The Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK) and Windows PE add-on has the tools you need to customize Windows images for large-scale deployment, and to test the quality and performance of your system, its added components, and the applications running on it. The Windows ADK includes:
The Windows Assessment Toolkit and the Windows Performance Toolkit to assess the quality and performance of systems or components.
Deployment tools such as Windows PE, Sysprep, and other tools that you can use to customize and deploy Windows 11 images.
The Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) as a separate download from the Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK). To add Windows PE to your ADK installation, download and install the Windows PE add-on after installing the ADK.
Important
The 32-bit versions of Windows PE are no longer included in the Windows PE add-ons starting with the ADK for Windows 11, version 22H2. The last supported version of 32-bit Windows PE is available in the Windows PE add-on for Windows 10, version 2004.
Download the ADK 10.1.26100.2454 (December 2024)
The Windows ADK 10.1.26100.2454 (December 2024) and the Windows PE add-on for this ADK support the following OS releases:
Windows 11, version 24H2 and all earlier supported versions of Windows 10 and 11
If possible, use the ADK version that matches the Windows version you're working with. If your environment has a mix of Windows versions, use the ADK version that matches the latest operating system in your environment.
Considerations when you're working with more than one Windows version
Windows PE
You can use Windows PE to deploy earlier operating systems.
If you customize Windows PE, make sure to use the WinPE optional components that match the version of Windows PE you're customizing.
Windows 11 is not available in a 32-bit architecture, so the 32-bit version of Windows PE for Windows 11 is not supported. The last supported 32-bit version of Windows PE is for Windows 10, and can't be used to deploy Windows 11.
Deployment tools
Newer versions of the Deployment Tools can be used on versions of Windows that are older than the ADK version you're using.
Other tools
For USMT, WSIM, and the Assessment kit, use the versions from the ADK that match the OS you're using the tools on.
For other tools, check the documentation to determine compatibility with the OS you're working with.
Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager
If you're working with Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager, see Support for the Windows ADK in Configuration Manager to learn about the versions of the Windows ADK that you can use with different versions of Configuration Manager.
Other ADK downloads
Important
Due to a security vulnerability in the third-party KitBuilder infrastructure used to build the ADK kit, we strongly recommend that all ADK users upgrade to the latest version of ADK. All versions of ADK published inclusive of and after ADK 10.1.26100.2454 (December 2024) will have this issue fixed by default. See the below table for more details on which older versions of ADK have been fixed with any additional instructions.
Important
The April 9, 2024 Windows security updates should be applied to the Windows PE add-on for the Windows ADK 10.1.25398.1 (Republished in January 2025) and earlier, for the ADK for Windows Server 2022, and for the ADK for Windows 10 version 2004 and earlier.
ADK 10.1.25398.1 (Republished in January 2025) and Windows PE add-on for the ADK 10.1.25398.1 (Republished in January 2025) have been republished in January 2025 to fix the security vulnerability in the third-party KitBuilder infrastructure used to build the ADK kit. There were no changes made to the composition of the kit otherwise. Make sure you install the latest version of ADK to stay most up-to-date. If you have to keep using this version of ADK, make sure you install the new link provided in this table.
The Windows ADK 10.1.25398.1 (Republished in January 2025) and the Windows PE add-on for this ADK support the following OS releases:
Windows 11, version 23H2 and all earlier supported versions of Windows 10 and 11
The 32-bit versions of Windows PE in the Windows PE add-ons for Windows 11 and Windows Server 2022 aren't supported. The last supported version of 32-bit Windows PE is available in the Windows PE add-on for Windows 10, version 2004.
The May 9, 2023 Windows security updates should be applied to the Windows PE add-on for the Windows ADK, for Windows 11 version 22H2 and earlier, for Windows Server 2022, and for Windows 10 version 2004 and earlier. After downloading and installing the Windows PE add-on for the Windows ADK, either update the Windows PE add-on once, or create bootable Windows PE media and apply Windows update to the Windows PE media.
Note: The 32-bit versions of Windows PE in the Windows PE add-ons for Windows 11 and Windows Server 2022 aren't supported. The last supported version of 32-bit Windows PE is available in the Windows PE add-on for Windows 10, version 2004.
To use the Windows ADK to work with HAL Extensions, download and install the updated Windows OEM HAL Extension Test Cert 2017 (TEST ONLY) certificate. Learn more.
Install the ADK
Install the ADK based on what works best for your environment.
For computers that are connected to the internet, you can use any of the download links above.
Windows ADK contains core assessment and deployment tools that IT Pros can use to deploy Windows 10 company-wide, including the User State Migration Tool (USMT) and Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT).
Plan and execute an endpoint deployment strategy, using essential elements of modern management, co-management approaches, and Microsoft Intune integration.