Tip: Download the Windows 10 Version 1909 ISO

In the wake of the release of Windows 10 version 1909, Microsoft has made the Setup ISO available for download.

You get it as you did with past releases: Visit the Download Windows 10 website, select the “Download tool now” button under Create Windows 10 installation media, and then download and run the Windows 10 Setup tool. Then, following the steps in the wizard, choose “Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC,” the correct language, edition, and architecture, and then “ISO file.”

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I’ve verified that the ISO you download this way is for version 1909 (as opposed to the previous version, 1903), but if you’re worried about it, you can ensure you get a 1909 ISO by using a bizarre method I’ve seen publicized on Bleeping Computer and elsewhere: Basically, you use the Chrome or new Edge developer tools to fake the site into thinking you’re using an iPhone so that it will skip the wizard download and just deliver you the 32-bit or 64-bit version of the Windows 10 version 1909 ISO.

Either way, you should be good to go.

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Conversation 14 comments

  • red.radar

    Premium Member
    18 November, 2019 - 12:35 pm

    <p>Used this media creator tool method last night. I can verify 1909 installed. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

  • gtopala

    Premium Member
    18 November, 2019 - 1:08 pm

    <p>How can I get the ARM64 ISO image?</p><p><br></p><p><img src="https://www.gtopala.com/img/thurrott/Win10ARM64.png"></p><p><br></p&gt;

    • lvthunder

      Premium Member
      18 November, 2019 - 1:44 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#490059">In reply to gtopala:</a></em></blockquote><p>Can you change it if you uncheck the Use the recommended options for this PC?</p>

      • gtopala

        Premium Member
        18 November, 2019 - 3:23 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#490080">In reply to lvthunder:</a></em></blockquote><p><img src="https://www.gtopala.com/img/thurrott/Win10NoARM64.png"></p><p>No ARM64 option available.</p>

        • echorelay

          Premium Member
          18 November, 2019 - 4:25 pm

          <blockquote><em><a href="#490120">In reply to gtopala:</a></em></blockquote><p>no ARM option on MSDN either. For our Surface Pro X standard image I customized (my day job) I started with the recovery image you can download after entering a valid serial number </p>

    • rob_segal

      Premium Member
      18 November, 2019 - 7:02 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#490059">In reply to gtopala:</a></em></blockquote><p>Microsoft may not want users to be able to get the ARM64 ISO because I believe that comes with new PC's only. It's not something a user can install or upgrade to on their own.</p>

      • echorelay

        Premium Member
        19 November, 2019 - 8:49 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#490166">In reply to rob_segal:</a></em></blockquote><p>It does exist, however. I checked VLSC and there is an option to download the ARM64 ISO. Not sure I agree with them “hiding it” from download on the other platforms.</p>

  • bart

    Premium Member
    18 November, 2019 - 2:05 pm

    <p>Always good to have a USB stick with the latest Windows version. </p><p><br></p><p>Thanks Paul! </p>

  • mattbg

    Premium Member
    18 November, 2019 - 2:16 pm

    <p>Does anyone know if you can still use a Windows 7 key to activate this?</p>

  • ames

    Premium Member
    18 November, 2019 - 6:13 pm

    <p>Is this the one from MSDN a month ago? </p>

    • echorelay

      Premium Member
      24 November, 2019 - 10:38 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#490164">In reply to Ames:</a></em></blockquote><p>Usually the ones from media creation tool use ESD’s Instead of WIM’s, but otherwise usually the same end result </p>

  • brettscoast

    Premium Member
    18 November, 2019 - 7:01 pm

    <p>Thanks for the heads up Paul this will be useful going forward. Nothing better than a clean install with the latest version of Windows 10.</p>

  • CobolPgmr

    19 November, 2019 - 1:51 pm

    <p>Why <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“ISO file” specifically, and not USB?</span></p>

  • sidewinder040

    19 November, 2019 - 2:27 pm

    <p>Thanks for pointing the hack out. I can confirm that is works, and is much quick than using the Installation Media Creator tool. </p>

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