Why Windows 11 24H2 Media Creation Tool still providing older build (26100.2033) despite official warnings and resolution advice?

Hello Carlos OH,

I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to provide an update on my situation regarding the Windows 11 24H2 ISO and ask for your perspective, referencing your previous 4-point message.

Today is May 31, 2025, and unfortunately, the Media Creation Tool continues to provide the old build 10.0.26100.2033 from October 8, 2024. Following your earlier advice (point 4), I re-checked the "direct download" option from the official Microsoft site. As I had found before, this method yields an even older ISO: build 10.0.26100.1742, released on September 6, 2024. While this September build might be "safer" as it predates the problematic October/November updates mentioned in the Microsoft advisory, it's hard to justify installing an ISO that is nearly nine months old when a current version should be readily available. Publishing an up-to-date ISO should not be this difficult for Microsoft.

After some research, I learned that Microsoft releases updated ISOs monthly via Visual Studio Subscriptions. I even signed up for the free Visual Studio Dev Essentials subscription, but the "Windows 11 (consumer editions), version 24H2 updated May 2025" ISOs are still listed as "Not available" to me in the portal.

However, I discovered that these May 2025 consumer edition ISOs can be found on some third-party websites. I managed to obtain one such ISO. Crucially, I verified its SHA256 hash against the official SHA256 hash value published by Microsoft on its Visual Studio Subscriptions page for the corresponding "Windows 11 (consumer edition), version 24H2 (updated May 2025) (x64) - DVD". The hashes matched perfectly, confirming the file is authentic and bit-for-bit identical to the one Microsoft provides to its subscribers.

Given that:

1. Microsoft's official public tools (MCT, direct download) are still providing outdated or problematic ISOs.
2. The recommended current ISOs are not accessible to me even with a basic VSS Dev Essentials subscription.
3. I now have an apparently authentic May 2025 consumer ISO, verified by its SHA256 hash against Microsoft's official hash.

I believe there should be no issue proceeding with a clean installation using this SHA256-verified May 2025 ISO. I wanted to inform you of my findings and also ask if you foresee any significant risks in this approach, considering the circumstances and the SHA256 match.

My sole objective has been to download a trouble-free and up-to-date Windows 11 24H2 ISO. It's incredibly frustrating that Microsoft, especially this year, has let users like me down in this regard. Learning about the declining frequency of MCT updates for Windows 11 over the years (e.g., only 2 updates in 2024, with the last one being problematic and still not replaced publicly) underscores this disappointment.

I've done my due diligence as a user, but Microsoft has not provided a straightforward path. I would appreciate your thoughts.

Thank you.

Best regards.

1 Right now, Microsoft hasn't officially communicated or published a fixed deadline for the tools to be included in the ISO, which involves the December security update. However, in February, they issued an internal resolution. It would be best to wait for any official announcement to get accurate information.

2 Just remember that the official Windows tools give you the latest version, so it’s best to download an official version from the official website since going for something else could lead to serious issues.

3Installing that version might work at first, but you could run into security update issues later on, so you'd need to download the latest version to keep things running smoothly.

4 If you have an urgent issue, I’d suggest that you either install or set up a clean installation using the updated ISO via direct download, and then immediately apply all the available updates through Windows Update.

I hope this solves the problem or any questions you might have. If you have any other ones, could you please let me know?

Hello TiThanos, I hope you are well!!!

This is mainly because the media creation tool for Windows 11 hasn't been updated to include the version that comes with the December 2024 security update or later. To answer the first question, Microsoft previously posted a notice saying that if you install Windows 11 using media, it includes the updates from October and November 2024, not the one that corresponds to the build you mentioned.

So, what Microsoft has put out is that installing Windows 11 with an image based on build 2033 carries the risk of your device ending up in a state where it won't accept any future security updates. Sure, you can install it, but in the long run, it’s going to create a major headache with updates that will force you to reinstall the system again.

And answering the question, the official recommended method would be from the official Microsoft pages. However, I suggest that if you want, you can wait for an update or for a new version of the media creation tool to be released that includes the updates from December, since, as I mentioned before, they haven't been incorporated.

Hello Carlos OH,

Thank you for your prompt reply. I'm doing well, thank you, and I hope you are well too.

Thank you also for confirming that the Media Creation Tool is indeed still distributing the older Windows 11 24H2 build (26100.2033), which includes the October 2024 updates and carries the risks you mentioned.

I appreciate you reiterating the Microsoft advisory about not using this build and the potential for future update issues. This is precisely my concern.

However, the suggestion to simply "wait" for an updated Media Creation Tool is quite disheartening. As I mentioned in my original post, I have been checking for an updated ISO via the official MCT periodically since February 2025. The advisory (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/resolved-issues-windows-11-24h2#3469msgdesc) states this issue was "Resolved" on February 6, 2025, and explicitly recommends using media with the December 2024 update or later for remediation and prevention.

It's now mid-May 2025, and the official tool still hasn't been updated to provide this recommended, safe media. This creates a significant problem for users like myself who need to perform a clean installation. We are essentially being told by Microsoft's documentation to use a version of media that Microsoft is not providing through its primary official channel.

Could you, or perhaps someone from Microsoft, provide any further insight or assistance on these points:

1. Is there any estimated timeframe for when the Media Creation Tool will finally be updated to include an ISO with the December 2024 updates or later, as recommended?
2. Is there any alternative official method or direct download link currently available for users to obtain this safe, recommended version of the Windows 11 24H2 ISO?
3. Given that the official advice is to use newer media (which is unavailable), how does Microsoft suggest users safely perform a clean installation of Windows 11 24H2 today without risking future update problems?
4. How can an issue be considered "Resolved" since February if the tool required to implement the official resolution (i.e., newer installation media) is still not available to end-users months later? This seems like a critical disconnect.

Waiting indefinitely is not a practical solution for many. I would be very grateful for any actionable advice or an escalation of this issue to ensure users can access the correct installation media as per Microsoft's own recommendations.

Thank you again for your time.

Best regards.

Hello TiThanos, I hope you are well!!!

This is mainly because the media creation tool for Windows 11 hasn't been updated to include the version that comes with the December 2024 security update or later. To answer the first question, Microsoft previously posted a notice saying that if you install Windows 11 using media, it includes the updates from October and November 2024, not the one that corresponds to the build you mentioned.

So, what Microsoft has put out is that installing Windows 11 with an image based on build 2033 carries the risk of your device ending up in a state where it won't accept any future security updates. Sure, you can install it, but in the long run, it’s going to create a major headache with updates that will force you to reinstall the system again.

And answering the question, the official recommended method would be from the official Microsoft pages. However, I suggest that if you want, you can wait for an update or for a new version of the media creation tool to be released that includes the updates from December, since, as I mentioned before, they haven't been incorporated.