Download the Windows 11 24H2 ISO Preview: Step-by-Step Guide

Key Notes

• Utilize the Windows Insider program for official preview downloads.
• Use UUP Dump for the latest builds and create your own ISO files.
• Rufus is an effective tool for creating bootable USB drives for Windows installation.

Mastering the Download and Creation of a Bootable USB for Windows 11 24H2

In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the essential steps to download the Windows 11 24H2 ISO and create a bootable USB drive effectively. Understanding this process is crucial for users planning to upgrade to Windows 11 or perform custom installations.

Step 1: Download the Windows 11 24H2 ISO file from the Insider Program

To successfully obtain the Windows 11 2024 Update ISO from the Insider page, follow these structured steps:

1. Access the Windows Insider Preview Downloads page.

2. Sign in using your Microsoft account credentials.

3. Select the “Windows 11 Insider Preview (Release Preview Channel) – Build 26100.560” (or a newer version) from the “Select edition” section.

4. Click the Confirm button.

5. Choose your preferred product language.

6. Hit the Confirm button again.

7. Select the 64-bit Download option.

After completing these steps, the ISO for Windows 11 24H2 will download, ready for use with the Rufus tool to create your bootable USB.

Step 2: Download the Windows 11 24H2 ISO file using UUP Dump

If you opt to download the Windows 11 ISO file using the UUP Dump tool, follow these steps:

1. Visit the UUP Dump page.

2. Go to the Downloads tab.

3. Select “Windows 11 Insider Preview” for the latest (x64) ISO file, for example, build 26100.712.

4. Choose your language through the “Language” drop-down menu.

5. Click the Next button.

6. Pick the editions you want to include in the ISO file.

7. Proceed by clicking Next.

8. Select the “Download and convert to ISO” option.

9. For a faster ISO creation, clear all options under “Conversion options.”

10. Click on “Create download package” to save the tool on your system.

11. Access the zip folder through File Explorer.

12. Hit the Extract all button.

13. Choose the extraction location, then confirm by clicking Extract.

14. Right-click the uup_download_windows.cmd file and select Run as administrator.

15. Press More info, then confirm with the Run anyway button.

16. When prompted, press R to allow the script to run once and hit Enter.

17. Finally, press 0 to close the screen when prompted.

Upon completing these procedures, the Windows 11 24H2 ISO file will be ready in the folder where you extracted the UUP Dump tool. You can then proceed to create a bootable USB using the instructions that follow.

Step 3: Create a Windows 11 Bootable USB using Rufus

To generate a bootable USB for Windows 11 24H2 utilizing Rufus, follow these concise steps:

1. Visit the Rufus website.

2. Locate the “Download” section and click the link to acquire the latest version.

3. Launch the tool by double-clicking the rufus.x.xx.exe file.

4. Choose the USB flash drive you will use for the Windows 11 bootable media from the “Device” drop-down menu.

5. Under “Boot selection, ” select the “Disk or ISO image” option.

6. Click the Select button and pick the Windows 11 24H2 ISO file.

7. Confirm your selection by clicking Open.

8. Then, under “Image option, ” choose the “Standard Windows 11 Installation” option.

9. For the “Partition scheme, ” opt for GPT.

10. Under the “Target system, ” choose UEFI (non-CSM).

11. Give your bootable USB a distinctive name in the “Volume label” section, for instance, Windows 11 Setup.

12. Keep the default settings for the File system and Cluster size.

13. Enable the Quick format option.

14. Ensure the “Create extended label and icon files” option is checked.

15. If your device meets the Windows 11 compatibility requirements, clear the checked options. Otherwise, you can select the options to bypass compatibility checks.

    Quick Tip: Select the “Remove requirement for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot and TPM 2.0” and “Remove requirement for an online Microsoft account” options if creating a USB drive for unsupported hardware.

16. Click the Start button to initiate the process.

17. Finally, click the OK button to authorize the USB drive’s formatting and the creation of the bootable media.

Once these steps are completed, you will have successfully created a USB bootable media containing Windows 11 24H2 installation files.

Additionally, tools like Ventoy allow for the creation of bootable media that can support multiple ISO files on the USB flash drive. You can also create bootable media using Command Prompt as an alternative method.

Update May 23, 2024: This guide reflects the latest information regarding the availability of build 26100.712 as the official preview for version 24H2.

Additional Tips

• Always verify your downloaded ISO file to ensure it is not corrupted.
• Consider creating a system restore point before upgrading to minimize risks.
• Utilize a USB drive of at least 8GB in capacity for adequate storage of installation files.

Summary

This guide covers the complete process of downloading the Windows 11 24H2 ISO and creating a bootable USB drive using tools like Rufus. Readers are equipped with all necessary instructions to facilitate a smooth setup.

Conclusion

Follow the outlined steps to successfully download and create a bootable USB for Windows 11 24H2. Ensure you take precautions such as backing up your data to avoid issues during installation.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)