When you're setting up a Windows 10 Professional installation, automating the process can save time and reduce errors. One of the key components for automation is the autounattend.xml file. This file helps you automate the setup process of your Windows operating system installation, providing custom configurations for things like partitioning, user accounts, and more.

In this blog, we'll guide you on how to download and edit the autounattend.xml file, update specific placeholders in the file, save it, and copy it to your bootable USB thumb drive.

Step 1: Download the autounattend.xml Template

First, you need to acquire the autounattend.xml file. It's typically created from Windows System Image Manager (SIM) or you can download a pre-made template.

• GOTO BLOG: Automating Windows 10 Professional Installation using XML Script

Step 2: Edit Placeholders in the autounattend.xml File

Once you’ve obtained the autounattend.xml file, you will need to open it and edit the placeholders. This file is an XML format, so it can be edited with any text editor like Notepad or Notepad++.

Here are the lines you need to change:

• Line 34: Find the placeholder in line 34, Replace this with your Windows Product Key.
• Line 163 and 174: This line typically involves user account setup. You'll want to replace this placeholder with the specific user information, such as the username, password, or administrator settings.

Step 3: Save the autounattend.xml File

Once you've finished editing the placeholders on lines 34, 163, and 174, save the changes.

• If you’re using Notepad, simply click File > Save or press Ctrl + S.
• Ensure the file is saved as autounattend.xml (with the .xml extension) and not as a .txt file.

Step 4: Copy the autounattend.xml to Your Bootable USB Thumb Drive

Now, you'll need to copy the edited autounattend.xml to your bootable USB thumb drive. This USB thumb drive should be set up to install Windows 10 Professional, and the autounattend.xml file needs to be placed in the root directory.

How to Create a Bootable USB Thumb Drive (if you don't have one yet):

If you do not yet have a bootable USB drive for Windows 10 Professional, we have a dedicated guide for that, but be sure you have already downloaded the Windows.iso from the Microsoft website. You can click on the following link for a detailed walkthrough:

How To Create a Bootable Thumb Drive for Windows 10 Professional with RUFUS

Once you have your bootable USB set up, follow these steps:

• Insert your USB thumb drive into your computer.
• Open File Explorer and navigate to the USB drive.
• Copy your modified autounattend.xml file and paste it into the root directory of the USB drive.

Step 5: Begin the Installation Process

After you’ve copied the autounattend.xml file to the USB, you’re ready to begin the automated Windows 10 Professional installation:

• Insert the USB into the computer you want to install Windows 10 Professional on.
• Restart the computer and boot from the USB (this usually involves pressing a key like F12, Esc, or Del during bootup to enter the boot menu).
• The installation should start automatically, and the autounattend.xml file will guide the setup process with the configurations you specified.

Watch the Video Tutorial:

Final Thoughts!

Using the autounattend.xml file for automating Windows 10 Professional installations is an excellent way to save time and streamline your setup process. By editing the relevant placeholders and copying the modified file to your bootable USB drive, you’ll be able to install Windows 10 quickly with the custom configurations you need.

If you need to create a bootable USB drive for Windows 10, make sure to check out our guide on how to do that using Rufus!