How to Download Windows 11 ISO Without Media Creation Tool

Windows 10 will not get updates, technical support, or security fixes after October 14, 2025, so many Windows 10 users may want to download Windows 11 ISO file to start fresh with a clean install or upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 on unsupported hardware.

The drawback of using the Media Creation Tool is that you must redownload the files repeatedly every time you install Windows. This article will tell you how to download Windows 11 ISO without Media Creation Tool.

Windows 11 ISO Download Directly Without Tool from Microsoft

On Windows 10, the official way involves using the Media Creation Tool to download the installation ISO file. Still, since Windows 11, you can download and get Windows 11 ISO directly from Microsoft website.

It is worth noting that Microsoft only allows you to download the current version that is available. For instance, the current release is Windows 11 version 24H2, which means that Windows 11 versions 23H2, 22H2, and 21H2 are no longer available for download. To download the official ISO file directly from the Microsoft support website:

Step 1. Go to the Windows 11 download page.

Step 2. In Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices section, select the Windows 11 ISO and click Download Now.

Step 3. Select the installation language and click Confirm.

Step 4. Click 64-bit Download to save the ISO file to your PC.

That's all about Windows 11 ISO file direct download without Media Creation Tool or how to download Windows 11 without Media Creation Tool. After downloading the Windows 11 ISO file, you can use Rufus or Rufus's best alternative, EaseUS OS2Go, to create installation media for Windows 11.

How to Clean Install Windows 11 from ISO File

After downloading the Windows 11 ISO image file, mount the ISO file in File Explorer to perform a clean installation or an in-place upgrade on a PC with the Windows operating system already installed. An in-place Windows upgrade can upgrade your computer to the latest version and repair issues without deleting files. Usually, the in-place upgrade is used for repairing corrupted system files, apps, and incompatible drivers.

Step 1. Right-click on the ISO file and click Mount.

Step 2. Double-click the setup.exe file to start the Windows 11 installation.

Step 3. Click Change how Windows Setup downloads updates.

Step 4. Select Not right now.

Step 5. Accept the notices and license terms.

Step 6. Select Keep personal files and apps.

Step 7. Click Install.

Wait for the Windows 11 installation to be complete. After the installation, you may also need to finish the Windows 11 out-of-the-box experience (OOBE).

How to Install Windows 11 Without Downloading an ISO File

You could perform a clean installation using the Windows 11 ISO downloaded from Microsoft to do an in-place upgrade from Windows 10 to 11 or from a Windows 11 earlier version to the latest one. However, you may fail to install if your old Windows 10 PC does not meet the Windows 11 minimum requirements.

In addition, if your current PC does not have an OS installed, you cannot do an in-place upgrade. You need to clean install from a USB drive. Some users do not want to download the ISO file for creating a bootable USB for Windows 11 installation. This is where EaseUS OS2Go, a professional and free Windows bootable USB creator, comes in handy.

EaseUS OS2Go lets you create Windows installation media with/without an ISO file because it can directly download the Windows ISO files from Microsoft and then create bootable media for Windows installation. It enables you to install Windows 11 without Secure Boot and TPM and make Windows 11 installation media that bypasses the system requirements. Therefore, you can install Windows 11 on any computer not satisfying the Windows 11 system requirements.

Just get this free Windows 11 bootable USB creator and create a bootable USB that bypasses the Windows 11 system requirement!

Here is how to create a bootable USB for Windows 11 installation using EaseUS OS2Go:

Step 1. Download and install EaseUS OS2Go on your Windows computer. Plug in a USB drive or external hard drive that is large enough.

Step 2. Click Windows Install Drive Creator. First choose the Windows versions you want to install, EaseUS OS2Go supports creating Windows 11/10/8.1 installation media. You can also select a local ISO file. When all set, click Next.

Step 3. Click the drop-down menu and select Removed to bypass Windows installation requirments. Then, click Create.

Step 4. You will see a warning message, telling you that all data on the selected disk will be deleted. Click Continue.

Step 5. OS2Go will start creating the Windows Installation media. It usually takes a while to download a ISO file, the time it takes depend on your OS and network condition. When the progress reaches 100%, the USB drive should be bootable.

Step 6. Insert the Windows Installation media to your computer and start the installation process.

After creating the bootable USB, you can install Windows 11 on your PC.

To Wrap Things Up

This article tells how to download Windows 11 ISO without Media Creation Tool and use the ISO files to perform an in-place upgrade from Windows 10 to 11 if you want to upgrade to Windows 11 before Windows 10's end of support. You can get the Windows 11 ISO file direct download without Media Creation Tool from Microsoft and use it to create a bootable USB using EaseUS OS2Go.

If you do not want to download the Windows 11 ISO file and install Windows 11 on an unsupported PC, try EaseUS OS2Go. It lets you create installation media without downloading the ISO image and create one installation media, bypassing the Windows 11 installation requirements. Just download and try it. It will not let you down!

FAQs on Windows 11 ISO Download Without Tool

1. Can I install Windows 11 directly from ISO?

Yes, you can install Windows 11 from an ISO file by mounting it. By doing so, you can upgrade your current operating system to Windows 11.

2. How to make bootable USB Windows 11 without software?

Using the Command Prompt, you can create a Windows bootable USB without software.

3. What software is used to make bootable USB for Windows 11?

Rufus and EaseUS OS2Go are commonly used software to create a Windows bootable USB. They are practical Windows bootable USB creators that let you create installation media for free.

4. How to install Windows 11 without Microsoft account?

You can install Windows 11 without the Microsoft account using the professional bootable USB creator, EaseUS OS2Go. It can help you make a bootable USB while bypassing the Windows 11 installation requirements, such as TPM, Secure Boot, and a Microsoft account.