After releasing Windows 11 23H2, you can continue downloading the ISO file for version 22H2 to perform a clean install of the previous release or roll back to the previous version (if necessary).
Typically, when a new version of Windows becomes available, Microsoft will update the “Installation Assistant” and “Media Creation Tool” to upgrade computers to the latest release, making it impossible to use these tools to install a previous version.
In the case that you have to roll back a device after the upgrade, you can use the recovery settings to uninstall version 23H2. However, if the option is no longer available or doesn’t work, it’s possible to use “Rufus” to download the Windows 11 22H2 ISO file after version 23H2 becomes available.
Rufus is a non-Microsoft tool to create a USB flash drive to install virtually any version of the operating system. The difference with the Media Creation Tool is that the application includes an option to download the ISO file and prepare a bootable media using an older release of Windows 11.
This guide will teach you the steps to use Rufus to download the ISO file and create a USB to install Windows 11 22H2 after the Windows 11 2023 Update becomes available for compatible devices.
Download Windows 11 22H2 ISO after 23H2 releases
To download the Windows 11 22H2 ISO file after 23H2, use these steps:
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Under the “Download” section, click the link to download the latest version.
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Double-click the executable to launch the tool.
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Click the Settings button (third button from the left).
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Under the “Settings” section, use the “Check for updates” drop-down menu and select the Daily option.
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Click the Close button.
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Click the Close button again.
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Open Rufus again.
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(Optional) Under the “Device” section, use the drop-down menu and select the USB flash drive to create the installation media.
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Under the “Boot selection” section, use the drop-down menu and select the “Disk or ISO image” option.
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Click the down-arrow button (on the right side) and select the Download option.
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Click the Download button.
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Select the Windows 11 option.
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Click the Continue button.
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Under the “Release” section, select the 22H2 release option.
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Click the Continue button.
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Select the Windows 11 Home/Pro option.
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Click the Continue button.
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Select the language of Windows 11.
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Click the Continue button.
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Select the operating system architecture. (Windows 11 is only available in x64 architecture.)
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Click the Download button.
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Select the location to save the Windows 11 ISO file automatically.
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Click the Save button.
Once you complete the steps, you can use the ISO file to install Windows 11 22H2 using a clean or in-place upgrade installation.
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