How to Download Windows Server 2025, Install & Activate

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September 21, 2025

On September 21, 2025

Windows Server 2025 is the most recent server system developed by Microsoft. It includes new features and enhancements to efficiently manage your server infrastructure with simple networking, faster storage, hybrid cloud capability, and increased productivity. If you don’t know how to download, install, and set up Windows Server 2025, this blog will help you do it easily. Stay on reading to learn the full process with a simple guide.

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Verify Your Device System Requirements

Before proceeding with the action, verify the device’s system requirements. Does it suit the Windows Server 2025? To clear your confusion, we have added this:

Components	Requirements
Processor	At least 1.4 GHz with a 64-bit processor, compatible with x64 instructions set, support for NX and DEP
RAM	512 MB is required for the Server Core and 2 GB for the Desktop experience. It’s recommended to keep 4 GB.
Storage	A minimum of 32 GB space in hard disk
Network	Trusted Platform Module, UEFI 2.3.1c based system and firmware that supports secure boot, Super VGA (1024x768) display or higher resolution, keyboard and mouse, internet access.
Additional Requirements	DVD drive. UEFI 2.3.1c-based system and firmware that supports secure boot. Trusted Platform Module. Graphics devise and monitor (Super VGA (1024 x 768). Keyboard and Microsoft mouse (or other compatible pointing device). Internet access.

How to Install Windows Server 2025

You can install Windows Server 2025 in two ways. So, you can choose one from below:

Server Core: This installation option is recommended while downloading and it includes Windows Server Core components. It’s a small installation process, but it doesn’t integrate a graphical user interface (GUI). This installation method is used for deployments and managed remotely with PowerShell, Windows Admin Center, and others.
Server with Desktop Experience: This method is perfect for organizations with a complete installation. It includes a full GUI and contains a larger footprint than the server core.

Download Windows Server 2025 ISO

Once you ensure the device has all the required system requirements to install Windows Server 2025. Now, you can proceed to download your specific Server 2025 edition and make sure the device has a stable internet connection. Download Windows Server 2025 directly from the Microsoft official website.

The download process may take some time depending on your internet speed. Please be patient until the download is complete, and don’t open the ISO file until the download has finished.

Note: Always try to download Server 2025 ISO file from Microsoft official or reliable sources to avoid malware or virus attacks.

How to Create Windows Server 2025 Bootable USB?

After downloading the Windows Server 2025 ISO file, you need to create a bootable USB for a smooth installation. Confirm that your USB drive has at least 8 GB of free storage space. If your USB drive contains important files, you can store them on local or cloud storage. Follow these easy procedures to create a bootable USB drive:

Download Rufus Utility Tool freely and install the software, as it’s an open-source tool for managing USB drives and device storage.
Put the 8GB USB drive on your device that you need to boot the ISO file and format.
Launch the Rufus Utility Tool and click the Select button next to the Boot Selection box.
Select the Windows Server 2025 ISO file from your downloaded folder and the ISO file name will appear in the Boot Selection Box.
Adjust Rufus’ settings according to the screenshot below, then click the Start button to complete the booting process. This may take some time. Close the application once the Status bar is fully completed.

How to Install Windows Server 2025?

When the USB drive is ready, you can install Server 2025 in your PC . Follow these instructions for smooth installation:

Enter the bootable USB drive and turn off your device.
Press the device’s power key and turn it on again.
Now, consistently press the boot keys (ESC, F2, F10, F12), based on your device. Select ‘USB: Specific Storage Device‘ in the boot menu and tap ‘Enter’ to go to the installation display.
At the start of the installation process, select your preferred language and click ‘Next’.

Choose the keyboard or input method and press Next.
Next, select the setup option by checking the box for ‘Install Windows Server’ and enabling the option ‘I agree that everything will be deleted, including files, apps, and settings.’ Then, press the ‘Next’ button to proceed to the next page.

Enter the Windows Server 2025 product key that you purchased from Microsoft or an authorized reseller. You can also activate your Server 2025 Standard/Datacenter later by selecting ‘I don’t have a product key‘ and clicking ‘Next‘.

Now select your expected Windows Server 2025 edition among these multiple options and click ‘Next’:

Windows Server 2025 Standard
Windows Server 2025 Standard (Desktop Experience)
Windows Server 2025 Datacenter
Windows Server 2025 Datacenter (Desktop Experience)

Accept the ‘applicable notices and license terms‘ and continue.

Select a location to install Windows Server 2025 and press ‘Next‘.

Now showing you the ‘Ready to Install’ window, click ‘Install‘ to start the process.

Your server installation takes some time to complete, so wait until it finishes.

Once your Windows Server 2025 installation is complete, remove the USB drive and proceed to activate the software. By activating Windows Server 2025, you can access all the premium features and enhancements. Msckey is a trusted authorized reseller that offers Windows Server 2025 license keys at competitive prices compared to Microsoft’s official rates, with a range of additional benefits.

How to Configure Windows 2025 Server

Configure Windows Server 2025 to keep your server secured from unauthorized access. Once you set a password for your administrator account, click Finish to complete.

A new window will appear titled ‘Send diagnostic data to Microsoft.’ Select either ‘Include Optional Data‘ or ‘Required Data Only,’ then click ‘Accept‘ to complete the configuration.

How to Activate Windows Server 2025 Standard/Datacenter?

If you don’t activate Windows Server 2025 during installation, don’t worry! You can activate it later. Follow these steps to activate it:

Press Win+R to open the Run dialog box.
Type cmd in the box and press Ctrl+Shift+Enter at a time,
When a pop-up appears, click Yes to open the Command Prompt with administrator access.
Type the following command to check the current edition: Dism /Online /Get-CurrentEdition.
The command shows a result like this: Current Edition: Server_Edition (Ex-ServerDatacenterEval)

Afterward, run the Target Edition with this command: DISM /Online /Get-TargetEditions. It shows the result like this: Target Edition: Target_Edition (Ex-ServerDatacenter)
Now, activate your Windows Server following the command: DISM /Online /Set-Edition: Server(Standard/Datacenter) /ProductKey: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX/AcceptEula (Use product key instead of X)
Now, go to your device’s Settings and check if it is activated.

Note: For example, if you’re on a Windows Server 2025 Evaluation, you must convert to a full edition of Datacenter to enjoy all the premium features. Use this command to convert an evaluation version: DISM /Online /Set-Edition: Server(Standard/Datacenter) /ProductKey: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX/AcceptEula.

Final Thoughts

This article provides detailed guidelines on how to download, install and activate Windows Server 2025. If you are not familiar with the process or are not an expert in setting up a Windows Server, we hope our instructions will guide you successfully. Share your experience with setting up Windows Server 2025 in the comments section. Be sure to bookmark Msckey to stay updated on the latest news, tips, tricks, and fixes related to Microsoft and other software.