{
  "slug": "media-creation-tool",
  "category": "os-installers",
  "name": "Media Creation Tool",
  "description": "Microsoft's Windows tool that downloads Windows 11 and creates a bootable USB drive or ISO file for installing or reinstalling Windows.",
  "website": "https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11",
  "license": null,
  "platforms": [
    "windows"
  ],
  "jurisdiction": {
    "code": "US",
    "name": "United States",
    "eyes": "Five Eyes",
    "eu": false,
    "gdpr": false,
    "cloud_act": "provider"
  },
  "pick": false,
  "pick_reason": null,
  "disclosure": null,
  "grade": "F",
  "score": 10,
  "coverage": 100,
  "summary": "Media Creation Tool scores 10 out of 100 (grade F) on the OS downloaders and bootable USB tools criteria. It partly meets no ads or data sales. It does not meet open source, no trackers or telemetry and independent audit. It is based in the United States: Five Eyes member; subject to the US CLOUD Act.",
  "url": "https://privacyratings.com/os-installers/media-creation-tool/",
  "markdown": "https://privacyratings.com/os-installers/media-creation-tool/index.md",
  "answers": {
    "open_source": {
      "title": "Open source",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Closed source."
    },
    "no_trackers": {
      "title": "No trackers or telemetry",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": "https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/privacy/privacystatement",
      "note": "The Windows download page loads Microsoft Clarity and Bing ads tracking, and Microsoft collects diagnostic data from its software."
    },
    "no_ads": {
      "title": "No ads or data sales",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/privacy/privacystatement",
      "note": "The tool has no ads. Microsoft websites use advertising cookies and tags to market Microsoft products."
    },
    "independent_audit": {
      "title": "Independent audit",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "No independent audit is published."
    },
    "transparency_report": {
      "title": "Transparency report",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "user_notice": {
      "title": "Tells users about requests",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "tls": {
      "title": "TLS configuration",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "security_headers": {
      "title": "Security headers",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "web_standards": {
      "title": "Modern web standards",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    }
  },
  "tests": {
    "ssllabs": null,
    "observatory": null,
    "internetnl_web": null,
    "internetnl_mail": null,
    "trackers": [
      {
        "name": "Impact",
        "host": "d.impactradius-event.com",
        "effect": "no"
      },
      {
        "name": "Microsoft Ads",
        "host": "bat.bing.com",
        "effect": "no"
      },
      {
        "name": "Microsoft Clarity",
        "host": "www.clarity.ms",
        "effect": "no"
      }
    ],
    "tested_at": "2026-10-01T07:01:51.982Z"
  },
  "last_modified": "2026-10-01T07:44:20Z"
}