How to Install Windows on a DigitalOcean Droplet
DigitalOcean doesn’t offer Windows natively — but with OS Installer you can deploy Windows 10 Pro, Windows 11 Pro, Windows Server 2022 or Server 2025 on any Ubuntu 24.04 Droplet in under 45 minutes. No rescue mode. No ISO uploads. No KVM access required.
01Why Install Windows on a DigitalOcean Droplet?
DigitalOcean is one of the most popular and affordable cloud platforms in the world — Droplets start at just $6 per month and can be provisioned in under 60 seconds. The problem? DigitalOcean doesn’t offer Windows as a native image. Every Droplet comes with Linux only.
This locks out a huge number of users who need Windows for RDP remote access, running Windows-only software, game servers, automated bots, or just prefer the Windows environment. The traditional workaround — booting into recovery ISO, downloading custom images, manually configuring drivers — is complex, fragile, and takes hours.
OS Installer solves this completely. Connect it to any Ubuntu 24.04 Droplet and it handles the entire installation automatically over SSH — no console access, no recovery mode, no technical knowledge needed. The result: a fully running Windows VPS on DigitalOcean’s infrastructure, at DigitalOcean’s prices.
❌ The Old Way
- Boot into DigitalOcean recovery ISO
- Open console, run manual wget commands
- Configure VirtIO drivers manually
- Manually set up network / RDP
- Hours of troubleshooting
- Breaks on driver conflicts
✅ With OS Installer
- Create a standard Ubuntu 24.04 Droplet
- Enter IP, username & password
- Click Install — walk away
- RDP configured automatically
- Done in ~30–45 minutes
- Works first time, every time
02What You Need Before You Start
Before creating your Droplet, make sure you have the following. The requirements are minimal — if you’re new to DigitalOcean, everything below is standard and takes just a few minutes to set up.
| Requirement | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ✓ |
| RAM | 4 GB | 4 GB (Win 10/11) · 8 GB (Server) |
| vCPUs | 2 vCPU | 2–4 vCPU |
| Disk Space | 60 GB SSD | 80 GB+ SSD |
| SSH Access | Root credentials required (password or key) | |
| DigitalOcean Account | Free — get $200 credit for new accounts | |
OS Installer replaces the entire operating system. All existing data on the Droplet will be permanently deleted. Always take a Droplet snapshot before proceeding if you need to preserve data.
03Step 1 — Create Your Ubuntu 24.04 Droplet
If you don’t have a DigitalOcean account yet, sign up here to get $200 in free credit — automatically applied, no coupon code needed. New accounts get $200 valid for 60 days, which is more than enough to run a Windows VPS for free while you test it out.
Once logged in, follow these steps to create the right Droplet:
Click Create → Droplets
From the DigitalOcean dashboard, click the green Create button in the top navigation and select Droplets from the dropdown menu.
DASHBOARDChoose Ubuntu 24.04 LTS as the image
Under Choose an image, select the Ubuntu tab, then choose 24.04 (LTS) x64. This is the required base OS for OS Installer.
IMAGE SELECTIONChoose your Droplet size
Select a plan with at least 4 GB RAM and 60 GB disk for Windows 10 or Windows 11. The Regular $24/month plan (4 GB RAM, 2 vCPU, 80 GB SSD) is ideal. For Windows Server 2022 or 2025, the $48/month plan (8 GB RAM, 4 vCPU, 160 GB SSD) is recommended.
PLAN SELECTIONChoose a datacenter region
Pick the region geographically closest to you or your users for the best RDP performance. London, Frankfurt, New York, and Singapore are popular choices.
REGIONSet authentication to Password
Under Authentication, select Password and set a strong root password. Make a note of it — you’ll enter it into OS Installer in the next step.
AUTHENTICATIONCreate the Droplet
Click Create Droplet at the bottom. DigitalOcean will provision your Droplet in under 60 seconds. Once the green “Active” indicator appears, note your Droplet’s IP address — you’ll need it shortly.
LAUNCHFor Windows Server, use at least the $48/month plan (8 GB RAM, 4 vCPU). For Windows 10 or 11, use at least the $24/month plan (4 GB RAM). DigitalOcean lets you resize Droplets easily from the dashboard. With your $200 free credit, you can test this at zero cost.
04Step 2 — Install Windows with OS Installer
With your Ubuntu 24.04 Droplet running, head to the OS Installer page. The entire process is browser-based — no software to download, no command line on your end.
Select your Windows version
Choose from Windows 10 Pro, Windows 11 Pro, Windows Server 2022, or Windows Server 2025. See the section below for guidance on which version to pick.
OS SELECTIONEnter your Droplet’s connection details
Enter your Droplet’s IP address (shown in DigitalOcean dashboard), leave the username as root, enter the password you set when creating the Droplet, and leave the SSH port as 22.
SERVER DETAILSTest the connection
Click Test Connection. OS Installer will verify it can reach your Droplet. You’ll see a green “Connection successful” confirmation. If it fails, double-check your IP and password.
CONNECTION TESTPurchase an access plan & enter your code
Choose a plan (24 hours, 1 week, or 1 month). Your 6-digit unlock code appears on screen instantly after payment — no email, no waiting. Enter it to unlock the Install Now button.
UNLOCKClick Install Now — and wait
Hit Install Now and OS Installer takes over. It connects to your Droplet via SSH, downloads the Windows image, injects the correct VirtIO and network drivers for DigitalOcean’s KVM hypervisor, partitions the disk, writes the image, configures RDP, and reboots. The entire process takes 30–45 minutes depending on your Droplet’s location and disk speed.
AUTOMATED INSTALLOS Installer connects to your Droplet over SSH and runs an automated pipeline: downloading the Windows image, injecting VirtIO storage and network drivers (required for DigitalOcean’s KVM hypervisor), writing the image to disk, and configuring the RDP service and network stack. It’s the same process that used to take hours manually — fully automated.
05Which Windows Version Should You Install?
OS Installer supports four Windows versions on DigitalOcean Droplets. Here’s a quick guide to choosing the right one:
- Windows 10 Pro — Requires a minimum of 4 GB RAM. Familiar desktop interface, great for RDP remote work and running Windows-only applications.
- Windows 11 Pro — Choose this for the latest Windows desktop experience. Requires a minimum of 4 GB RAM — we recommend the $24/month Droplet (4 GB RAM, 2 vCPU) for smooth RDP performance.
- Windows Server 2022 — The most popular choice for server workloads. Optimised for headless and RDP operation, lower RAM overhead than desktop Windows, excellent driver support.
- Windows Server 2025 — The newest and most performant option. Excellent DigitalOcean compatibility, improved security features, recommended for new deployments.
If you’re using the Droplet as a Windows RDP server or running server software, go with Windows Server 2022 — it’s the most battle-tested on DigitalOcean’s infrastructure. For a desktop-like experience, pick Windows 10 Pro — just make sure your Droplet has at least 4 GB RAM.
06Connect to Your Windows Droplet via RDP
Once OS Installer completes, Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is configured and ready. Connect using your Droplet’s IP address on port 3389. Here’s how from each platform:
From Windows (built-in RDP client)
- Press Win + R, type mstsc and press Enter
- In the Computer field enter your Droplet IP address
- Click Connect, then enter your Windows credentials when prompted
From macOS
- Download Microsoft Remote Desktop from the Mac App Store (free)
- Click Add PC and enter your Droplet IP address
- Connect and enter your credentials
From iOS / Android
- Install Microsoft Remote Desktop from the App Store or Google Play
- Add a new connection with your Droplet IP on port 3389
- Connect using your Windows username and password
Your Windows installation will be in an unactivated state. You’ll need a valid Windows license to fully activate. See OS Installer’s Windows licensing disclaimer for links to purchase genuine licenses from Microsoft.
07Tips, Performance & Troubleshooting
Optimise Your Droplet for Windows
- Choose NVMe SSD Droplets — DigitalOcean’s Premium NVMe plans give significantly faster Windows boot times and disk I/O. Worth the slight price premium for daily RDP use.
- Pick the right region — RDP is latency-sensitive. Choose a DigitalOcean datacenter closest to your physical location for the smoothest remote desktop experience.
- Resize after installing — Create the smallest Droplet, install Windows, then resize up if you need more resources. Resizing a Droplet takes about 2 minutes from the DigitalOcean dashboard.
- Enable Droplet backups — Once your Windows environment is set up how you want it, enable DigitalOcean automated backups (20% of Droplet cost/month) to protect your configuration.
- Take a snapshot before reinstalling — Always snapshot your Droplet before running OS Installer so you can roll back if needed.
Common Issues
- Connection test fails — Check that your Droplet is fully booted (green “Active” in DigitalOcean dashboard) and that your root password is correct. New Droplets sometimes take 90 seconds to fully start SSH.
- RDP doesn’t connect after install — Wait 2–3 minutes after OS Installer completes before connecting — Windows needs time to fully boot for the first time. Try connecting on port 3389 again after a short wait.
- Black screen on RDP — First-boot black screens are normal on Windows Server. Disconnect and reconnect after 30 seconds. The desktop will appear on the second connection.
- Slow RDP performance — In your RDP client settings, reduce the colour depth to 16-bit and disable Desktop Composition. This dramatically improves performance on lower-spec Droplets.
08Frequently Asked Questions
Does DigitalOcean officially support Windows?
No — DigitalOcean does not offer Windows as a native image. However, OS Installer’s automated SSH-based deployment works perfectly on DigitalOcean Droplets running Ubuntu 24.04, bypassing the need for any native Windows support or KVM/console access.
How much does a Windows DigitalOcean Droplet cost?
For Windows Server 2022/2025 you’ll want at least the $48/month Droplet (8 GB RAM, 4 vCPU). For Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro, use at least the $24/month plan (4 GB RAM, 2 vCPU). Add the cost of an OS Installer access plan and it’s still significantly cheaper than any managed Windows VPS provider. With your $200 free DigitalOcean credit, you can run it at zero cost for months.
Can I reinstall Windows on the same Droplet multiple times?
Yes. Your OS Installer access code allows unlimited installations within its validity window (24 hours, 1 week, or 1 month). You can reinstall the same Droplet or install on completely different Droplets as many times as you need during your access period.
Will my DigitalOcean Droplet IP address change after installation?
No. The Droplet’s IP address remains the same after OS Installer runs — it’s the operating system that changes, not the Droplet’s network configuration. You’ll use the same IP to connect via RDP that you used to connect via SSH.
Is the $200 DigitalOcean credit really free?
Yes — new DigitalOcean accounts signing up via our referral link receive $200 in credits automatically applied to their account, valid for 60 days. A valid credit card or PayPal is required to verify the account. The credit is used before any billing occurs. New accounts only.
Ready to Install Windows on Your DigitalOcean Droplet?
Get your Droplet running with $200 free DigitalOcean credit, then install Windows in minutes with OS Installer.