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Free Windows Server 2016 ISO – Full, Official Download

Windows Server 2016, built on the Windows 10 core and released on October 12, 2016, offers a secure, scalable, and flexible platform for enterprise apps, network management, and modern datacenter or cloud workloads.

If you're going to use this system, you can follow this free Windows Server 2016 download hub. It covers the direct links for downloading the Windows Server 2016 ISO 64-bit file for VirtualBox, VMware, or creating a bootable USB installer.

Need to compare and download other versions of Windows Server? Follow:
Windows Server 2025 ISO Download
Windows Server 2022 ISO Download

System Requirements for Windows Server 2016

Before installing Windows Server 2016, it is necessary for you to learn its minimum system requirements.

ComponensMinimum RequirementsProcessor (CPU)1.4 GHz 64-bit processor (x64 instruction set compatible)RAM (Memory)512 MB (2 GB for Server with Desktop Experience)Installation Storage32 GB (more recommended for installation with GUI or updates)Network AdapterEthernet adapter capable of at least 1 Gbps, compliant with PCI Express architectureDisplaySuper VGA (800 x 600) or higher-resolution monitorOthersUEFI 2.3.1c-based system or BIOS; TPM (optional, required for certain features)

Windows Server 2016 download from Microsoft

The Microsoft Evaluation Center is the common place to download Windows Server 2016. If you would like to get Windows Server 2016 from the official website, follow:

  1. Access the Microsoft Evaluation Center for Windows Server 2016 ISO download
  2. Click "64-bit edition" next to your desired language. 
    Free Windows Server 2016 ISO – Full, Official Download
  3. Wait for Windows Server 2016 to be downloaded.

Windows Server 2016 download with iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows

iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows is an all-inclusive disk management tool that offers direct options for downloading ISO images of Windows Server 2016, 2025, 2022, 2019, 2012 R2, and 2008 R2, and other Windows versions.

This tool can also help you create a Windows Server bootable USB installer with just a few clicks.

  1. Download, install, and open iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows on your PC or physical server.
  2. In the Download and create boot disk section, click "Windows" > "Download Windows system image."
  3. Click on "Windows Server," select "2016," and finish the other selections. 
    Free Windows Server 2016 ISO – Full, Official Download
  4. Click "Get" to download Windows Server 2016 quickly.

Windows Server 2016 download for VMware, VirtualBox

Here, we've gathered the free Windows Server 2016 archives. Click one of them to quickly download Windows Server 2016 for VMware, VirtualBox, or USB.

In other words, these ISO files can be used to install Windows Server 2016 inside VMware and VirtualBox on Windows 11/10 PCs. And they can also be used to create a bootable USB installer.

✅ Download Windows Server 2016 64-bit (Standard & Datacenter)

File size: 5.3 GB 
Language: English
Source: Internet Archive
#Original MSDN ISO image of Windows Server 2016#Windows Server 2016 RTM#Build 14393.0

✅ Download Windows Server 2016 64-bit (Standard & Datacenter)

File size: 5.3 GB 
Language: English
Source: Internet Archive
#Original MSDN ISO image of Windows Server 2016

✅ Download Windows Server 2016 64-bit (Standard & Datacenter Evaluation)

File size: 6.5 GB 
Language: English 
MD5: 70721288bbcdfe3239d8f8c0fae55f1f 
SHA1:772700802951b36c8cb26a61c040b9a8dc3816a3
Source: Internet Archive
#Untouched Windows Server 2016

✅ Download Windows Server 2016 64-bit (Essentials)

File Size: 4.5 GB 
Language: English
Source: Internet Archive
#Original ISO of Windows Server 2016 Essentials

✅ Download Windows Server 2016 64-bit (Essentials Evaluation)

File Size: 4.5 GB 
Language: English 
SHA256: 968222F3EF41F7390BC2825A721C97C653B627023EBD051EC1CEBCE1F9B2D250
Source: Internet Archive
#Untouched Windows Server 2016 Essentials Evaluation

 Note: Some of the above Windows Server 2016 ISO files include multiple editions. In that case, the edition you'll install depends on your product key or the one you select during the installation.

Verify the downloaded ISO file

The Windows Server 2016 ISO downloaded from the archive sources may pose security risks. You should check whether the file is authentic and unmodified by comparing its cryptographic hash (usually SHA256, SHA1, or MD5) with a trusted value (what the archive source offers).

  1. Open Command Prompt on your PC.
  2. Enter the command below: certutil -hashfile "FULL_PATH_TO_ISO" SHA256Replace FULL_PATH_TO_ISO to the real path of your downloaded ISO. If you need to check the SHA1 or MD5 hash value of the downloaded ISO, replace SHA256 with SHA1 or MD5.
  3. Compare the output hash value (a long string) with the one that the ISO provides.

If they are the same, the ISO is safe to use. Otherwise, change another source to get Windows Sever 2016.

Create a Windows Server 2016 bootable USB installer

A bootable Windows Server 2016 USB installer can be used to deploy Windows Server 2016 on physical servers or PCs, reinstall or clean install Windows Server 2016, upgrade from Windows Server 2012/R2 to 2016, start up or repair an unbootable physical server or PC, etc.

Using Rufus is a popular method to create a Windows Server 2016 bootable USB installer. This way looks simple, but after I tried it. I found that it involves a lot. 

I need to download a Windows Server 2016 ISO file first and then configure several settings in Rufus before the USB can be created. After surveying, I found that things become far easier when switching to iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows. 

This disk manager lets you create a bootable Windows Server 2016 USB installer in just a few clicks. The whole process is simple and fast.

Here's how I use iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows to create a Windows Server 2016 bootable USB installer:

Wait for the Windows Server 2016 ISO to be downloaded quickly, and then, this tool automatically creates a bootable USB installer. Then, I can use this bootable USB installer to install Windows Server 2016 on a physical server or PC.

FAQs about Windows Server 2016 download 

A

If the machine is currently running Windows Server 2012 or 2012 R2, you can perform an in-place upgrade. However, if it's running Windows Server 2019 or later, you must either wipe the drive and do a clean installation or install Windows Server 2016 inside a virtual machine such as VMware, Hyper-V, or VirtualBox.

For PCs or systems not intended to replace their current OS, installing Windows Server 2016 in a VM is the safest method.

A

You can download Windows Server 2016 from Microsoft Evaluation Center, Internet Archive, or iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows.

A

Yes. Although its mainstream support ended on January 11, 2022, Windows Server 2016 is currently in extended support, which continues until January 12, 2027.