Microsoft accidentally breaks Windows 10 to Windows 11 upgrade using MCT before EOL

As Windows 10 nears end of life, Microsoft accidentally broke Windows 11’s Media Creation Tool (MCT), which was one of the best ways for Windows 10 users to upgrade to Windows 11. In our testing, Windows Latest observed that the most recent version of the Media Creation Tool refuses to work on Windows 10 when we let’s try to upgrade.

Microsoft officially ends support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. After this date, if you are still using Windows 10, you will not receive any free security updates or bug fixes. Your PC will still work, but it will be more vulnerable to security risks.

That’s more than enough reason to upgrade to Windows 11, if your PC supports it, of course. Many people, who realized this late, are now rushing to install Windows 11.

If your PC meets the hardware requirements to upgrade to Windows 11, the easiest method is to go to the Settings application on your Windows 10 PC, select Update and security > Windows Update. Click Check for updates. If your system is eligible, you will receive a prompt to upgrade to Windows 11. Simply click the Download and install button, and you’re ready to go.

Most people use the Windows Update method I described above, but if you want to refresh the Windows installation, you may want to do a clean install using the Media Creation Tool.

Or if you want to create a bootable USB or DVD to do a clean install of Windows 11, your best bet East always with the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool, which is now broken, thanks to Microsoft’s latest gaffe.

Windows 11 installation media fails on Windows 10 devices

As spotted and tested by Windows Latest, Microsoft has confirmed a known issue in which the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool does not work as expected on Windows 10 devices.

As of October 12, 2025, the latest version of Windows 11 Media Creation Tool is 26100.6584, released on September 29, 2025. Microsoft says that the tool quits abruptly and does not display any error messages.

“Windows 11 Media Creation Tool version 26100.6584, released September 29, 2025, may not work as expected when used on Windows 10 devices. The Media Creation Tool may close unexpectedly, displaying no error messages,” Microsoft officials noted in an update to its document spotted by Windows Latest.

We tested on our Windows 10 device to see if the problem persists and it does:

We were able to download the Media Creation Tool from the Windows 11 ISO page. Clicking on the executable file brings up a prompt asking to allow the app to make changes to Windows. When you press the Yes button, a Windows logo appears, but the application abruptly closes and fails to install.

All our attempts to use the Media Creation Tool on Windows 10 have failed abruptly.

The company says it is working on a fix and will release an update to the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool in the future, although no clear timeline was mentioned.

What to do if the media creation tool is not working?

Don’t worry, if you still want a bootable USB drive or a fresh installation of the operating system, the workaround mentioned by Microsoft is to download the Windows 11 disk image (ISO).

To do this, go to Microsoft’s download page or refer to our article, and scroll down until you see the “Download Windows 11 disk image (ISO) for x64 devices” section.

Click the Select Download button and choose Windows 11 (Multi-Edition ISO for x64 devices). Then click on the Download Now button. Ultimately, Media Creation Tool generates the .ISO file. You can manually download the .ISO, mount it using File Explorer, and open setup.exe. This will perform the same process as the Media Creation Tool.

Although you can always use Windows Update or Media Creation Tool to install Windows 11, one of the best and recommended ways to install it on the device you are using is to use the Windows 11 Setup Wizard. This is because the app automatically configures the Windows 11 download based on your device’s current settings.

Make sure your Windows 10 PC meets Windows 11 requirements

Before proceeding, you need to check if your Windows 10 device is compatible with Windows 11 and download the official PC Health Check app from Microsoft. Run it and click the “Check Now” button. Microsoft requires that you need a 64-bit dual-core processor that supports TPM 2.0, UEFI with Secure Boot, as well as a minimum of 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage.

Bad luck for you if your device does not support Windows 11, as Microsoft recommends that you recycle or trade in your Windows 10 PC.

What to do if you want to continue using Windows 10?

Windows 10 is now 10 years old, and even with its initial dislike, many are still clinging to the aging operating system, although Windows 11 offers a host of AI features that are mostly free to use. For what it’s worth, Microsoft is also planning major design updates to Windows 11, designed for the AI ​​era.

If you still don’t want to upgrade to Windows 11, you can extend security updates for another year, until October 13, 2026, by signing up for Windows 10 ESU.

Microsoft has added a “Register Now” button directly in Windows Update settings, and once you click it, a pop-up wizard will guide you through the process. It only takes a few seconds and only works if you meet one of the following conditions defined by Microsoft:

1. You need to sign in with a Microsoft account and keep it linked.
2. Or use 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points to bypass OneDrive sync.
3. Or pay $30 to continue using a local account without signing in to your Microsoft account.

Based on early testing by Windows Latest, we understand that Microsoft is clearly incentivizing users to move toward cloud accounts. The ESU license is linked to your Microsoft account. Additionally, if you have multiple PCs with the same Microsoft account, each device requires its own ESU activation.

There is one more trap. Microsoft recently confirmed to Windows Latest that your Windows 10 ESU status will expire if you stop signing in with the same Microsoft account for 60 days. If it expires, you must re-register.

Different rules if you are in the EU

Microsoft clarified with Windows Latest that while OneDrive syncing is not required in Europe, a Microsoft account is still required. However, European regulations have required Microsoft to remove the “backup to OneDrive” step.

So for EU users, ESU will appear as a clearer prompt without any mention of Rewards points or OneDrive.

Interestingly, there is nothing stopping you from changing your system region to a European country and registering at the EU prompt. You can then go back.

Microsoft obviously wants all of its users to upgrade to Windows 11, so the company breaking one of the cleanest upgrade paths from Windows 10 to 11, just days before the former’s EOD, is likely a mistake, and we might see a fix sooner rather than later.