How to download Windows 11
Windows 11 has been released, and you're probably eager to get your hands on it. It doesn't matter if your computer isn't telling you that the update is available. You can download Windows 11 manually, and we're going to show you how 4 different ways to get it.
Most Windows 10 devices that are compatible will be upgraded via Windows Update. Downloading Windows 11 offers a couple of new options, including the ability to install everything from scratch, or to install the operating system on more than one device without having to download the setup file each time the upgrade is run.
It is also the only option to install Windows 11 on incompatible devices.
How to download Windows 11
Option 1 - Windows 11 Installation Assistant
If you are upgrading your PC from Windows 10, this is the simplest way to get it done. Download the Windows 11 Installation Assistant from the official website or the Softonic page.
Run the Windows11InstallationAssistant.exe, and it will check if your PC is compatible with the new OS. If it is, the setup will offer to download and install Windows 11 on your computer.
There are ways around the compatibility checks.
Option 2 - Windows 11 Installation Media
This process is somewhat slower, and requires manual selection of some options. Download the Windows 11 Installation Media (it's the new name for the Media Creation Tool) from Microsoft's website.
Open the MediaCreationToolW11.exe, and follow the on-screen instructions. If you're creating a bootable USB Drive, make sure it has a storage capacity of 8GB or more.
Option 3 - Download the Windows 11 ISO
Microsoft is providing an official Windows 11 ISO that you can download without the Media Creation Tool. You'll be asked to select the language of the OS, before you can download the image.
Use it to install the operating system in Virtual Machines, to create Bootable media, or to update multiple computers.
Option 4 - Use the Universal MediaCreationTool Wrapper
1. Visit the tool's GitHub page and click the Download ZIP button in the top right corner. You can also check out Martin's full review of MediaCreationTool Wrapper here.
2. Extract the contents of the archive to a folder. The ZIP file has a really long alphanumeric name. I have changed the name of the folder for the sake of this tutorial.
3. Open the directory, and right-click on the file named MediaCreationTool.bat, and select run as Administrator.
4. Accept the UAC prompt that appears, and a Powershell window should open along with a pop-up menu (called MCT Version). It lists various Windows Builds that you can download. Since we want to download Windows 11, you have to click the "11" button at the bottom of the list.
5. On the next screen, you have various options such as Auto Setup, Create ISO, Create USB, Select in MCT.
Auto Setup allows you to upgrade Windows without making any selections or changes. Create ISO downloads the Windows 11 image and lets you upgrade manually. It can also be useful, if you want to upgrade multiple computers. Or. if you want a bootable USB drive, you can go with the Create USB option. The last option, MCT, uses, the official Media Creation Tool's options to fetch the image.
The ISO option should be a good one for most users. When you have made your selection, the command window will display a line of code or two, and closes automatically, after which the Windows 11 Setup will start downloading the ISO. The image is saved in the same folder that you extracted the archive's contents to. When you use the image to install Windows 11, it will automatically detect the version that you have, i.e., whether your operating system is a Home or Pro edition, and upgrade it accordingly.
Now that you have a copy of Windows 11 ready to install. The problem is, if you try running the setup file, it will still fail. That's because the installer checks for TPM 2.0 as well. Don't worry, we can help you install Windows 11 without TPM 2.0.
There is not still W11 23H2 and these instructions are nonsense by now. :[
It worked for me just fine. You’re probably not following the instructions clearly.
Just tried the password option and the OOBE option and didnt work.
Worked perfectly. Thank OP.
Worked perfectly for me just now. Specifically, the regedit option.
Is this cut and paste from a Microsoft PR paper, because it 1000% BS:
“By listening to user insights, Microsoft has demonstrated its commitment to refining the Windows experience based on real-world needs.”
Windows 11 is proof they don’t give a s*it.
Worked for me just now
I agree! Windows 11 was a downgrade to me and I kept all 8 computers in our family on Windows 10 as a result. They didn’t listen to any customers. The taskbar was THE main reason I stayed away from Windows 11. With 6 monitors, it is impossible to navigate so many browser tabs, without the feature. I will try the new version in the virtual box to see if it is worth it yet.
Microsoft did a terrible job with this implementation.
They simply need to employ the creator of StartAllBack to fix Windows. He is smarter and more talented than the entire campus of Microsoft employees.
lol
Thank you so much! I work in IT and this is extremely useful information!
Thanks man. The second method worked great!
I used the second method, and i got exactly what i expected.
Using the Bypass 2: Use a banned email address email worked fantastically as I had gone to far to use the bypass 1.
I will be back when I next have a problem.
Keep you the great work
W11 File Explorer is the worst crap ever done. W11 is the biggest shame ever.
Just one more reason for me to go to Linux when Windows 10 ages out.
@ MarineRecon,
Be careful which Linux distro you choose. Some of them don’t include the Wayland protocol which is a security issue i.e. apps can copy, paste and inject data without user interaction.
It’s included in Fedora: https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/fedora/latest/system-administrators-guide/Wayland/
How about a DARK MODE for your website? That would be oh so nice.
Something like this : [https://img.justpaste.me/image/8617] maybe?
Done with ‘Dark Reader Extension for ? Firefox’ [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/darkreader/]
This comment was written on [https://www.ghacks.net/windows-11-installation-has-failed-how-to-fix-this-upgrade-error/#comment-4573155}
Definitely NOT! Once you get older and your eyesight starts to fail you’ll positively loathe dark mode.
Not sure what eye problems *you’re* having, but for me the exact opposite is true. Dark Mode is MUCH easier on my Eyes.
BTW- I’m 52, and have worked in IT all my life. Been staring at monitors for hours each day, most days of the week since the late 1980’s.
Microsoft completely ruined File Explorer by converting to XAML/WinUI/whatever new bloated modern garbage. Its worse than it ever was.
i tested it on win10 current edition. speeds up explorer like a charm
SO what is the priority numbers to give preference to ethernet over wireless?
Worked very well happy to have Windows Photo Viewer back in action in Windows-11
Worked for me (registry option) thank god, I can use the search option to find things on my computer again. Thank you so much!
Install Everything Search and dispense with Microsoft’s crappy search tool. https://www.voidtools.com/
Martin wrote an article on it: https://www.ghacks.net/2020/10/09/add-everything-search-to-the-windows-taskbar-for-even-faster-searches/
I presume the text “WindowsCopilot,,” is a typographical error (2023/09/17/how-to-disable-windows-copilot-in-windows/). The broken comment system unfortunately looks like it is populating itself via AI autopilot.
Hopefully, this Windows Copilot nonsense fails even more spectacularly than Cortana. Who requested this? We want all of the UX features removed back in 11, not this copilot nonsense.
I really don’t mind all of these Windows enhancement but Microsoft get one thing very wrong. ‘Opt in’, is far better than seek information and work to disable.
Turn off Windows Copilot entirely is not good enough.
How to uninstall Copilot entirely ?
@ ilev,
Use Gpedit or the registry. Explained in this article: https://www.ghacks.net/2023/09/17/how-to-disable-windows-copilot-in-windows/
With that snake oil salesman Panos gone, hopefully Windows can return to a normal desktop operating system without all the insanity it has right now in Windows 11.
Can we please stop being ‘politically correct’ (lying) and call them ads again instead of ‘suggestions’?
@ Martin,
Does your gpedit hack also turn off all the other “subscribed content” shown in the registry screenshot? Do you happen to know what all those are?
Thank you, I used the fake email option, it worked great.
I wish I had read this article a few months ago, as I purchased two refurbished Windows 10 Pro PCs to replace two older ones. The 1st one I entered an existing Microsoft account I had and it imediately setup OneDrive, adding it to the path names for the common folders such as Documents, Music, video, etc. I tried to just disable OneDrive but then had odd problems finding my data copied from another older PC. long story short I was able to remove all the entries from the registry after un-installing OneDrive.
The second refurbished PC I didn’t connect the WiFi adapter so during installation I was able to click on the no Internet option. Basically I did as you suggested above; set up a local login, disabled OneDrive from running on bootup, and eventually unInstalled it. No problems with folder paths, etc.
The registry option worked for me, but only me, not any other users. How do I make this apply to all users? Yes, I have admin rights.
Just decided to create a Windows 11 system image (went OK) and then went to look for this Co-Pilot crap, but it’s nowhere to be found on my system even though I’ve got the Pro version.
What I did find though in User Configuration –> Administrative Templates –> Windows Components –> Cloud Content was the option to turn off all that Spotlight stuff. Glad to see the back of that anyway.