Windows 11 Arm ISO files overview

Windows 11 disk images (ISO files) are now available for Windows 11 on Arm. You can download the latest Windows 11 Arm64 ISO at Download Windows 11. Just as with x64 ISO files, you can use Arm64 ISO files to create virtual machines, run Windows Setup from within a running copy of Windows, or create bootable media for installing Windows.

Creating virtual machines

The primary use for Windows 11 Arm64 ISO files is to create virtual machines on local devices for development.

Using a Windows on Arm device: Arm64 ISO files can be used to create a VM in Hyper-V on Windows 11 Arm-based PCs by following the instructions found at Create a virtual machine with Hyper-V on Windows 11.

Using an x64-based Windows device: Arm64 VMs are not supported in Hyper-V on x64 hardware. To run an Windows on Arm VM from an x64-based device, create an Arm64 VM in the cloud using Azure. Find guidance here: Quickstart - Create a Windows on Arm VM in the Azure portal.

Using an Arm-based Apple device: Arm64 VMs can be created using Mac computers built with Arm-based Apple Silicon. Learn more about the options available and some of the limitations that apply.

Mounting and installing Windows

You can install Windows 11 on Arm directly from the ISO file by mounting the ISO file in an already running operating system and running Windows Setup.

To mount the ISO file, right-click the ISO file and select Mount. This will create a “virtual” bootable disc. Double-click on the bootable disc to view the files within. Double-click setup.exe to start Windows 11 setup.

Creating bootable media

Windows on Arm ISOs are intended for use in creating virtual machines, but they can also be used to create bootable media for installing Windows 11 on an Arm device. Depending on the device, it will likely be necessary to include drivers from the device manufacturer for the installation media to be successfully bootable.

Note

It is recommended to use recovery media from your device’s manufacturer rather than creating your own. Recovery media will include the correct drivers that have already been tested for your specific device. Recovery media for Surface devices may be found at Surface Recovery Image Download.

For devices with a Snapdragon X Series processor, booting from an ISO to install Windows is supported without additional drivers from device manufacturers. However, while these devices will be able to boot Windows media and install Windows successfully, they will not have full functionality until the remaining drivers are installed. To install those drivers and restore functionality, use an ethernet connection via dongle or dock to connect to Windows Update to download the drivers. Once drivers are installed and the device is rebooted, all subsystems in the device will be functional.

Devices with previous generations of Snapdragon processors must have drivers from the device manufacturer injected in the image (see Add and Remove Driver packages to an offline Windows Image). Otherwise, the device may fail to boot or boot to a state where input is non-functional.