Given its age and insecurity (no security patches since late 2018), why does this AIO ISO still circulate?
Microsoft does not host expired Insider builds publicly. However, the Windows Insider Program archive on the Microsoft Download Center occasionally retains old ISOs for developers with Visual Studio subscriptions. Search for “Windows 10 Insider Preview build 17618” via MSDN Subscriptions (now Visual Studio Subscriptions).
To understand the story of Windows 10 RS5 Build 17618, you have to look at a version of Windows that almost was, but never actually shipped to the public in this form.
The Codename: "Redstone 5" The "RS5" in the filename stands for Redstone 5. In the early days of Windows 10, Microsoft used "Redstone" as the internal codename for their major feature updates. Redstone 4 became the April 2018 Update (Version 1803). Redstone 5 was destined to become the October 2018 Update (Version 1809). windows 10 rs5 build 17618 all in one x86 x64 arm iso
However, Build 17618 represents the chaotic, experimental phase of development that happened before the stable release—and it tells a fascinating story of features that were born, died, and resurrected.
The "Skip Ahead" Exclusive Build 17618 was not available to everyone. It was compiled in March 2018 and released exclusively to the "Skip Ahead" ring of the Windows Insider Program. This was a special subset of brave testers who wanted to jump past the current stable development cycle and test the next major version while the current one was still being finished.
Because the Skip Ahead ring was small and experimental, Microsoft felt free to test radical changes in Build 17618 that they might later chicken out on. Given its age and insecurity (no security patches
The Feature That Defined It: Sets If you were an Insider running Build 17618, the biggest story was a feature called Sets (Shell Application Groups). In this build, Microsoft experimented with turning every app window into a tabbed interface. File Explorer, Notepad, Command Prompt, and even third-party apps like Chrome could be grouped together in a single window, similar to how web browsers handle tabs.
The "All in One" Anomaly The filename includes "All in One x86 x64 ARM." This tells us the ISO wasn't an official leak from Microsoft's public servers. Microsoft usually distributes specific builds for specific architectures separately (one ISO for x64, one for x32, etc.).
The Version Number Twist
The most confusing part of this story is the version number. Build 17618 identifies itself as Version 1809 in the winver dialog box. However, the final version of the October 2018 Update ended up being Build 17763.
This means that Build 17618 is a "phantom" version of 1809—an early, rough draft that contains different DNA than the final product that shipped to millions of PCs later that year. Microsoft does not host expired Insider builds publicly
Why It Matters Today Today, this ISO is a digital time capsule. It represents a version of Windows 10 that offered a completely different workflow (Sets), a unified architecture approach (AIO), and a glimpse into the "what could have been" of the Redstone era. It is a favorite among virtual machine hobbyists who want to run the "Tabbed Windows" that Microsoft killed before launch.
First, let’s break down the nomenclature:
While x86 and x64 drivers from 2018 mostly work, ARM32 drivers are nearly extinct. You cannot install GPU drivers for modern ARM SoCs.
While x86 and x64 are standard, the inclusion of ARM (specifically 32-bit ARM for devices like the original Surface RT, though unofficially) is rare. Microsoft was actively developing Windows 10 on ARM during the RS5 cycle, long before the polished ARM64 builds of later years. Build 17618 represents a middle ground—an early, buggy, but functional ARM port.
When booting the AIO ISO, you will see a standard Windows Setup screen. However, the install.wim or install.esd inside contains multiple images. You must select the correct edition: