Windows Server 2022 Standard Download and Installation Guide – Australia

Get the Windows Server 2022 Standard download from Microsoft, then follow the steps below to install and activate your server. Microsoft's Evaluation Center provides a free 64-bit ISO for testing; continued use requires a valid product key and a supported conversion or licensed installation.

Download the Windows Server 2022 Standard ISO

Microsoft's evaluation ISO includes both Standard and Datacenter. Select Standard during setup; a separate Standard-only evaluation ISO is not required.

1. Open the official Windows Server 2022 download page.
2. Choose your language and select the 64-bit ISO download.
3. Complete registration if requested and save the ISO.

Evaluation limits: The trial expires after 180 days and must activate over the internet within the first 10 days to avoid automatic shutdown. Downloading the ISO does not provide a permanent product key.

Before You Install

Check Microsoft's Windows Server hardware requirements and allow extra resources for your workloads. Back up existing data before installing.

Check the conversion path first: Standard Desktop Experience Evaluation supports conversion to retail Standard Desktop Experience. Microsoft states that Standard Core Evaluation can convert only to retail Datacenter Core, not retail Standard Core. If you need licensed Standard Core, use the appropriate non-evaluation installation media.

Prepare the ISO or Installation Media

Install from an ISO in a Virtual Machine

1. Create a virtual machine with suitable processor, memory and disk resources.
2. Attach the Windows Server 2022 ISO to its virtual DVD drive.
3. Boot from the virtual DVD and follow the installation steps below.

Install from USB or DVD on a Physical Server

1. Use a bootable USB creation tool to write the ISO to a USB drive of at least 8 GB with enough capacity for the installation files, choosing settings that match the server's UEFI or BIOS mode. Alternatively, burn the ISO as a disc image to an 8.5 GB dual-layer DVD.
2. Insert the installation media and restart the server.
3. Open the boot menu, select the USB or DVD drive, and continue with Windows Setup.

Important: Creating bootable USB media erases the drive. Back it up first; copying the ISO file onto a USB or DVD does not make it bootable.

Upgrading an existing server? For a supported in-place upgrade, mount compatible licensed ISO media in Windows and run setup.exe. Upgrading an existing Windows Server installation to an evaluation edition is not supported. Use the boot-from-media steps below for a clean installation.

Install Windows Server 2022 Standard

1. Boot the server or virtual machine from the installation media.
2. Choose your language and keyboard settings, then select Install now.
3. Enter a matching product key if prompted. Select Windows Server 2022 Standard for Server Core, or Standard (Desktop Experience) for a graphical interface. Evaluation media may include Evaluation in the edition names.
4. Accept the licence terms and select Custom for a clean installation.
5. Choose the destination disk and continue. Formatting or deleting partitions removes their data.
6. After installation, set the Administrator password, configure networking, and install drivers and Windows updates.

Choose carefully: Switching between Server Core and Desktop Experience after installation requires a clean installation.

Activate Windows Server 2022 Standard

If You Installed the Evaluation Edition

First check the installed edition and available conversion targets. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:

DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition
DISM /online /Get-TargetEditions

Follow Microsoft's evaluation-to-retail conversion instructions using a matching product key, then restart as instructed. If Standard is not a supported target, perform a clean installation using the appropriate non-evaluation Standard media. Evaluation domain controllers cannot be converted directly.

If Standard Is Already a Non-Evaluation Installation

For activation with a matching retail or MAK product key, run these commands in an elevated Command Prompt, replacing the Xs with your key:

slmgr /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
slmgr /ato
slmgr /xpr

The commands install the key, attempt online activation and display the activation expiry status. Retail and MAK activation are normally perpetual. If activation fails, check the edition, key, internet connection and error code.

Get a Windows Server 2022 Standard Product Key

Visit the Windows Server 2022 Standard product page for more information, or compare the Windows Server 2022 range.

Windows Server 2022 Standard Download FAQs

Is Windows Server 2022 Standard free to download?

Microsoft offers a free 64-bit evaluation ISO for testing. The trial lasts 180 days and requires internet activation within the first 10 days. Continued use requires a valid product key and a supported conversion or licensed installation.

Do I need a product key to download the ISO?

No product key is needed to download Microsoft's evaluation ISO, although registration may be required. Activating a non-evaluation Standard installation requires an appropriate product key and activation method.

Does the ISO include Standard and Datacenter?

Yes. Microsoft's Windows Server 2022 evaluation ISO includes both editions. Choose Standard during setup if you intend to use a Standard product key.

Should I choose Server Core or Desktop Experience?

Server Core has no full desktop interface and is managed through command-line tools or remotely. Desktop Experience includes a graphical interface. Switching between them later requires a clean installation, so check application compatibility and conversion options before choosing.

Can I convert the evaluation edition without reinstalling?

Only where Microsoft supports the conversion. Standard Desktop Experience Evaluation can convert to retail Standard Desktop Experience. Standard Core Evaluation cannot convert to retail Standard Core, and evaluation domain controllers cannot be converted directly. Run DISM /online /Get-TargetEditions to check available targets and follow Microsoft's conversion instructions.