Install or upgrade Windows 11 with an ISO file

An ISO file is a full copy of the Windows 11 installation disc. You use it to upgrade Windows to a new version, do a clean install from a USB stick or install Windows in a virtual machine. This article shows how to download and use the ISO file.

Step 1: download the ISO file

1. Go to the Windows 11 download page at microsoft.com/software-download/windows11.
2. Under Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO), choose the edition and select Download.
3. Choose the language and select Confirm.
4. Select 64-bit Download. The file is about 6 GB.

Can your PC run Windows 11?

Windows 11 requires, among other things, a TPM 2.0 chip, Secure Boot, a supported processor, 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage. Check with the PC Health Check app.

Step 2: choose how to use it

• Upgrade from Windows: double-click the ISO file. Windows mounts it as a drive. Open it and run setup.exe. Choose whether to keep files and apps.
• Clean install via USB: create a bootable USB stick with the Media Creation Tool or a tool such as Rufus. Read create a bootable USB stick.
• Virtual machine: attach the ISO file as a DVD drive in Hyper-V. Read Windows 11 in Hyper-V.

Step 3: install

1. Follow setup and choose I don't have a product key if Windows was already activated on this PC; activation returns automatically.
2. Choose the edition matching your licence (Home or Pro).
3. For a clean install: delete the old partitions and install on the empty space.
4. Sign in with your Microsoft or work account.

Tips

• Back up first, for example with OneDrive backup, and note your BitLocker recovery key.
• Just upgrading to the latest version? That also works through the Installation Assistant or Windows Update.

Read also

Create a bootable Windows 11 USB drive
Upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 with the Installation Assistant
Enable Hyper-V and install Windows 11 in a virtual machine

Nederlandstalige versie: Windows 11 installeren of bijwerken met een ISO-bestand

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