Microsoft Seems to Halt Downloads of Windows 10 and 11 for Users in Russia

Microsoft may have banned official downloads for the Windows operating system in Russia. 

This past weekend, users in the country began noticing they could no longer download the Windows 10 and 11 installation files from Microsoft’s website. Instead, the company’s site triggered an error message that read: "404 - File or Directory not found."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Russian state news agency TASS also encountered error messages when trying to download the OS from Microsoft’s website. The agency was only able to download the Windows installation packages using a VPN service, which can reroute your computer’s internet connection to a server in a different country. 

On Tuesday, PCMag used a VPN server located in Russia to access the country’s local internet. We tried to download both the Windows 10 and Windows 11 Disk Image ISOs, which can be used to manually install the operating systems on a new PC. But the site returned an “Error” message that said: “We encountered a problem with your request. Please visit Microsoft Support Contact Us page for assistance.” 

BleepingComputer also reports that in some cases the Windows 11 Media Creation tool remains downloadable in the country, but it'll trigger an error if you attempt to run it in Russia.

It remains unclear if Microsoft is deliberately blocking the downloads or if it really is an error. The company hasn’t responded to a request for comment. 

Recommended by Our Editors

Microsoft Scales Down Operations in Russia Amid Sales Stoppage

How Long Will Microsoft Support Windows 10?

WTF? Do I Have to Pay for Microsoft's Defender Antivirus Now?

The decision to halt downloads would be in line with Redmond’s March decision to suspend all “new sales” to Russia. The company did so when condemning the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine as “unlawful.” However, Microsoft has been mum on the exact specifics of the sales ban, including how it affects consumer PCs. 

Blocking Windows downloads in Russia probably won’t stop users from receiving the OS, though. Instead, it’ll likely push PC builders within the country to resort to software piracy.