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Windows Server 2025, 2022, 2019 and 2016 evaluation downloads

Verified 3 min read

Official Windows Server evaluation ISOs and VHDs, the 180-day rules, Hyper-V Server, Server Insider builds, ADK and MDT — plus which version to pick in 2026.

Server 2025 is the one to start on

Section titled “Server 2025 is the one to start on”

Windows Server 2025 (LTSC, build 26100) is in mainstream support until 2029-11-13, with extended support to 2034-11-14. If you are building a lab today and nothing forces you back, start here.

  • ISO (8 languages) · VHD (en-US)180-day evaluation; activate within 10 days

    Windows Server 2025 evaluation

    English, Chinese (Simplified), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish. The VHD option is listed for English only.

    Channel
    LTSC, build 26100
    Vendor
    Microsoft
    Open vendor page

  • ISO · VHD (en-US)180-day evaluation

    Windows Server 2022 evaluation

    Mainstream support ends 2026-10-13, extended to 2031-10-14. Still the safest choice for third-party software that has not certified 2025 yet.

    Channel
    LTSC, build 20348
    Vendor
    Microsoft
    Open vendor page

  • ISO · VHD (en-US)180-day evaluation; extended support ends 2029-01-09

    Windows Server 2019 evaluation

    Out of mainstream support since 2024-01-09. Keep it only for legacy apps and plan the move.

    Channel
    version 1809, build 17763
    Vendor
    Microsoft
    Open vendor page

  • ISO · 180-day evaluation180-day evaluation; extended support ends 2027-01-12

    Windows Server 2016 evaluation

    ISO only — no VHD option. Closest to its end of extended support of the Server line still downloadable here.

    Channel
    version 1607, build 14393
    Vendor
    Microsoft
    Open vendor page

  • ISO · pre-releaseInsider terms; not for production

    Windows Server Insider Preview

    Separate from the client Insider page. Treat as disposable: hypervisor features and drivers change between builds.

    Channel
    Server vNext preview
    Vendor
    Microsoft
    Open vendor page

  • ISO · free hypervisorFree; no guest licensing included

    Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2019

    Command-line-only free hypervisor. Do not confuse it with the Hyper-V role in Windows Server; the guest OS still needs its own licence.

    Channel
    Standalone hypervisor, last release
    Vendor
    Microsoft
    Open vendor page

  • Installer kitFree; deploy Windows images

    Windows ADK + WinPE add-on

    Needed for WinPE, DISM scripting and MDT. The WinPE add-on is a separate download; match the ADK version to the Windows release you deploy.

    Channel
    Versioned per Windows release
    Vendor
    Microsoft
    Open vendor page

  • Deployment toolkitFree

    Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT)

    Still used for on-prem LiteTouch imaging, but new work should use Windows Autopilot or Configuration Manager task sequences.

    Channel
    Legacy; superseded by Autopilot/ConfigMgr
    Vendor
    Microsoft
    Open vendor page

What the evaluation actually gives you

Section titled “What the evaluation actually gives you”
  • Full product, time-limited. Datacenter or Standard, all roles installable; it stops working after the evaluation period.
  • 180 days, and it must activate over the internet within 10 days or the server shuts itself down. That is Microsoft’s wording on the download page, not an urban legend.
  • ISO and VHD. Windows Server 2025 offers both, but the VHD option is listed under English only.
  • Eight languages for 2025: English, Chinese (Simplified), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish.
  • No product key included. Evaluation is not a licence; converting a lab to production means buying the edition you run.

Choosing between 2025, 2022, 2019 and 2016

Section titled “Choosing between 2025, 2022, 2019 and 2016”
Version Reach for it when Watch out
2025 New lab, new app, you want the current role set Some third-party agents still certify 2022 first
2022 A vendor requires it, or you need a known-good baseline Mainstream support ends 2026-10-13
2019 Reproducing a legacy app or an old IIS/AD layout No mainstream support since 2024-01-09
2016 A very old app, or an exam lab pinned to 1607 Extended support ends 2027-01-12

A useful rule: match the Server version to the application, not to your enthusiasm for new builds. A 2025 host running a 2012-era line-of-business app costs you more in compatibility work than it gains in features.

Hyper-V Server 2019 is not “free Windows Server”

Section titled “Hyper-V Server 2019 is not “free Windows Server””

It is a standalone, command-line-only hypervisor, and 2019 was the last release of that product line. It carries no guest licensing: every VM needs its own Windows licence. It is also not the same thing as enabling the Hyper-V role inside Windows Server — that role is licensed by the host edition (Standard covers two OSEs, Datacenter covers unlimited).

Deployment kits

Section titled “Deployment kits”

Windows ADK + WinPE add-on is what you need for WinPE boot images, DISM scripting and MDT task sequences. The WinPE add-on is a separate download and the ADK version must match the Windows release you deploy — a 2022 ADK producing a 2025 image is a supported-source-of-confusion, not a supported deployment.

MDT still exists for on-prem LiteTouch imaging. Microsoft’s current guidance points new work at Windows Autopilot or Configuration Manager task sequences. Use MDT when you inherit it, not when you are choosing.

Server Insider builds

Section titled “Server Insider builds”

The Server Insider Preview page is separate from the client Insider page. These are vNext pre-release builds: hypervisor behaviour, drivers and role features change between builds, and a build can be withdrawn. Treat them as disposable VMs with snapshots, never as the base of a lab you intend to keep.

After the download

Section titled “After the download”
Terminal window
Get-FileHash .\WindowsServer2025.iso -Algorithm SHA256

Then: create the VM with a VirtIO SCSI disk (load the driver during setup), install, run Windows Update, and only then add roles. A Server that has never been patched is not a fair test of anything.

Section titled “Related”

Sources