For better or worse, Windows 11 is here, and that means one thing: it's a very good idea to have a copy of its ISO image. Whether you want to experiment with an old computer or need to rescue someone who ruined their factory installation, a local backup will save you a lot of time. And if you're wondering how to download Windows 11 without getting lost in the usual mazes, don't worry: we have three options for you.
TechBench Adguard
We've already mentioned this portal in our article to download the Windows 10 ISO image, but the good news is that TechBench Adguard also lets us download Windows 11 with a couple of clicks. The fields to fill in are five: Type, version, edition, language, and file. Other download options are Windows 8.1 images, and installers for some recent versions of Microsoft Office (2007 and 2010 have already been retired).
Universal MediaCreationTool
Now in a new home, Universal MediaCreationTool is a wrapper for the official Microsoft tool, with a special advantage: in addition to downloading Windows 11, it also enables access to specific Windows 10 builds, in case you need an older build. As if that weren't enough, the script can remove TPM and Secure Boot restrictions, and enable offline accounts on Windows 11 Home.
The Microsoft page
Finally, someone in Redmond started taking the right pills, and decided that end users can indeed download Windows 11 as an ISO image without using their official software. All you have to do is select Windows 11 from the list (it's the only option here) and confirm the language. The download link will be valid for a maximum of 24 hours.
Bonus track: Rufus
With its brand-new version 3.17 (at the time of writing this), Rufus not only adds support for downloading Windows 11, but also allows the user to disable all TPM and Secure Boot checks to install the operating system on unsupported computers. The fields to select are version, edition, language, and architecture. If you want to download the image using a browser or an external program, you can indicate that in the last step.
How to download Windows 11: In summary
Three paths, with an extra snack at the end. Downloading Windows 11 and eliminating the absurd hardware restrictions has never been so easy. Choose your favorite method, and good luck!
