- You can download the Windows 10 21H1 ISO file without the Media Creation Tool.
- To download the Windows 10 21H1 ISO requires changing the browser user agent.
- This trick is supported on Microsoft Edge, Chrome, and Firefox.
Windows 10 21H1 (May 2021 Update) is now available for download as an optional update through Windows Update. However, you can also download the ISO file, if you want to start fresh with a clean installation of Windows 10 or create a virtual machine.
The only caveat is that Microsoft does not make it easy to download the Windows 10 ISO file, since the support website only gives you access to the “Update Assistant” or “Media Creation Tool.” However, if you do not want to use these tools, you can download the ISO file of the Windows 10 21H1 directly from the Microsoft servers by making the site think you are using a different operating system.
In this guide, you will learn the steps to download the Windows 10 21H1 (May 2021 Update) ISO file directly from the Microsoft servers.
Windows 10 21H1 ISO file direct download
Use these steps to download the image file to install Windows 10 directly from the Microsoft servers without the Media Creation Tool. (See video instructions here.)
To download the Windows 10 21H1 ISO with Microsoft Edge, use these steps:
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Open this download page on Microsoft Edge.
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Right-click on the page and select the Inspect option.
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Click the three-dotted menu button on the top-right, and select the More tools menu, and choose the Network conditions option.
Network conditions -
Under the “User agent” section, clear the Select automatically option.
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Select the Safari – Mac option from the “User agent” drop-down menu.
Change user agent -
Refresh (F5) the page if the browser does not reload automatically.
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Select the Windows 10 option under “Windows 10 May 2021 Update.”
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Click the Confirm button.
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Select the product language from the drop-down menu.
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Click the Confirm button.
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Click the button to get the Windows 10 21H1 ISO to begin the process.
To download the Windows 10 21H1 ISO with Chrome, use these steps:
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Right-click on the page and select the Inspect option.
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Click the three-dotted menu button on the top-right, and select the More tools menu, and choose the Network conditions option.
Chrome network conditions -
Under the “User agent” section, clear the Select automatically option.
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Select the Safari – Mac option from the “User agent” drop-down menu.
Chrome change user agent -
Refresh (F5) the page if the browser does not reload automatically.
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Select the Windows 10 option under “Windows 10 May 2021 Update.”
Chrome download ISO file direct download -
Click the Confirm button.
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Select the product language from the drop-down menu.
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Click the Confirm button.
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Click the button to download the version 21H1 ISO file to begin the process.
To download the Windows 10 21H1 ISO with Firefox, use these steps:
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Use the Ctrl + Shift + M keyboard shortcut to open the “Responsive design view.”
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Click the Responsive button at the top, and select the iPad option from the list.
Firefox change user agent -
Click the Refresh button.
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Select the Windows 10 option under “Windows 10 May 2021 Update.”
Firefox ISO file for Windows 10 direct download -
Click the Confirm button.
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Select the language from the drop-down menu.
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Click the Confirm button.
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Click the button to download the Windows 10 ISO to begin the process.
After downloading the ISO file, you can use tools, such as Rufus to create a bootable media of Windows 10.
You can also follow this video tutorial that highlights every step to download the file.
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.