The Windows 11 Upgrade Tool Stopped Working At The Worst Possible Time - But You Have Options

1 month ago

Windows 11 media creation instrumentality is connected nan fritz – now really do you upgrade your Windows 10 PC?

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

The Windows 11 media creation instrumentality is nary longer working.
And coming marks nan past time of support for Windows 10.
There are different methods to upgrade your Windows 10 PC to 11.

Talk astir bad timing. Just arsenic coming marks nan last time of Microsoft support for Windows 10, a celebrated Microsoft instrumentality that upgrades your PC to Windows 11 isn't moving right. So now what do you do if you want to move connected from Windows 10?

In nan latest update to its page connected known issues successful Windows 10 22H2, Microsoft collapsed nan news that nan Windows 11 media creation instrumentality is, well, broken. The folks successful Redmond study that type 26100.6584 of this tool, released September 29, 2025, mightiness not activity arsenic expected erstwhile utilized successful Windows 10. The programme whitethorn unopen down unexpectedly pinch nary correction connection to bespeak what happened.

Also: Don't want to upgrade to Windows 11? You don't person to, but here's what you should know

Microsoft said it's moving to hole nan issue. Once nan glitch is resolved, nan institution will merchandise an update to nan media creation instrumentality that you tin past run. But by then, Windows 10 whitethorn nary longer beryllium supported.

Why is this a problem, and why now?

The Windows 11 media creation instrumentality is utilized to create a bootable USB thrust aliases DVD pinch nan installation files for nan OS. You typically move to this instrumentality to tally a cleanable instal aliases reinstall of Windows 11 connected a caller aliases existing computer. It's an perfect measurement to upgrade immoderate Windows 10 PC to nan latest supported type of Windows, not conscionable your existent PC.

Also: Windows 10 support officially ends coming - but nan chaos will proceed for years

After today, Microsoft will nary longer support Windows 10. That intends no much information patches, bug fixes, aliases different updates to protect your machine and support it safe from nan latest threats and vulnerabilities. And it intends that anyone who waited until coming to upgrade their Windows 10 PC will person to find different method to execute that process.

Running nan media creation instrumentality is usually elemental enough. Just browse to Microsoft's Download Windows 11 web page. In nan conception for "Create Windows 11 Installation Media," click nan Download Now button. Run nan downloaded MediaCreationTool.exe file. Make judge you've inserted a blank USB thrust aliases recordable DVD, and nan programme will do nan rest.

All of that is expected to happen. When I tried to instal nan downloaded record this time, nan programme conscionable flashed nan Windows logo and past vanished without moving and without a trace.

OK, don't panic

Fortunately, location are different ways to upgrade your Windows 10 PC to Windows 11.

The easiest method is to caput to Windows Update nether Settings and spot if Windows 11 is offered to you. If so, conscionable click nan fastener to instal it. But let's presume you're not presented pinch that option.

Also: How to clear your Windows 11 PC cache (and what happens if you don't)

Also disposable from nan Download Windows 11 page, nan Windows 11 Installation Assistant is different method. This will upgrade your existent PC straight to Windows 11. This is an easier method than nan Windows 11 media creation tool. The only drawback is that it useful only pinch your existent PC connected which you tally nan assistant, truthful you can't usage it to upgrade a different computer.

Otherwise, nan action that Microsoft is recommending is to download an ISO record for Windows 11. On nan aforesaid page, scroll down to nan conception for "Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices." Select and corroborate nan download. Choose your connection and region. Click nan download fastener to drawback nan Win11 25H2 ISO file.

The advantage of getting nan ISO record is that you tin usage it to upgrade your existent machine aliases a different one. On your existent Windows 10 PC, conscionable double-click nan ISO record to equine it and past tally nan setup.exe record to instal Windows 11. For a different PC, conscionable transportation nan ISO record to a USB thrust (the record is astir 7GB), plug nan thrust into nan different PC, and past tally nan record from there.

Don't hold excessively long

Today besides marks nan past awesome Patch Tuesday update for Windows 10.

Also: Can't upgrade your Windows 10 PC? Support has ended, truthful you request to enactment now

Starting tomorrow, you'll either request to beryllium connected Windows 11 to person early patches from Microsoft, aliases you'll person to sign up for nan Extended Security Updates (ESU) to keep your Windows 10 PC protected for different year.

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