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Microsoft Support
support.microsoft.com โ€บ en-us โ€บ windows โ€บ create-installation-media-for-windows-99a58364-8c02-206f-aa6f-40c3b507420d
Create installation media for Windows - Microsoft Support
Under Create Windows 10 Installation Media, select Download Now. The MediaCreationTool.exe tool is downloaded. The .exe may have the version appended, such as MediaCreationTool_22H2.exe. Run MediaCreationTool.exe. The media creation tool walks through creating installation media.
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Microsoft
microsoft.com โ€บ en-ca โ€บ software-download โ€บ windows11
Download Windows 11
If you want to perform a reinstall or clean install of Windows 11 on a new or used PC, use this option to download the media creation tool to make a bootable USB or DVD.
Discussions

Media creation tool for Windows 10 available on Windows 11?
You can create the installer on one pc for use on another. Just make sure you pick the correct usb. https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows10 https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11 More on reddit.com
๐ŸŒ r/Windows10
7
0
October 30, 2023
[ Removed by moderator ]
At least mass grave and Rufus still are around More on reddit.com
๐ŸŒ r/pcgaming
106
478
August 17, 2025
Windows 10 Media Creation Tool (Upgrade This PC) stuck at 46% checking for updates
Personally, I would just download the iso file itself and use a third party tool to make the boot media. I've always had trouble with Microsoft's tool. More on reddit.com
๐ŸŒ r/computers
2
2
April 25, 2019
Where to download Windows 8 Media Creation Tool?
Maybe here? https://download.cnet.com/Windows-8-1-Installation-Media-Creation-Tool/3000-18513_4-77572352.html Not sure why you'd want it though instead of just using a DVD burner, Rufus, or even Ventoy. More on reddit.com
๐ŸŒ r/windows8
3
6
February 7, 2022
People also ask

What is Windows 10 media creation tool?
Windows 10 Media Creation Tool is a free utility developed by Microsoft, which lets you create a Windows 10 installation USB drive or download its .ISO file that you can burn on to a DVD to install the operating system on a different computer. With Windows 10 creation tool, you can upgrade Windows to its latest version or create a Windows 10 installation USB drive/DVD disc to install Windows 10 or repair a Windows PC.
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partitionwizard.com
partitionwizard.com โ€บ home โ€บ clone disk โ€บ a complete guide to use windows 10 media creation tool
Essential Windows 10 Media Creation Tool Use Guide | Get It Now
How do I get Windows 10 media creation tool?
You can get Windows 10 media creation tool by visiting the Microsoft Media Creation Tool website. Then click the Download tool now button from the webpage. Then install and run the application on your PC. After that, you can choose to create installation media for another PC or upgrade Windows 10 with Windows 10 media creation tool.
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partitionwizard.com
partitionwizard.com โ€บ home โ€บ clone disk โ€บ a complete guide to use windows 10 media creation tool
Essential Windows 10 Media Creation Tool Use Guide | Get It Now
Is Microsoft Windows 11 Media Creation Tool Free?
Both PC Health Check and Windows 11 Media Creation Tool are available to users without charge. Microsoft provides both apps directly from its website without any additional fees or upgrades.  ยท The tool gives unrestricted access through the Windows Media Creation Tool since your PC possesses a valid Windows license, so you do not need to insert a product key.
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gizmodo.com
gizmodo.com โ€บ download โ€บ utilities โ€บ windows 11 media creation tool
Download Windows 11 Media Creation Tool (free) for Windows | Gizmodo
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Microsoft
microsoft.com โ€บ en-us โ€บ software-download โ€บ windows10
Download Windows 10
October 21, 2025 - 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.
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Dell
dell.com โ€บ home โ€บ support home โ€บ knowledge base article
Create a retail image of Windows with the Microsoft Media Creation Tool | Dell Canada
June 9, 2025 - Create Windows installation media for Windows 11 and 10 with Media Creation Tool. Choose your media type (USB or DVD) and follow easy steps for OS upgrades or reinstalls.
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Corsair
help.corsair.com โ€บ hc โ€บ en-us โ€บ articles โ€บ 14206252671117-Windows-How-to-Install-Windows-10-11-Using-the-Media-Creation-Tool
Windows: How to Install Windows 10/11 Using the Media Creation Tool โ€“ Corsair
Select "Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC" and click "Next." Choose the desired language, edition, and architecture (32-bit, 64-bit, or both) for the Windows installation, then click "Next." ... Choose the USB drive you inserted earlier and click "Next." The tool will now download the Windows files and create a bootable USB drive.
Find elsewhere
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Gizmodo
gizmodo.com โ€บ download โ€บ utilities โ€บ windows 11 media creation tool
Download Windows 11 Media Creation Tool (free) for Windows | Gizmodo
4 weeks ago - Windows 11 Media Creation Tool is a utility that allows users to download and create installation media for Windows 11. It enables the creation of bootable USB drives or ISO files for upgrading or installing the operating system on compatible ...
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GitHub
github.com โ€บ AveYo โ€บ MediaCreationTool.bat
GitHub - AveYo/MediaCreationTool.bat: Universal MCT wrapper script for all Windows 10/11 versions from 1507 to 21H2!
Universal MCT wrapper script for all Windows 10/11 versions from 1507 to 21H2! - AveYo/MediaCreationTool.bat
Starred by 10K users
Forked by 3.1K users
Languages ย  Batchfile
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MiniTool Partition Wizard
partitionwizard.com โ€บ home โ€บ clone disk โ€บ a complete guide to use windows 10 media creation tool
Essential Windows 10 Media Creation Tool Use Guide | Get It Now
November 27, 2024 - When you want to install or upgrade Windows 10, you will need a Windows 10 installation media like a bootable USB drive or CD/DVD disc. And Windows 10 Media Creation Tool enables you to create an installation USB drive or download its ISO file so that you can burn on to a DVD to install the operating system on a different computer.
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Neowin
neowin.net โ€บ news โ€บ microsoft updates media creation tool for windows 11 usb installs
Microsoft updates Media Creation Tool for Windows 11 USB installs - Neowin
November 14, 2025 - Most of you probably already are very familiar with what it is and how it helps, but for those who may not, it is essentially Microsoft's official bootable ISO media creation utility.
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MajorGeeks
majorgeeks.com โ€บ files โ€บ details โ€บ windows_10.html
Download Microsoft Windows Media Creation Tool - MajorGeeks
November 15, 2025 - Microsoft Windows Media Creation Tool can assist you in downloading the latest Windows 10 & 11 installation media using either a USB flash drive or a DVD. Video tutorial available.
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Download
windows-media-creation-tool.en.download.it โ€บ software utilities โ€บ windows media creation tool
Windows Media Creation Tool - Free Download
Download Windows Media Creation Tool 22h2. Official utility that easily creates bootable installation media for reinstalling or cleanly installing your system.
Rating: 6.5/10 โ€‹ - โ€‹ 27 votes
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EaseUS
easeus.com โ€บ partition manager โ€บ windows 10/11 media creation tool: 2025 complete guide๐Ÿ”ฅ
Windows 10/11 Media Creation Tool: 2025 Complete Guide๐Ÿ”ฅ
4 days ago - Windows 11/10 Media Creation Tool is for users to install a new copy of Windows 10, perform a clean installation, or reinstall Windows 11/10. In this article, you will learn how to download Windows 11/10 Media Creation Tool to install Windows ...
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Rufus
rufus.ie
Rufus - The Official Website (Download, New Releases)
Rufus is a small application that creates bootable USB drives, which can then be used to install or run Microsoft Windows, Linux or DOS. In just a few minutes, and with very few clicks, Rufus can help you run a new Operating System on your computer...
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Softpedia
softpedia.com โ€บ windows โ€บ system โ€บ boot manager/disk โ€บ media creation tool
Media Creation Tool - Download - Softpedia
October 29, 2025 - Download Media Creation Tool 25H2 (10.0.26100.7019) - Create a setup package to deploy Windows 11 either from an ISO file you can burn to disc, or through a bootable USB flash drive, with this powerful app
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Digital Citizen
digitalcitizen.life โ€บ how-download-windows-10-and-create-your-own-installation-media
Windows 10 Media Creation Tool: Create Windows 10 installation media
October 7, 2025 - The Windows 10 Media Creation Tool The Media Creation Tool for Windows 10 is a small file named MediaCreationTool_22H2.exe, which is only 18.5 MB in size. It can be used to upgrade the PC you run it on to the latest Windows 10 version and create ...
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TechSpot
techspot.com โ€บ downloads โ€บ 6734-windows-10-installation-tool.html
Microsoft Windows Installation and Media Creation Tool Download Free - 22H2 | TechSpot
November 13, 2025 - The Media Creation Tool allows you to create installation media (USB drive or DVD) to install a new copy of Windows 10, perform a clean installation, or reinstall Windows 10.
Rating: 4.2 โ€‹ - โ€‹ 663 votes
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Reddit
reddit.com โ€บ r/pcgaming โ€บ [ removed by moderator ]
Microsoft Breaks Windows Media Creation Tool Ahead of ...
August 17, 2025 - If you use the media creation tool to make the USB, copy all the files off the USB, reformat it as NTFS, and then copy the files back, it works.
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Neowin
neowin.net โ€บ news โ€บ microsoft has updated media creation tool for windows 11 usb installations
Microsoft has updated Media Creation Tool for Windows 11 USB installations - Neowin
2 weeks ago - Microsoft has made an update related to the Media Creation Tool, its official utility for downloading and installing Windows.
Top answer
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It definitely does download the data necessary. I know because I used it only a couple of days ago and it definitely spent about 2 hours in the "downloading" stage using up my internet bandwidth.

If you have just recently upgraded the copy of Windows on your current machine, in the last month or so, then you may still have the relevant install files downloaded and it should use these instead.

It should only use your local files if they are actually the current version.

In either case the download will set up the files in either a $WINDOWS.~BT or a $WINDOWS.~WS directory in the root of your system drive. If you want to know more about those directories then HowToGeek has an article What Is the $WINDOWS.~BT Folder, and Can You Delete It?.

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  • Download Windows 10 Media Creation Tool (17.5 MB) version 10.0.15063.0:: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=691209. This tool is an 32bit excutable file but really a cabinet file (.cab). So one can easily open that executable file like a compressed file in WinZip or 7zip. Here is VirusTotal link. The processes are;

  • Files Creation and Logging:: At first execution of MediaCreationTool.exe, it creates some folders in System Drive like $Windows.~WS, $WINDOWS.~BT & ESD. It also creates log files in C:\Windows\Logs and extract itself in C:\$Windows.~WS\Sources folder. Then it logs your PC Windows details in "C:\$Windows.~WS\Sources\Panther\setupact.log" and send it to Microsoft. The data is read from HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion registry. Open setupact.log file in any text reader and you can see what type of data is sent to Microsoft server. See more How-To Geek link.

  • Connection and Files Download:: It downloads a Products_20170317.cab file from http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=841361 (for Creators Update). This link written in SetupMgr.dll file in that MediaCreationTool.exe (treated as .cab file). In that Products_20170317.cab file, there is a Products.xml file. Then it reads that XML file, find a ESD file link matching your language (like en-US for English), downloads that encrypted ESD file in C:\ESD folder.

  • Convert ESD to ISO:: After downloading the required ESD file, it reads the encryption key from Products.xml file to decrypt that ESD file. Now it converts ESD to ISO file. See more GitHub:ESD-Decrypter.

N.B: This process is for Creators Update version 1703.