There are dozens of software around to help you download Windows 10 ISO as well as prepare bootable USB. However, only the official Media Creation Tool can both download the Windows 10 ISO and prepare the bootable USB using the downloaded ISO.
While the official Media Creation Tool is quite good, it doesn’t prepare the bootable USB as fast as the popular Rufus software. Rufus is fast, sports an easy-to-understand interface, available in many languages, and updated very often. It even supports preparing Windows To Go USB drive.
Good news is that you no longer need to use the Media Creation Tool or any other software to download Windows 10 ISO as Rufus can now do that.
Starting with Rufus 3.5, Rufus can download Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft servers and prepare the bootable USB.
Although Rufus 3.5 gets this new feature, the feature is not fully integrated into Rufus. Rufus downloads a script called Fido which in turn helps to download Windows 10 and Windows 8.1 ISO images.
NOTE: Please note that Rufus version 3.5 is currently in Beta. We will update this article once a stable version of Rufus 3.5 is out.
Using Rufus to download Windows 10 ISO
Here is how to use Rufus 3.5 to download Windows 10 and then prepare a bootable USB.
Step 1: Connect an 8GB+ USB drive which you would like to make a bootable USB.
Step 2: Download and run Rufus 3.5 or later version. In addition to the regular installer, a portable version of Rufus is also available for users who don’t want to install the program.
Step 3: In the Device drop-down box, select your USB drive. Select Disk or ISO image from the Boot selection drop down box, click the small down arrow next to the Select button and then be sure to select the Download option.
Step 4: Now, click the Download button to download the Figo script which once downloaded will display the following dialog where you need to select Windows 10 (or Windows 8.1 if you wish to download it) and then click OK button to see a list of Windows 10 versions.
Select the latest version of Windows 10, click the OK button again, select the edition of Windows 10 (Home, Pro or Education), click the Continue button, select the language, click Continue again, and then select the architecture (32-bit or 64-bit).
Step 5: Finally, click the Download button, select a location to save the ISO file and then click the Save button to begin downloading the Windows 10 ISO file. If you would like to use a web browser to download the ISO, you can do so by selecting Download using browser option.
Step 6: Once the ISO is downloaded, click the START button to format the connected USB drive and make it as bootable USB.
Via Deskmodder
ismail says
I had the same problem, you need to have the updates function turned on for the download button to appear.
Turn it on and restart Rufus and it will be there.
???? ??????? says
I don’t have download option and dropdown menu in new 3.5 version.
Evenglion says
Press the fourth info button on the bottom. You might see the following messages:
Notice: The ISO download feature has been deactivated because the remote download script can not be accessed.
Unable to send request: This system’s SSL library is too old to be able to access this website.
Updates: Unable to access version data
Martinski says
OK, here’s a better explanation of why the “DOWNLOAD” option may not show up in the dropdown box displayed in the Rufus GUI panel (3.5.x or later version).
After launching the Rufus utility, if you don’t see a small DOWN arrow to the right of the box containing the “SELECT” option, it’s very likely that the “Check for updates” function is set to “Disabled” which means that the “DOWNLOAD” option is not enabled either. To enable the “DOWNLOAD” option do the following:
1) Go near the bottom left of the Rufus GUI panel and click on the small “settings” icon image that has a tooltip string labeled “Show application settings” (3rd icon from the left in the Rufus version I’m running).
2) Once the “Update Policy and Settings” panel shows up, make sure the “Check for updates” option is enabled by setting it to something other than “Disabled” (e.g. “Monthly” or “Weekly” should be enough).
3) Once the option change is made, click on the “Close” button, and then click on the “CLOSE” button to exit the Rufus utility completely.
4) Launch Rufus again. You should now see the small DOWN arrow to the right of the dropdown box containing the “SELECT” option. When clicking on this DOWN arrow, the “DOWNLOAD” option should be displayed and enabled.
I hope this is helpful. You’re welcome.
Martinski says
RE: “… you need to have the updates function turned on for the download button to appear.”
What is the “updates” function? And where is it?
Would you please elaborate and provide context?
Do I need a secret handshake to be in the know :>)?
Thanks
Pat says
I had the same problem, you need to have the updates function turned on for the download button to appear.
Turn it on and restart Rufus and it will be there.
admin says
@ Alex, they might have pulled back to improve it further. I just downlaoded a new copy and checked. As you said, the download option is missing.
Alex says
I don’t have download option and dropdown menu in new 3.5 version.