Once Windows 11 22H2 releases on September 20, it’ll still be possible to download the ISO file for version 21H2 to perform a clean install of the previous release or roll back to the previous version.
Usually, as soon as a new version of the desktop operating system becomes available, Microsoft will update the Installation Assistant and Media Creation Tool to upgrade devices to the latest release, making it impossible to use these tools to install an earlier release.
If you need to roll back after the upgrade, you can use the recovery settings to uninstall version 22H2. However, if the option is no longer available or doesn’t work, you can use “Rufus” to download the Windows 11 21H2 ISO file after version 22H2 becomes available.
Rufus is a third-party tool to create a USB flash drive to install virtually any version of Windows. The difference with the Media Creation Tool is that the tool includes an option to download the ISO file and prepare a bootable media using an older version of Windows 11.
In this guide, you will learn the steps to use Rufus to download the ISO file and create a USB to install Windows 11 21H2 after the Windows 11 2022 Update releases.
Download Windows 11 21H2 ISO after 22H2 releases
To download the Windows 11 21H2 ISO file after 22H2, use these steps:
-
-
Under the “Download” section, click the link to download the latest version.
-
Double-click the executable to launch the tool.
-
Click the Settings button (third button from the left) at the page’s bottom.
-
Under the “Settings” section, use the “Check for updates” drop-down menu and select the Daily option.
-
Click the Close button.
-
Click the Close button again.
-
Open Rufus again.
-
(Optional) Under the “Device” section, use the drop-down menu and select the USB flash drive to create the installation media.
-
Under the “Boot selection” section, use the drop-down menu and select the Disk or ISO image option.
-
Click the down-arrow button (on the right side) and select the Download option.
-
Click the Download button.
-
Select the Windows 11 option.
-
Click the Continue button.
-
Under the “Release” section, select the 21H2 release option.
-
Click the Continue button.
-
Select the Windows 11 Home/Pro option.
-
Click the Continue button.
-
Select the language of Windows 11.
-
Click the Continue button.
-
Select the operating system architecture. (Windows 11 is only available in x64 architecture.)
-
Click the Download button.
-
Select the location to save the Windows 11 ISO file automatically.
-
Click the Save button.
Once you complete the steps, you can use the ISO file to install Windows 11 21H2 using a clean or in-place upgrade installation.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows expert and the Editor-in-Chief who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He is also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 12 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows, software, and related technologies, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.