Microsoft has updated the Media Creation Tool app with a newer build of Windows, just one month after releasing the same update with the December 2025 Patch Tuesday release. While the app itself has the same version number, it now downloads a more recent Windows 11 build. As such, when you do a clean Windows install, you have fewer updates to do, as everything is already up to date.
For those unfamiliar, the Media Creation Tool app is Microsoft"s official utility for downloading Windows images and writing them to physical media. You can create a bootable USB right from the application or download an ISO for use in third-party apps like Rufus, should you need to modify the stock installation for a more user-friendly experience or update an unsupported computer.
With the latest update, the Media Creation Tool now downloads Windows 11 build 26200.7623, which is the January 2026 Patch Tuesday update or KB5074109. You can download the Media Creation Tool app from the official website. There, you can get a Windows 11 ISO using a direct link, bypassing the Media Creation Tool.
If you are going to update to the newest Windows 11 version, beware of a few known bugs that Microsoft has already acknowledged. For one, there is a bug that breaks Remote Desktop connections for some users. Also, some may have a hard time shutting down their PCs, as there is a bug that breaks shutdown and hibernation, which is quite amusing. With the latest updates, Microsoft also made some changes to Windows Update KB identifiers to make things clearer and easier for users and IT administrators.