How to install Windows 11 24H2 without Windows Update

Microsoft released the 2024 feature update for Windows 11 a few days ago. This update is rolling out to all users and the main way to install it on non-managed devices is through Windows Update.

But what if the feature update is not shown to you? When you follow Microsoft’s instructions, but it is not offered?

In any event, I recommend that you create a backup of the system before you install a major update. A tool like Paragon Backup & Recovery does the trick. It is free and I have used it for years for backups.

To summarize the official step-by-step instructions:

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Load Settings.
3. Navigate to Windows Update.
4. Check “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available”.
5. Activate the “check for updates” button.

Note: I recommend that you disable the “get the latest..” option after installation of the update again. You may end up with optional updates installed regularly otherwise.

There are multiple reasons why the feature update is not returned after you hit the button:

• Microsoft is rolling out the update, pushing it to PCs first that it considers the most likely to install it without issues.
• If a PC is affected by a known issue, it won’t get the update.
• Driver or application compatibility issues may also block the update via Windows Update.

Thankfully, several other options exist to install the feature update.

Option 1: the Windows 11 Installation Assistant

What is it? The Windows 11 Installation Assistant is a free Microsoft program to upgrade the operating system to a new version.

• Download the Windows 11 Installation Assistant from the Microsoft website.
• Run the downloaded Windows11InstallationAssistant.exe file.
• Select “yes” when the security prompt (UAC) is displyed.
• Accept the terms.
• The new version of Windows is downloaded.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to upgrade the system.

Option 2: Using the latest Windows 11 ISO

What is it? A disk image holds the installation files for the operating system.

1. Open the Microsoft Windows 11 download website.
2. Scroll down to “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices”.
3. Select Windows 11 (multi-edition ISO for x64 devices) from the menu.
4. Activate the “Download Now” button.
5. Select the desired language of the installation (you can change it later, if you make an error).
6. Click on the 64-bit Download button.
7. Use the save file dialog to save the ISO image to the local system.
8. Right-click on the downloaded ISO image and select Mount from the context menu.
9. Accept the request prompt to open the image on the device.
10. Double-click on the setup.exe file to start the upgrade.

Note: the download link is valid for 24 hours. You also need to make sure that you choose to keep files and installed apps during installation.

There are other options, but not all are recommended for all users. You could download the Windows 11 ISO from another source, for example. This is only recommended if you trust the source.

Another option is provided by the open source tool Rufus. You may use it to download the latest Windows 11 ISO, mount it and run the installer. You may also burn the ISO to disc or copy it to a USB Flash drive instead.

Do you plan to install the new feature update, or have done so already? Feel free to write a comment down below.