If your PC is acting up, you need a fresh Windows install, or you want to upgrade without going through Windows Update, mediacreationtool.exe is the file you need. It is Microsoft’s official tool for creating Windows installation media, and it works for both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Download It Fresh Every Time
This is the first thing people get wrong. They find an old copy of mediacreationtool.exe sitting in their Downloads folder from six months ago and try to run it. That version likely points to outdated server paths.
The executable itself does not change often, but Microsoft updates the server-side configuration that tells the tool which version of Windows to download. An older copy in your Downloads folder may pull an older build.
Always grab a fresh copy directly from Microsoft.
For Windows 11: go to microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11 and click “Download Now” under “Create Windows 11 Installation Media.”
For Windows 10: visit the Windows 10 download page and do the same under the Windows 10 section. Note that support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025, so Microsoft no longer provides free security updates for it. You can still download and use it, but switching to Windows 11 is the smarter move now.
The file is relatively small, around 18 MB, and is named MediaCreationTool[version].exe where the version number reflects the current Windows release.
What mediacreationtool.exe Actually Does
When you run it, mediacreationtool.exe does two things:
It downloads the latest version of Windows directly from Microsoft’s servers, and it writes that download to either a USB drive or an ISO file on your computer.
The tool creates an ISO file you can use to create bootable media, or mount in File Explorer to launch Windows setup directly.
One important thing to know: Microsoft only makes the current version available for download. Once a new version like 25H2 is released, you cannot use the tool to download an older version like 24H2 or 23H2.
As of 2026, the current release is Windows 11 25H2. The installation image now includes the June 2026 cumulative update KB5094126 baked in, which means a freshly installed system starts fully patched and does not need to immediately download a pile of updates.
How to Create a Bootable USB Drive
This is the most common use case. You need at least an 8 GB USB drive. Back up anything on it first because it will be completely wiped.
Step 1: Run mediacreationtool.exe. Right-click it and select “Run as administrator” to avoid permission issues.
Step 2: Accept the license terms when prompted.
Step 3: You will see two options. Select “Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC.” If you are upgrading the same computer you are on right now, you can pick the first option, but using a USB gives you more control.
Step 4: Choose your language, edition, and architecture. By default it detects your current system settings. If you are creating media for a different PC, uncheck “Use the recommended options for this PC” and set your preferences manually.
Step 5: Select “USB flash drive” on the next screen.
Step 6: Pick your USB drive from the list and click Next.
Step 7: The tool downloads Windows and writes it to your USB. This takes time depending on your internet speed. The download is several gigabytes. Let it run.
Step 8: Once done, the tool confirms your bootable USB is ready.
To use it, plug the USB into the PC you want to install Windows on, restart that PC, and boot from the USB. You may need to change the boot order in BIOS/UEFI if it does not boot from USB automatically.
How to Create an ISO File Instead
Some people prefer an ISO file because it is more flexible. You can mount it directly in Windows to run setup without a USB, or burn it to a drive later.
Step 1: Run mediacreationtool.exe as administrator.
Step 2: Accept the license terms.
Step 3: On the “What do you want to do?” screen, choose “Create installation media.”
Step 4: Set language, edition, and architecture.
Step 5: On the media type screen, choose “ISO file” instead of USB.
Step 6: Choose where to save it and give it a name like Windows11_25H2_Setup.
Step 7: Click Save. The tool downloads and creates the ISO.
You can mount the ISO file in File Explorer to launch Windows 11 setup without needing a USB flash drive. Just double-click the ISO and Windows treats it like a disc.
System Requirements Before You Start
Your PC needs to meet these before running mediacreationtool.exe for Windows 11:
| Requirement | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Processor | 1 GHz, 2 or more cores, 64-bit compatible |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB on the target drive |
| Firmware | UEFI, Secure Boot capable |
| TPM | TPM 2.0 |
| Display | 720p, 9 inch or larger |
| Internet | Required for download |
| USB Drive | 8 GB minimum for bootable media |
If your PC does not meet the TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot requirements, Windows 11 will refuse to install. There are workarounds, but they fall outside what mediacreationtool.exe officially supports.
Common Errors and How to Fix Them
The Tool Closes Immediately After Opening
This is one of the most reported problems in 2025 and 2026. You double-click mediacreationtool.exe and it flashes the Windows logo for two seconds, then disappears.
This happens for several reasons including missing administrator privileges, antivirus blocking it, or corrupted temporary files from a previous failed attempt.
Fix it in this order:
Run as administrator. Right-click the file and choose “Run as administrator.” This elevates the tool’s privileges and allows it to perform system-level operations it cannot do otherwise. This alone fixes it for most people.
Disable your antivirus temporarily. Security software can flag mediacreationtool.exe as suspicious because of its deep system access requirements and its connection to external servers. Pause your antivirus for 10 minutes, run the tool, then turn protection back on.
Delete leftover temp folders. A previous crash can leave behind broken temporary download files in the $Windows~BT and $Windows~WS folders. When you run the tool again, it hits these corrupted files and crashes immediately. These folders are hidden in your C: drive root. You need to enable “Show hidden items” in File Explorer to see them. Delete both folders, then try again. If they are locked, boot into Safe Mode to delete them.
Re-download the tool. Do not use a cached copy. Grab a fresh one from Microsoft’s official page. Old builds can fail against current server configurations.
Error Code 0x80072f8f – 0x20000
This error usually means a network problem or a date/time mismatch on your system.
Check your PC’s date and time settings. If they are wrong, fix them. An SSL handshake failure often causes this error, and an incorrect system clock triggers that.
Also check that your internet connection is stable. The tool needs a steady connection for several gigabytes of download.
“There Was a Problem Starting Setup”
This usually happens when a previous upgrade attempt was interrupted. The tool left behind incomplete files and now cannot start cleanly.
The fix is to boot into Safe Mode and delete the $Windows~BT and $Windows~WS folders from your C: drive root. Once those are gone, restart normally and run mediacreationtool.exe fresh.
Not Enough Space Error
The tool needs around 8 GB of free space on your system drive to work, plus the size of the USB or ISO destination. Clear some space and try again.
A quick way to free space: open Disk Cleanup (search for it in the Start menu), run it as administrator, and check all boxes including “Windows Update Cleanup” and “Previous Windows installations.”
USB vs ISO: Which Should You Pick?
| Use Case | USB Drive | ISO File |
|---|---|---|
| Installing on a different PC | Best choice | Works if you burn it first |
| Upgrading your current PC | Works | Faster, mount and run |
| Keeping a reusable backup | Yes | Yes, just store the file |
| No USB available | No | Yes |
| Speed of install | Fast | Fast when mounted |
If you are helping someone else with their PC, go USB. If you are upgrading your own machine right now, the ISO is quicker since you just mount it and run setup.
Is mediacreationtool.exe Safe?
Yes, as long as you download it from Microsoft’s official page. The file is signed by Microsoft and has been their standard installation utility for years.
What you should never do is download mediacreationtool.exe from a third-party site. Unofficial copies can be modified to include malware. Always go directly to microsoft.com for the download.
If your antivirus flags it, that is a false positive caused by the tool’s deep system access behavior. A legitimate copy from Microsoft will always pass a VirusTotal scan with a clean result from major engines.
Upgrading vs Clean Install: Know the Difference
mediacreationtool.exe supports both, and they are very different:
In-place upgrade keeps your files, apps, and settings. You are just updating the Windows version. Good for most people. Lower risk, faster process.
Clean install wipes the drive and starts fresh. Useful when your system is misbehaving, you are selling the PC, or you want a completely fresh start. Back up everything before doing this.
For most home users doing an upgrade, just letting Windows Update handle it is simpler. You reach for mediacreationtool.exe when Windows Update is failing, you want to install on a different machine, you need an ISO for backup purposes, or your current Windows is too broken to update normally.
What Happens to Your Data
This is what people worry about most. Here is the honest breakdown:
If you run mediacreationtool.exe and choose to upgrade this PC, your files are preserved. Windows does its best to keep documents, photos, and installed apps intact.
If you do a clean install, the drive is formatted. Everything is gone. Period.
The USB drive you create with the tool is completely erased and reformatted. Any files on that USB are gone. Make sure you pick the right drive when the tool asks.
After Installation: First Steps
Once Windows is installed and running:
Go to Settings, then Windows Update, and run a full check for updates. Even with KB5094126 integrated into the 25H2 image, there may be newer patches available.
Reinstall your drivers, especially if you did a clean install. Graphics, audio, and network adapter drivers sometimes need manual installation on a fresh system.
Check that Windows is activated. If you had a genuine license before, it usually re-activates automatically using your Microsoft account or the digital license tied to your hardware.
Conclusion
mediacreationtool.exe is one of the most useful utilities Microsoft has ever shipped. It handles the hardest part of a Windows install: getting a clean, verified copy of the OS onto bootable media without requiring any technical knowledge.
The three things I would remember are: always download it fresh from Microsoft’s site, run it as administrator, and make sure your USB drive is backed up before you start.
If it closes immediately, run as admin and disable your antivirus. That clears it up 90% of the time. For the other 10%, deleting those hidden temp folders does the job.
FAQs
Can I use mediacreationtool.exe to downgrade from Windows 11 to Windows 10?
No. The tool only downloads and creates media for the current version it supports. It cannot roll back your system. If you want to go back to Windows 10, you would need to do a clean install using separate Windows 10 media, and keep in mind that Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 in October 2025, so it no longer receives security updates.
I already used mediacreationtool.exe once and made a USB. Do I need to redo it for a new PC?
Yes, I would recommend it. The build on your old USB is frozen to whatever was current when you made it. A fresh USB created today will include the latest cumulative update already integrated, which means the new PC starts fully patched without a long wait for updates after the first boot.
Does mediacreationtool.exe work on a PC that will not boot into Windows?
No, the tool itself runs inside Windows. You need a working PC to create the installation media. Once you have a bootable USB, you take that to the broken PC and boot from it there. If your only PC is the broken one, borrow a friend’s machine to create the USB.
My USB is 16 GB but the tool says it needs 8 GB minimum. Does more space hurt anything?
Not at all. The tool will use what it needs and leave the rest, though in practice the drive is reformatted and most of the extra space just sits empty. Some people use that extra space to store drivers or utilities, but the installation process itself only touches the Windows files.
Can I create Windows 11 installation media on a Mac using this tool?
No. mediacreationtool.exe is a Windows executable and will not run on macOS natively. On a Mac, your options include using Parallels to run Windows, downloading the Windows 11 ISO directly from Microsoft’s page (without the tool), and then using a separate utility to write the ISO to a USB drive.
