Microsoft has released Windows 11 version 26H2, also known as the Windows 11 2026 Update, and the official ISO files are now available for download. If you want to download the Windows 11 26H2 ISO, you can get it directly from Microsoft rather than relying on third-party download sites. The official download page provides a multi-edition ISO for 64-bit (x64) PCs, while Microsoft also provides a separate Arm64 ISO for supported ARM-based devices. In this guide, we’ll show you how to download the official Windows 11 26H2 ISO for a clean installation, upgrade, or virtual machine.
In this article, you’ll learn how to:
- Download the official Windows 11 26H2 ISO (64-bit) directly from Microsoft
- Download Windows 11 26H2 using the Media Creation Tool
- Create a Windows 11 26H2 bootable USB drive using Rufus
- Use the ISO or bootable USB to upgrade, reinstall, or clean install Windows 11 26H2 on your PC
Quick Info: Windows 11 26H2 ISO
Here’s a quick overview of the Windows 11 26H2 ISO and the current release:
- Name: Windows 11 Version 26H2 (Windows 11 2026 Update)
- Availability: September 29, 2026
- Architecture: 64-bit (x64) and ARM64
- Approx. ISO size: ~8.4 GB (varies slightly by language)
- Editions: Home, Pro, Pro Education, Pro for Workstations, Education, and Enterprise
- Download: Official ISO available from Microsoft
- Price: Free to download; activation still requires a valid Windows license/product key where applicable
Note: Windows 11 26H2 is delivered as an enablement package to supported Windows 11 devices already running the required baseline. The ISO is useful when you want to perform a clean installation, reinstall Windows, create installation media, or use Windows 11 in a virtual machine.
How to Download Windows 11 26H2 ISO From Microsoft
The easiest way to get a genuine Windows 11 26H2 ISO is to download it directly from Microsoft’s software download page. The x64 download is a multi-edition ISO, so you don’t need to download separate ISO files for Windows 11 Home or Pro. Your product key determines which edition is activated during installation.
Follow these steps to download the Windows 11 26H2 ISO:
- Go to Microsoft’s Windows 11 software download page.
- Scroll down to the Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices section.
- Open the edition drop-down menu.
- Select Windows 11 (multi-edition ISO for x64 devices) and click Download.
- Select your preferred product language and click Confirm.
- Click 64-bit Download to start downloading the ISO file.
- Save the ISO to a location with enough free storage space.
The download link generated by Microsoft is temporary, so if you need to download the ISO again later, return to the Microsoft download page and generate a new link.
What Is Included in the Windows 11 26H2 ISO?
The official ISO is a multi-edition installation image. You don’t need to choose between separate Home and Pro ISO files before downloading. Windows Setup uses the product key or existing license information to determine the appropriate edition.
If you’re using an ARM-based Windows PC, don’t use the x64 ISO. Microsoft provides a separate Windows 11 26H2 Arm64 ISO for supported ARM-based devices.
Download Windows 11 26H2 Using Media Creation Tool
Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool provides another way to download Windows 11 installation files. Instead of manually selecting an ISO from the download page, you can use the tool to download Windows 11 and create a bootable USB drive.
- Visit the official Windows 11 software download page on Microsoft’s site.
- In the section “Create Windows 11 Installation Media”, click Download now to get the Media Creation Tool.
- Once downloaded, right-click the
MediaCreationTool.exefile and select Run as administrator. - Click Yes if prompted by User Account Control (UAC).
- Read and accept the license terms to continue.
- On the language and edition screen:
- Uncheck “Use the recommended options for this PC” if you want a different language/edition.
- Choose your language, edition, and architecture (64-bit), then click Next.
- On the media selection screen, choose ISO file (if you only want the ISO) and click Next.
- Choose where to save the ISO file, give it a friendly name (for example
Win11_25H2_English_x64.iso), and click Save.
The tool will now download the latest Windows 11 25H2 ISO and verify the file. This can take some time depending on your internet speed and system performance.
How to Create a Windows 11 26H2 Bootable USB Using Rufus
If you already downloaded the Windows 11 26H2 ISO, you can use Rufus to turn it into a bootable USB drive. This is useful when you want to perform a clean installation, reinstall Windows, or install Windows 11 on another compatible PC.
- You’ll need a USB flash drive with at least 16 GB of storage and the Windows 11 26H2 ISO file.
- All data on the drive will be erased, so back up anything important first.
Create the Bootable USB
- Download and open the latest version of Rufus on your PC.
- Connect the USB flash drive to your computer.
- Rufus should automatically detect the USB drive under Device. Make sure you select the correct drive.
- Click Select next to Boot selection.
- Browse to the location where you saved the Windows 11 26H2 ISO and select it.
- Leave the Partition scheme set to GPT for most modern UEFI-based PCs.
- Keep the default Target system option selected unless you have a specific compatibility requirement.
- Enter a suitable name under Volume label, or leave the default.
- Click Start.
- Rufus may display a Windows User Experience dialog with additional installation options. Select the options you need and click OK.
- Read the warning that all data on the USB drive will be erased, then confirm to continue.
- Wait while Rufus copies the Windows 11 26H2 files and makes the USB drive bootable.
When Rufus displays READY, you can close the program and safely eject the USB drive.
Important
Rufus will erase the USB drive during this process. Back up any important files stored on it before clicking Start.
Also, the options shown in Rufus can vary depending on the Windows 11 ISO and the Rufus version you’re using. You don’t need to change every available option; for a typical modern Windows 11 PC, the default UEFI/GPT configuration is generally appropriate.
How to Install Windows 11 26H2 From a Bootable USB
Once you have created a bootable USB drive with the Windows 11 26H2 ISO, you can use it to install Windows 11 on a compatible PC. Before starting, back up important files and make sure you have your Windows activation information available if required.
Prepare Your PC
- Back up important documents, photos, game saves, and browser profiles.
- Make sure you have your Microsoft account credentials ready (email and password).
- If you use any paid software, note down license keys or sign-in details.
Boot from the USB Drive
- Connect the Windows 11 26H2 bootable USB to the PC where you want to install Windows.
- Restart your computer.
- While it’s starting, press the correct key to open the Boot Menu or BIOS/UEFI (often
F12,F2,Esc, orDeldepending on the manufacturer). - In the boot menu, choose your USB drive as the boot device.
- The PC will now boot into the Windows 11 Setup screen.
Perform the Clean Installation
- Choose your language, time, and keyboard layout, then click Next.
- Click Install now.
If prompted for a product key, enter your Windows product key. If Windows was previously activated on this PC with a digital license, you can select I don’t have a product key and activate Windows after installation.
- Select the Windows 11 edition that matches your existing license when prompted (for example, Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro), then click Next.
- Accept the Microsoft Software License Terms and continue.
- Next, choose the installation type.
For a clean installation, select Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
- Select the drive or partition where you want to install Windows 11.
- If you are performing a clean installation and have already backed up your files, remove the existing Windows partitions as appropriate and select the resulting Unallocated Space.
- Click Next and allow Windows Setup to copy the files and install Windows 11 26H2.
- The PC will restart several times during the installation. If necessary, remove the USB drive after the first restart so the computer does not boot into Windows Setup again.
- Complete the Windows 11 setup process and connect to the internet when prompted.
After reaching the Windows desktop, open Settings > Windows Update and check for available updates. Install the latest updates and restart the PC if required.
Upgrade Without Erasing Your Files
If you don’t want to perform a clean installation, you can also use the Windows 11 26H2 ISO from within your existing Windows installation.
Open the ISO in File Explorer, run setup.exe, and follow Windows Setup. When available, choose Keep personal files and apps to perform an in-place upgrade without removing your existing files and applications.
Important: Windows Setup options depend on your current Windows version, edition, configuration, and installation method. Always back up important data before making major Windows changes.
Windows 11 26H2 ISO: Clean Install vs. Upgrade
What you should do with the Windows 11 26H2 ISO depends on whether you want to keep your existing Windows installation or start fresh.
| Clean Install | In-Place Upgrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Personal files | Removed from the Windows installation drive | Kept |
| Installed apps | Removed | Kept |
| Best for | Starting fresh or replacing a problematic installation | Updating an existing Windows installation |
| How it works | Boot from a Windows 11 26H2 USB and install Windows | Mount the ISO and run setup.exe from Windows |
| Backup | Essential | Strongly recommended |
| Installation type | Custom installation | Keep personal files and apps |
If your current Windows installation works normally and you want to keep your files and applications, an in-place upgrade is usually more convenient. If you want to replace the existing Windows installation completely, a clean install gives you a fresh Windows environment, but you should back up important files first.
Tip: If you are using the ISO to troubleshoot an existing Windows installation, don’t immediately format the drive. An in-place upgrade or Windows recovery option may allow you to repair the installation without deleting your personal files.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Microsoft provides the official Windows 11 26H2 ISO through its Windows 11 software download page. The download is available for supported 64-bit PCs, with a separate Arm64 option for compatible ARM-based devices.
You can download the official ISO directly from Microsoft’s Windows 11 software download page. Using Microsoft’s download page ensures that you get the genuine Windows installation image rather than a modified or potentially unsafe third-party ISO.
Yes. You can use the ISO to create a bootable USB drive and perform a clean installation. You can also mount the ISO from within Windows and run setup.exe to perform an in-place upgrade when the installation options support it.
Yes. Rufus can create a bootable Windows 11 26H2 USB drive from the official ISO. Connect a USB flash drive, select the 26H2 ISO in Rufus, choose the appropriate partition configuration for your PC, and start the process. Remember that Rufus will erase the contents of the selected USB drive.
Yes, an in-place upgrade can keep your personal files and installed applications when Windows Setup offers the Keep personal files and apps option. You can start the process by mounting the Windows 11 26H2 ISO in your existing Windows installation and running setup.exe. It is still recommended to back up important files before upgrading.
