learn how.
The following items are required to create the installation media:
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A PC with a reliable internet connection. The download time varies depending on the internet connection.
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A USB flash drive. A blank USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of space. It's recommended to use a blank USB flash drive because any content on the drive is deleted. For VMs, a USB flash drive isn't required. Instead, an ISO can be created for use in VMs. An ISO can also be used to create the installation media on a DVD.
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A product key. A 25-character product key might be needed (not required for digital licenses). For help with finding the product key, go to Find your Windows product key. Many modern devices contain the product key embedded in the firmware of the device. If the product key is embedded in the firmware of the device, the product key doesn't need to be entered in manually. Instead, if the product key in the firmware matches the version and edition of Windows being installed, the product key is automatically applied.
After the installation media is created, Windows can be reset or reinstalled. To learn more, go to Recovery options in Windows.
