Need the .iso file itself, for a virtual machine, a repair install or a USB drive you plan to make later? Microsoft’s page hands Windows visitors the Media Creation Tool instead of a file. On a Mac, Linux PC, phone or tablet, the same page offers the ISO directly. On Windows, either let the Media Creation Tool save an ISO file, or have your browser present itself as another device. Then choose your language and 64-bit, and check the hash.
Which route fits your device
Microsoft decides what to show from the way your browser identifies itself, a short text label called the user agent string. Match your situation to a route before you start:
| Your situation | What Microsoft’s page shows | Best route |
|---|---|---|
| A Mac, Linux PC, iPhone, iPad or Android device is handy | The disc image (ISO) download page | Download the ISO directly, then move it to the PC that needs it |
| Windows PC, and you only want the ISO file | The Download Windows 10 page with the Media Creation Tool | Change the browser’s user agent (nothing to install), or let the tool save an ISO |
| Windows PC, and what you really want is a bootable USB drive | Same | Skip the ISO and let the Media Creation Tool write the USB drive |
| Work PC where you can’t run downloaded programs | Same | Use the browser route, or download on another device |
Both routes come from Microsoft and give you Windows 10 version 22H2, the version the download page lists. Avoid ISO files from other websites: an unofficial image can be altered, and you have no Microsoft hash to check it against.
Get the ISO on a Mac, Linux PC, phone or tablet
A phone works, but an ISO is several gigabytes, so a computer with free storage is easier. The labels below are the ones the ISO page has used; if Microsoft renames them, follow the page.
- Open the Windows 10 disc image (ISO) page in your browser.
- Under Select edition, choose Windows 10 (multi-edition ISO) and select Confirm. Wait while the page validates the request, and don’t reload it in the meantime.
- Choose the product language and select Confirm again. Pick the language you want Windows itself to use.
- Select the 64-bit Download button. A 32-bit option may also appear; it is only for PCs with a 32-bit processor.
- Save the file. Microsoft says the links are valid for 24 hours from the time they are created, so start the download straight away, and generate a new link if it expires.
Leave the page open: its Verify your download section lists the hash values you will need later.
Get the ISO file on a Windows PC by changing the user agent
Microsoft Edge has developer tools (DevTools) that can make one tab report itself as a different device. Microsoft doesn’t present this as a download method; it is a testing feature for web developers. The labels below come from Microsoft’s Edge DevTools documentation for overriding the user agent string. Chrome has similar tools, though its labels may differ.
- In Edge, open the Windows 10 ISO page address. On a Windows PC it sends you to the main Download Windows 10 page instead; that is expected.
- Right-click an empty part of the page and select Inspect to open DevTools.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+P to open the Command Menu, type
network conditions, select Show Network conditions and press Enter. - In the User agent section, clear the Use browser default checkbox.
- Pick a user agent for a non-Windows device from the dropdown list, such as a Mac browser or an iPad. Exact entries vary by browser version.
- Keep DevTools open, then load the ISO page address again in the same tab. The Select edition list should now appear. Follow steps 2 to 5 of the previous section.
- Once the download is running, close DevTools. Next time you open the Network conditions tool, check that Use browser default is selected again so other sites see your normal browser.
If the page still shows the Media Creation Tool, check that the checkbox is cleared and that you reloaded the tab DevTools is attached to, not a new one.
Or let the Media Creation Tool save an ISO
If you’d rather not touch developer tools, the tool on the main page can save an ISO as well as write a USB drive. Microsoft’s page describes “using the tool to create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) to install Windows 10 on a different PC,” and notes that you will first need a license to install Windows 10.
- Go to the Download Windows 10 page and, under Create Windows 10 installation media, select Download Now.
- Run the downloaded tool and select Accept to agree to the license terms.
- Select Create installation media for another PC, then Next, and set the language, edition and architecture (64-bit or 32-bit).
- When asked which media to use, choose ISO file and pick a folder with enough free space.
The tool downloads Windows and then builds the ISO on your PC, so it takes longer than a direct download. For every screen of the tool, including the USB option, see downloading Windows 10 with the Media Creation Tool.
Language, edition and 64-bit: what to pick
| Choice | Pick | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Edition | Windows 10 (multi-edition ISO) | Microsoft describes it as valid for Windows 10 Home and Pro. Enterprise editions are not offered on this page. |
| Language | The language Windows will use | For a repair install that keeps your files and apps, match the language already installed on that PC. |
| Architecture | 64-bit | Almost every PC from recent years has a 64-bit processor. Choose 32-bit only for a PC whose processor is 32-bit. |
Confirm the file with its SHA-256 hash
A hash is a fingerprint of a file: change a single byte and the fingerprint changes. Comparing yours with Microsoft’s list proves the download finished and wasn’t altered.
- Search the Start menu for PowerShell and open it.
- Run
Get-FileHash "$env:USERPROFILE\Downloads\Win10_22H2_English_x64.iso", replacing the file name with the one you downloaded. That name is only an example; real names vary by language. - PowerShell prints three values: Algorithm (SHA256, the default), Hash and Path. Microsoft’s Get-FileHash reference explains the options.
- Compare the Hash value with the entry for your language and 64-bit under Verify your download. Every character must match; capital and lowercase letters count as the same.
If the values differ, delete the file and download it again. On a Mac or Linux PC, use the system’s built-in SHA-256 tool before you move the file, so you only copy an image you know is good.
Putting the ISO to work
- Bootable USB drive: write the ISO to a blank flash drive. See putting Windows 10 on a USB drive, or use the free Rufus tool as described in installing Windows 10 with Rufus. Writing the drive erases everything on it.
- Repair or upgrade the current PC: in File Explorer, right-click the ISO and choose Mount, then run setup.exe from the new drive letter. When Setup asks what to keep, choose to keep personal files and apps.
- Virtual machine: point the VM’s virtual DVD drive at the ISO. There are walkthroughs for Windows 10 in VirtualBox and Windows 10 on VMware; Hyper-V accepts an ISO the same way.
- DVD: Microsoft notes the ISO file can be used to create a DVD. You need a blank DVD large enough for the image and a PC with a DVD writer.
- Wipe and reinstall: back up first, because a clean install deletes everything on the target drive. Then boot from your USB drive and follow a clean install of Windows 10.
When the page or download misbehaves
- An error appears after you choose a language: VPNs, proxies, ad blockers and blocked cookies can stop the page from issuing a link. Turn them off for microsoft.com, try another browser or network, or wait and try later.
- The link stopped working: it has expired. Return to the page and generate a new one.
- Windows still sees the Media Creation Tool: the user agent override isn’t active in that tab (see the check above), or switch to the Media Creation Tool route.
- The download stalls: use a wired connection if you can, and try the browser’s resume option in its download list. The Media Creation Tool is another option on an unreliable connection.
Windows 10 ISO after end of support
Microsoft’s download page still offers Windows 10 version 22H2, with this notice: “After October 14, 2025, Windows 10 will no longer receive free software updates, technical support, or security fixes.” A PC you install from the ISO gets security fixes only through Extended Security Updates, and Microsoft’s Windows 10 end of support page says the consumer program can protect a device until October 12, 2027.
If the PC can run Windows 11, upgrading is the longer-term fix. The Windows 11 requirements include 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of available storage, TPM 2.0 and UEFI firmware that is Secure Boot capable. On an eligible PC, Microsoft points you to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates.
Windows 10 ISO questions
Can I get a Windows 10 Enterprise or LTSC ISO from this page?
No. The consumer ISO page points Enterprise customers elsewhere, such as the Microsoft 365 admin center or Visual Studio Subscriptions. Organizations with volume licensing get those images through their own channels.
Can I create the link on one device and download on another?
Microsoft doesn’t document sharing the link, and it expires quickly. The reliable approach is to generate the link on the device that will do the downloading, then copy the finished file to the PC that needs it.
Will Windows be fully up to date right after installing from the ISO?
Not necessarily. The ISO contains version 22H2 as it was packaged. After setup, open Windows Update and install what it offers; a PC enrolled in Extended Security Updates keeps receiving security fixes.
Will Windows activate after I reinstall it from the ISO?
Microsoft’s download page says you need a license to install Windows 10. A PC that already ran an activated copy of the same edition normally activates again once setup finishes and the PC is online; if it doesn’t, open Settings > Update & Security > Activation to see the status.
With a verified ISO in hand, the usual next step is a bootable USB drive or a virtual machine.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He is an IT specialist with over 20 years of experience, from a university help desk to small-business IT, IT management and his own consulting practice, and has written tech guides full time since 2020. Steps are checked against the current software on a real device or the maker’s official documentation. More about Kermit.