Where can I download Windows Server ISO?

1. Review Windows Server 2019 release notes and system requirements. 
2. Register, then download and install. (Note: This evaluation edition expires in 180 days.) 
3. Receive emails with resources to guide you through your evaluation. 

Installation Guidelines

After installation, install the latest servicing package. 

• Go to: Microsoft update catalog and search for "Windows Server 2019”. 
• Evaluation versions of Windows Server must activate over the internet in the first 10 days to avoid automatic shutdown. 

Windows Server 2019 is the operating system that bridges on-premises environments with Azure services enabling hybrid scenarios maximizing existing investments. Increase security and reduce business risk with multiple layers of protection built into the operating system. Evolve your datacenter infrastructure to achieve greater efficiency and scale with Hyper-converged Infrastructure. Windows Server 2019 also enables you to create cloud native and modernize traditional apps using containers and micro-services. For more details, check out the Windows Server Website.

In addition to downloading the ISO, run Windows Server on Azure. Azure provides a great way to test Windows Server 2019 with pre-built images.

Choose an edition and an installation option:

Customers who download the full ISO will need to choose an edition and an installation option. This ISO evaluation is for the Datacenter and Standard editions. The Datacenter edition is the most complete edition and includes the new Datacenter-specific features (Shielded Virtual Machines, Storage Spaces Direct, and Software-Defined Networking) in addition to unlimited server virtualization.

Installation options:

• Server Core: This is the recommended installation option. It’s a smaller installation that includes the core components of Windows Server and supports all server roles but does not include a local graphical user interface (GUI). It is used for “headless” deployments which are managed remotely through Windows Admin Center, PowerShell, or other server management tools.
• Server with Desktop Experience: This is the complete installation and includes a full GUI for customers who prefer this option.

Before you begin your evaluation, be sure to check out What’s new in Windows Server 2019.

When you complete your evaluation, you can convert your evaluation versions to retail. Also, check out our technical documentation to learn how to upgrade or migrate your other existing servers to Windows Server 2022.

Languages:

• Chinese (Simplified), English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish

Evaluation Options:

• Windows Server 2019 on Microsoft Azure
• Windows Server 2019 | 64-bit ISO
• Windows Server 2019 | 64-bit VHD

1. Review Windows Server 2019 release notes and system requirements.
2. Register, then download and install. (Note: This evaluation edition expires in 180 days.)
3. Receive emails with resources to guide you through your evaluation.
   

Installation Guidelines

After installation, install the latest servicing package.

• Go to: Microsoft update catalog and search for "Windows Server 2019”.
• Evaluation versions of Windows Server must activate over the internet in the first 10 days to avoid automatic shutdown.      

Windows Server is Microsoft’s flagship product for servers. Servers are powerful machines that serve different services to a specific network or the Internet. For example, Windows Server comes with an Active Directory feature that centralizes the user management of a business.

Windows Server has existed for almost as long as the consumer Windows versions (Windows 3.1 and onward). The first popular version of Windows Server was called Windows NT, which came in both server and client versions. Microsoft first used the word “Windows Server” when they released Windows Server 2000. Before that, Windows 2000 was the client version, and Windows NT 4.0 was the server version of the Operating System.

Microsoft releases a server version of Windows OS, along with each client version. Here’s the list of Windows Servers from Microsoft:

• Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
• Windows NT Server 3.5
• Windows NT Server 4.0
• Windows Server 2000
• Windows Server 2003
• Windows Server 2003 R2
• Windows Server 2008
• Windows Server 2008 R2
• Windows Server 2012
• Windows Server 2012 R2
• Windows Server 2016
• Windows Server 2019
• Windows Server 2022

You can go through the complete list of Windows Server versions and timelines here.

You can also read about the difference between different Windows Server editions here.

In this article, we will discuss the different capabilities and features introduced in each version of Windows Server and their download link. Since we can only point to official links from Microsoft, unfortunately, some very old versions of the OS are not available for download.

Windows Server 2022 is the latest version of Windows Server, which comes as a hybrid platform, an on-premise server, and can connect to Microsoft Azure. While Microsoft has discontinued most older versions of the Server OS, they are available for download, so people with a valid license can get an ISO copy of the Operating System.

Windows Server 2022 comes with the following editions:

• Datacenter
• Standard
• Essentials
• Azure

Microsoft has left out the free Hyper-V version, which was part of its offering with Windows Server 2019. We have a detailed guide about Windows Server 2022 here. You can learn everything in the post, including the license, pricing, new features and download links.

Here’s how you can download the Windows Server 2022 evaluation version (ISO, VHD or Azure):

1. Go to this link to download Windows Server 2022.
2. Under Get started for free, select one of the following options:
   1. Sign up for a free Azure account.
   2. Create a Windows Server VM in Azure.
   3. Download the ISO
   4. Download the VHD
3. In our case, we will select Download the ISO and press Continue button.
   
4. Complete the form with your details and press the Continue button.
   
5. Select the language in which you want to download Windows Server 2022. The following languages are supported:
   1. Chinese (Simplified)
   2. English
   3. French
   4. German
   5. Italian
   6. Japanese
   7. Russian
   8. Spanish
6. Press the Download button to start downloading the ISO file.
   
   

The three versions included in the ISO are Standard, Data Center and Data Center: Azure (or Azure Stack HCI) Edition. Please note that this is an evaluation version and will expire in 180 days. The download page mentions that the user must activate the evaluation version over the Internet within 10 days of installation to avoid hourly automatic restarts.

Microsoft has not provided any product keys for Windows Server 2022 yet. That means you will be able to register the evaluation version over the Internet and use it for 6 months. After 180 days, you will need to change your product key to the one which has been purchased from Microsoft.

Download Windows Server 2019

Windows Server 2019 was released in 2018 and came with Windows Admin Center, Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI), improved security and containers. You can learn more about Windows Server 2019 here.

Here’s how you can download Windows Server 2019 ISO images:

1. Go to Microsoft Evaluation Center and expand the edition of Server 2019 you want to download.
   
2. Then select the type of download you wish to make (Azure, ISO, or VHD) under Start your evaluation and then click Continue.
   
3. You will now be presented with a form. Fill it out and then click Continue.
   
4. Now select the language you wish to download it in from the drop-down menu and then click Download. You may download Server 2019 in the following languages:
   • Chinese
   • English
   • French
   • German
   • Italian
   • Japanese
   • Russian
   • Spanish
     

Your download will now begin with the preferences you have chosen. If you have downloaded an ISO image, you can use Ventoy to deploy it or install it directly from the hard drive.

Download Windows Server 2016

Windows Server 2016 was released in 2016 and came with support for containers, Nano Server and Network Controller. It’s mainstream support has ended from Microsoft. Extended support will end in January 2027.

Here’s how you can download Windows Server 2016:

1. Go to this link to evaluate Windows Server 2016
2. Fill in the form on the right hand side with the required details
3. Click on the Download now button at the end. This will take you to a new page with Windows Server 2016 download links in all available languages. You can also use this direct download link to reach the page without registering.

You can also download the VHD version on the same page, or also try the Operating System on Azure without installing anything on your system.

Download Windows Server 2012 R2

Windows Server 2012 R2 was released in 2013 and came with the support for PowerShell and improved storage management. It came with the following editions:

• Foundation
• Essentials
• Standard
• Datacenter

Its mainstream support has ended while extended support will end in October 2023.

Here’s how you can download Windows Server 2012 R2:

1. Go to this link to register for your Windows Server 2012 R2 trial.
2. Fill in the form on the right hand side with the required details.
3. Click on the Download now button at the end.
4. A new page will open with ISO download links for Windows Server 2012 R2 in all available languages. You can also use this direct link to access the download page without registering.

You can also download the VHD version on the same page, or also try the Operating System on Azure without installing anything on your system.

Windows Server 2012 and older

Windows Server 2012 was released in 2012 and came with 64-bit OS, enhanced group policies and Remote desktop Services. It came with the following editions:

• Web
• Foundation
• Standard
• Enterprise
• Datacenter

All the older Server Operating Systems including Windows Server 2012 are not supported by Microsoft. Therefore there is no public ISO link from Microsoft available to download these versions. But if you are an MSDN subscriber, you might be able to download older versions of the Server OS.

Please note that all the download links given in this article are official evaluation links from Microsoft. You can download the ISO and install the evaluation version of Windows Server on your system but you will need to install a valid license after 6 months of use. Otherwise, the software will cease to work.

Also see:

Usman Khurshid is a seasoned IT Pro with over 15 years of experience in the IT industry. He has experience in everything from IT support, helpdesk, sysadmin, network admin, and cloud computing. He is also certified in Microsoft Technologies (MCTS and MCSA) and also Cisco Certified Professional in Routing and Switching.

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