How to Download & Install WinPE Addon in Windows 10/11 ADK Offline or Online

Hello dear visitor!

On this topic, I will show you how to download and install WindowsRE add-on for windows ADK Toolkit in Windows 11 or Windows 10, or windows 8.1 OS.

ADK stands for Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit, and WinPE or WindowsPE stands for Windows Preinstallation Environment. Both tools can be used together to customize Windows images, and to test the quality and performance of system, its components, and the apps running on it.

In Windows 10 version 1803 and older editions, WinPE was included in ADK setup, but in Windows 10 version 1809 or newer versions and in Windows 11, WinPE addon installation is separated from the ADK installation, however, in both cases it can’t be installed or used without ADK installation.

So, to install WindowsPE, you have to download and then install Windows ADK files first.

HOW TO DOWNLOAD ADK FILES FOR OFFLINE USE?

1. Download adksetup.exe file using this direct link or from Microsoft official website using this link.
   • The previous link is to download ADK setup file for Windows 11 version 22H2 or new versions.
   • So if you have windows server, windows 10 or windows 8, download the applicable file to your system from this list.
2. Open adksetup file to start downloading ADK files.
3. If you want to install ADK on the same computer directly without keeping installation files, select this option: “Install Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit to this Computer”
4. If you want to download and keep the required files for offline use, select this option: “Install Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit for installation on a Separate Computer‘
   • This option option will download all required files for ADK toolkit without installation, so you can use them later as an offline installation on the same computer or on another computer.
5. After that click Next to continue
6. Click Accept option to continue
7. This process will take several minutes according to your internet speed.

HOW TO DOWNLOAD WINPE SETUP FILES FOR OFFLINE USE?

1. Download ADKWinPESetup.exe file using this direct link or from Official Microsoft website
   • Note: Microsoft recommends to install WinPE that is the same or newer version than installed windows version. Don’t install older version to avoid incompatibility issue during image deployment processes.
   • So if you have windows server, windows 10 or windows 8, download the applicable version according to your system from this list.
2. Double click the downloaded file to start it
3. Chose the second option if you have selected the same option with adksetup in previous part
4. then click Next to continue
5. Click Accept option to download Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE) files for offline use.
6. If your internet connection is lost while downloading files, you will see this error message:
7. “Setup cannot locate cab or MSI file or whatever is the file type that failed to download”.
   • To fix that, close Setup and start it again, or download the lost file using IDM or another downloader as followings:
     1. Press Windows logo + R keys from keyboard to open Run tool
     2. Type this path and press Enter to open ADKWINPEADDONS Folder”
        • %TEMP%\ ADKWINPEADDONS
     3. Open last log file and navigate to the end of file
     4. Locate the problematic URL and copy it
     5. Download the file using IDM or internet browser and memorize the downloading path
     6. Chose Locate Content on a Local Computer or a Network Share”, and navigate to the downloaded path to load the file.

After finishing download process, you have to install both tools manually If you chose the second installation option on the first part of this topic. If you have selected the first option, you don’t need to apply the next part.

OFFLINE INSTALLATION:

HOW TO INSTALL WINDOWS ADK TOOLKIT OFFLINE IN WINDOWS 10 OR WINDOWS 11?

1. Navigate to the folder in which you have saved ADK toolkit in first part of this topic
2. The default path is on this path: “%USERPROFILE%\Downloads\Windows Kits\10\ADK\”
3. Double Click adksetup.exe file to to start installation wizard.
4. Select the first option to install Windows ADK on the running computer
5. Select what features or toolkits to install if you want, otherwise, click Install icon to start installation process using default features and toolkits.

HOW TO INSTALL WinPE ADD-ON OFFLINE IN WINDOWS 10/11?

As state previously, Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE) Addon require ADK toolkit to be installed previously, otherwise, you will fail to install or to run WinPE in your computer.

1. After installing Windows ADK successfully, back to ADKWINPEADDONS folder on this path:
   • “%USERPROFILE%\Downloads\Windows Kits\10\ADKWinPEAddons\”
2. Double-click ADKWinPESetup.exe file to run installation wizard
   • Note: Close ADK or another setup window if any, before starting installation, to avoid appearance of this error message: ‘Setup is Already Running“.
3. Follow on-screen options to install Windows Preinstallation Environment toolkit.
4. To open WindowsPE, type Deployment into search box and then select Deployment and Imaging Tools Environment from search result to start the CMD tool’s console.

VIDEO:

For more details about WinRE and ADK online offline installation, watch this video to see everything step by step: