What combination of tools can allow you to completely automate deployment of Windows 10 to computers?

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Download and install the Windows ADK

• Article
• 05/24/2022
• 5 minutes to read

In this article

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.
• The Compatibility Administrator and the Standard User Analyzer tool.
• 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 for Windows 11, version 22H2

You can use the Assessment and Deployment Kit for Windows to install Windows 11 and Windows Server 2022.

• Get the Windows ADK:
  • Download the Windows ADK for Windows 11, version 22H2
  • Download the Windows PE add-on for the Windows ADK for Windows 11, version 22H2
• What's new in the Windows ADK
• For Windows 10 IoT Core, also download the IoT Core Add-Ins.

For previous versions of the ADK, see Other ADK downloads

Choose the right ADK for your scenario

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 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

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.
• For secure manufacturing environments, you can install the Windows ADK offline.
• For automated installs, you can silently install the Windows ADK.

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).

• Learn more about VAMT
• Learn more about USMT
• Learn more about Application Virtualization (App-V)
• Learn more about IT Pro scenarios

• Download the Windows Driver Kit
• Download the Windows HLK, HCK, or Logo Kit
• Download the debugging tools for Windows (WinDbg)
• Download the Windows Symbols Packages
• Download Windows ADK Insider Preview builds

Additional resources

Additional resources

In this article

Which deployment tools are supported by Windows 10?

What are Windows 10 deployment methods?

Which Microsoft tool allows you to deploy operating systems?

Which tool is used to create an answer file that will be used to deploy Windows 10 in your environment?