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Microsoft ended support for Windows 8 on January 12, 2016. It also no longer officially offers a Windows 8 ISO download for the general public from its standard "Software Download" page.
So, you can only get it from non-official sources. Well, in this post, I gathered the direct links for you to download Windows 8 ISO 64-bit, 32-bit, and All-in-One files for free.
Note: Quickly get your desired ISO:
Windows 8.1 ISO Download
Windows ISO Download Center
* To download older Windows versions, use the Old Windows Versions Download Repository (Original).
Windows 8 ISO download (64-bit)
Before getting the Windows 8 ISO, first, check if the computer you'll run Windows 8 on supports the OS.
If the computer was manufactured in 2010 or later, it supports Windows 8 64-bit. If it's an older one, you can check if it has a 64-bit CPU.
- Right-click This PC (or Computer) and select Properties.
- Look for the entry labeled System type.
If it shows "x64-based processor", it means the PC has a 64-bit CPU and supports 64-bit Windows.
Now, you can click the direct link below to get the Windows 8 ISO 64-bit for your target PC.
⬇️ Download Windows 8 ISO 64-bit
MD5: 4e31c6f0a7862f8ce8931342ad984a12
SHA-1: 6ddedebe40ab59cb11823f62f475c43c4053fe60
Size: 3.2 GB
Language: English
Verify the downloaded Windows 8 64-bit file
Once the download is complete, you should check if the MD5 and SHA-1 generated by the downloaded ISO on your computer are the same as the ones offered above.
This step is necessary. It is to confirm that your downloaded Windows 8 64-bit ISO file is authentic, unmodified, and error-free.
You can follow these steps to run the Windows built-in certutil command to perform the verification:
- Press Win + R, enter CMD in the box, and press Enter to locate CMD.
- Run Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Enter the following command to show the MD5 of your downloaded Windows 8 ISO.
Here, you should replace "C:\path\to\your\windows8.iso" with the path of your downloaded Windows 8 ISO 64-bit.
certutil -hashfile "C:\path\to\your\windows8.iso" MD5 - Compare if the output long string (MD5 hash) is the same as we offered above.
- Continue to enter the command below to show the SHA-1 of your downloaded Windows 8 ISO.
Likewise, replace "C:\path\to\your\windows8.iso" with the path of your downloaded Windows 8 ISO 64-bit.
certutil -hashfile "C:\path\to\your\windows8.iso" SHA1 - Check if the SHA-1 value is the same as we provided above.
If both the MD5 and SHA-1 of your downloaded Windows 8 ISO file are the same as what we pasted, it means that your Windows 8 ISO file is intact and hasn't been modified or damaged. You can feel free to use it.
For installing Windows 8 64-bit
Unlike Windows 10 or 11, a valid product key is required to install Windows 8 on a computer. If you don't have one, you can use the generic key offered by Microsoft to complete the installation.
Generic Key: XKY4K-2NRWR-8F6P2-448RF-CRYQH
This generic key is only used for finishing the Windows 8 installation rather than activating the OS permanently. You need to contact Microsoft to get a valid product key to unlock all features of Windows 8.
Share the Windows 8 ISO 64-bit download, verification, and installation resources with others.
Windows 8 ISO download (32-bit)
Windows 8 32-bit is mainly for older computers (pre-2010 netbooks and desktops) that lack 64-bit CPU support or have very limited RAM.
If you have an old computer, you can download Windows 8 ISO for it.
⬇️ Download Windows 8 ISO 32-bit
MD5: 12e0df94644e76b151c0e143ba151d89
SHA-1: 548ab51161fd83b889596b143d86c1eeb61ef2d0
Size: 2.4 GB
Language: English
Verify the downloaded Windows 8 ISO 32-bit
Likewise, you should run the certutil command in Command Prompt (refer to the detailed steps mentioned above) to check if the MD5 and SHA-1 of the downloaded Windows 8 32-bit file are the same as the listed ones.
Windows 8 32-bit installation
When installing Windows 8, you should enter the Microsoft generic key to complete the installation.
Generic Key: XKY4K-2NRWR-8F6P2-448RF-CRYQH
This key is only for finishing the Windows 8 32-bit installation. To explore all its functionalities, contact Microsoft to get a valid product key.
Windows 8 ISO download (All-in-One)
A Windows 8 ISO All-in-One (AIO) is a modified or repackaged installation image that contains x86 (32-bit) and x64 (64-bit) versions together. It is unofficial and should be used with caution.
⬇️ Download Windows 8 ISO All-in-One
Size: 2.5 GB
Language: English
Edition: Windows 8 Pro
When installing Windows 8 with this AIO file, use the following product key to activate it and finish installation.
CD-Key: XKY4K-2NRWR-8F6P2-448RF-CRYQH
Tell your friends the direct link to get the Windows 8 ISO All-in-One file.
How to create a Windows 8 bootable USB
Microsoft no longer offers the USB/DVD Download Tool for creating a Windows 8 bootable USB. Luckily, you can do this job without a DVD.
Way 1. Create a Windows 8 bootable USB installer with clicks only
Alternatively, you can use iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows. This tool greatly simplifies the difficulty of creating a bootable USB installer for Windows 8, enabling the process to be quickly finished within just a few clicks.
Here's how:
- Download, install, and open iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows on your computer.
- Connect a formatted USB drive with at least 32 GB of available storage to your computer.
- In the Download and create boot disk section, click "Create Windows OS USB Installer."
- Select your USB as the target disk and click "Select."
- Click on Windows 8, choose your desired edition, and click "Start creating boot disk."
This software will start downloading Windows 8 ISO and then automatically create a Windows 8 bootable USB installer.
Way 2. Make a bootable copy of Windows 8 directly
Suppose you need a Windows 8 bootable USB to start multiple computers with the same setup for testing, or to boot a PC that can't start normally. In that case, you can also use iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows to clone the OS partition (C: drive) from a Windows 8 computer.
Then, you'll get a bootable copy of Windows 8 and use it to directly start up a computer without setup.
Here's how:
- Free download, install, and open iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows on a Windows 8 computer.
- Connect a USB drive or external hard drive to the Windows 8 PC.
Notably, to ensure a successful cloning, the storage capacity of the drive must be larger than the OS partition of the Windows 8 computer. - The software will automatically list the system partition in the Source OS disk section. Just check it.
- Click "Select a destination disk" and choose the USB or external drive as the target.
- Click "Start" > "Confirm" to start cloning the Windows 8 system partition.
Easy enough, right?
If you think the Windows 8 ISO resources offered in this post are valuable, share them with more people.
FAQs about Windows 8 ISO download
- QCan you still download Windows 8?
-
A
Although Microsoft won't provide a Windows 8 ISO download for users, you can still download it from non-official resources. Remember to verify the MD5 and SHA-1 of the downloaded Windows 8 ISO to ensure security.
- QIs it legal to download a Windows 8 ISO?
-
A
Downloading a Windows 8 ISO is legal, but using it requires a valid product key.
- QHow to activate Windows 8 for free?
-
A
You can use the Microsoft generic key (for free) to activate Windows 8 for installation. Note that this generic key is only used for a complete Windows 8 installation. If you need to unlock the full features of Windows 8, you need to contact the Microsoft team.