To download Windows 10 on a laptop, open Microsoft’s Download Windows 10 page, select Download Now under Create Windows 10 installation media, and run the media creation tool it saves. In the tool, choose ISO file to keep a copy of Windows 10 as a single file, or USB flash drive to make an installer you can start a laptop from. The download is free, but it does not include a Windows license.
Applies to: Windows 10, version 22H2, downloaded on a Windows laptop or desktop PC. Checked against Microsoft Support on October 7, 2026.
Before you download: support status and license
Two facts are worth knowing before you spend time on the download.
Windows 10 is out of support. Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Since that date, Windows 10 no longer gets free software updates, security fixes, or technical assistance from Microsoft. A laptop running Windows 10 still starts and works, and Microsoft still offers the Windows 10 download, but a fresh installation is not protected by new security updates unless you enroll the laptop in Extended Security Updates (covered below). If the laptop can run Windows 11, Microsoft’s advice is to upgrade instead, and the upgrade is free for eligible Windows 10 PCs.
The download is not a license. Anyone can download the Windows 10 installation files, but Microsoft lists a Windows 10 license as a requirement for installing them. A license takes one of two forms:
- A product key, which is a 25-character code. Microsoft says that on a new PC that came with Windows, the key is preinstalled on the PC, included with the packaging, or printed on the Certificate of Authenticity attached to the PC. If you bought Windows as a digital copy, the key is in your confirmation email.
- A digital license, which Microsoft describes as a method of activation that doesn’t require you to enter a product key. You have a digital license if, for example, the laptop was upgraded to Windows 10 for free from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.
If you are reinstalling Windows 10 on a laptop that already ran an activated copy of it, Microsoft states that you don’t need to enter a product key. If the laptop has never had a Windows 10 license, you need to buy one. There is no legitimate way around that, and tools or keys that promise free activation are not safe or legal to use.
What you need
- An internet connection. The tool downloads Windows 10 while it runs. Microsoft notes that internet service provider fees may apply.
- An administrator account. You need to be an administrator on the laptop to run the media creation tool.
- Enough free storage on the laptop for the download.
- A blank USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of space, only if you want a USB installer instead of an ISO file. Microsoft specifies a blank drive, so move anything you want to keep off it first.
- A laptop that meets the Windows 10 system requirements, if you plan to install on it: a 1 GHz or faster processor, 1 GB of RAM for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit, a 32 GB or larger hard disk, a DirectX 9 or later graphics card with a WDDM 1.0 driver, and an 800 x 600 display.
- A backup of your files. Microsoft recommends backing up your files before you install or reinstall Windows.
Laptops depend on drivers from their manufacturer for parts such as the touchpad, Wi-Fi, and function keys. Before installing Windows 10 on a laptop that didn’t ship with it, look up the exact model on the manufacturer’s support site and confirm that Windows 10 drivers are offered.
Download Windows 10 with the media creation tool
These steps save Windows 10 as an ISO file, which is a single file that holds the whole installer. Run them on the laptop itself or on any other working Windows PC.
- Open a web browser and go to Microsoft’s Download Windows 10 page. The page shows the current release, Windows 10 2022 Update | Version 22H2.
- Find the section named Create Windows 10 installation media and select Download Now. Your browser saves a small file named MediaCreationTool.exe. This is the tool, not Windows itself.
- Run MediaCreationTool.exe from your downloads. If Windows asks whether the app can make changes, approve it. The tool only runs for an administrator.
- Read the license terms and select Accept.
- When the tool asks what you want to do, pick the option to create installation media for another PC, then select Next. The other choice, Upgrade this PC now, installs Windows 10 on the laptop you are using instead of saving a copy.
- Select the language, edition, and architecture (64-bit or 32-bit) of Windows 10, then select Next. Choose the edition your license is for.
- Choose ISO file, select Next, and pick a folder on the laptop to save the file in. Choose USB flash drive instead if you want the tool to build a USB installer directly.
- Wait while the tool downloads Windows 10. The time depends on your internet speed. When it is done, select Finish. The ISO file is now in the folder you picked.
Which download option to pick
Microsoft’s page and the tool offer several routes. This table matches each one to the situation it suits.
| Your situation | Option to use | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| You want a copy of Windows 10 saved on the laptop | ISO file in the media creation tool | One file you can open on a Windows PC or burn to a DVD |
| You want to install Windows 10 on a different or non-working laptop | USB flash drive in the media creation tool | A USB drive that a laptop can start from |
| The laptop already runs an older version of Windows 10 | Update now on the download page | The Update Assistant, which brings the laptop up to version 22H2 |
| You want to reinstall on the laptop you are using | Upgrade this PC now in the media creation tool | Windows 10 installed in place, with no separate file kept |
Use the Windows 10 ISO file after downloading it
An ISO file does nothing until you open it or put it on a disc or drive. You have three choices.
Open it on the same laptop
On a laptop that is already running Windows, you can install from the ISO without a USB drive or DVD. Select the ISO file and choose Mount, which makes Windows treat the file like a disc in a drive. Open that drive and run setup.exe. Windows Setup lets you select Change what to keep and choose between Keep personal files and apps, Keep personal files only, and Keep nothing. Check that choice carefully before you select Install, because Keep nothing removes your files, apps, and settings.
Burn it to a DVD
If the laptop has a DVD burner, the media creation tool offers Open DVD burner when it finishes, and Windows can write the file to a blank DVD with Burn disc image. Many current laptops have no disc drive, so a USB drive is usually the more practical choice.
Install it on another laptop from USB
To install Windows 10 on a laptop that will not start, or on one with an empty drive, run the tool again and choose USB flash drive. Our guide on how to create a bootable Windows 10 USB drive covers that process in detail.
Then attach the USB drive to the laptop where you want Windows 10 and restart it. If the laptop starts its old system instead of the USB drive, you have to open the boot menu or change the boot order in the firmware settings. Microsoft notes that this usually means pressing a key such as F2, F12, Delete, or Esc right after you turn the laptop on, and that the key depends on the manufacturer. On the Install Windows page, select your language, time, and keyboard preferences, select Next, and then select Install Windows.
Warning: a clean installation can erase everything on the laptop’s drive, including personal files and the manufacturer’s recovery partition. Back up first. For the full walkthrough, see how to clean install Windows 10 from a USB drive.
If the laptop still runs Windows 7, the upgrade has extra limits and checks of its own. Read how to install Windows 10 from Windows 7 before you begin.
Confirm the download and the installation worked
For the download, open the folder you chose in step 7 and check that the ISO file is there. If you made a USB drive, the tool finishes with the same Finish button once the drive is written.
After installing, connect the laptop to the internet, open Settings, and look at the activation page to confirm that Windows is activated. A laptop with a digital license should activate by itself once it is online. A laptop that relies on a product key asks for the 25-character key. Then run Windows Update and install any remaining drivers from the laptop manufacturer’s support site.
Keep a Windows 10 laptop protected after October 2025
Because standard support has ended, decide how the laptop will get security fixes before you rely on it.
- Extended Security Updates (ESU). Microsoft’s consumer ESU program delivers critical and important security updates to Windows 10 PCs until October 12, 2027. It requires Windows 10, version 22H2, and a Microsoft account that is an administrator on the laptop. You enroll at Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update by selecting Enroll now. Microsoft lists three ways to enroll: at no additional cost if you are syncing your PC settings, by redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or with a one-time purchase of $30 USD. ESU does not add new features or technical support. See how to enroll in Windows 10 Extended Security Updates for the steps.
- Windows 11. If the laptop is eligible, the upgrade from Windows 10 is free and arrives through Windows Update. Microsoft’s Windows 10 end of support page explains the options.
If the download doesn’t work
The media creation tool won’t start
Sign in with an administrator account and run the tool again. Microsoft states that you need to be an administrator to run it. On a laptop with only a standard account, ask the person who manages the laptop to sign in.
The laptop belongs to your work or school
Organizations often block software installs and manage Windows versions centrally. Don’t reinstall Windows on a managed laptop yourself. Ask your IT department, which may also supply the correct edition and license.
The edition you need isn’t offered
The media creation tool does not provide Windows 10 Enterprise. Microsoft directs organizations to their Microsoft 365 admin center for Enterprise downloads.
The tool rejects the USB drive
Use a blank flash drive with at least 8 GB of space, and try a different USB port or a different drive if the tool doesn’t list it. If you only need the file, choose ISO file instead.
Setup asks for a product key you don’t have
If this laptop previously ran an activated copy of Windows 10, Microsoft says you don’t need to enter a key when reinstalling, and Windows activates online afterward. If the laptop never had Windows 10, you need to buy a license. Microsoft’s Find your Windows product key page lists where a key is kept for each way of buying Windows.
Hardware doesn’t work after installing
Run Windows Update first, then download the Windows 10 drivers for your exact model from the laptop manufacturer. If the manufacturer offers no Windows 10 drivers for that model, the laptop may not be a good fit for Windows 10.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to download Windows 10?
Yes, the media creation tool and the Windows 10 files are free to download from Microsoft. Installing and activating Windows 10 requires a license, which is either a product key or a digital license tied to the laptop.
Can I still download Windows 10 now that support has ended?
Yes. As of October 7, 2026, Microsoft’s Download Windows 10 page still offers the media creation tool for version 22H2. The end of support means no more free updates or fixes. It does not remove the download.
Where is the safest place to download Windows 10?
Microsoft’s own Download Windows 10 page. Copies from other websites can be altered, and you have no way to tell what was changed. Avoid any site that bundles an activator or a key with the download.
Should I choose 64-bit or 32-bit?
Match the laptop’s processor. Microsoft’s requirements call for 2 GB of RAM for 64-bit Windows 10 and 1 GB for 32-bit. If you are reinstalling, pick the same architecture the laptop ran before.
Do I need a USB drive to download Windows 10?
No. Choose ISO file in the media creation tool and the download is saved to the laptop’s own storage. You only need a blank USB flash drive of 8 GB or more if you want a drive that another laptop can start from.
Will downloading Windows 10 delete my files?
Downloading an ISO file changes nothing on the laptop. Files are only at risk when you install: a clean installation, or the Keep nothing choice, removes them. Creating a USB installer also replaces what is on that USB drive.
Once the ISO file or USB drive is ready, back up the laptop and confirm you have a license before you install. If the laptop can run Windows 11, check that option first, since it is the version Microsoft still supports.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.