# Apply operating system from cloud

The **Apply Operating System from Cloud** step is similar in many ways to the **Apply Operating System** step.  Both apply a WIndows image (.wim) file, with an optional unattend.xml, to the volume formatted as S: by the **Format disk** step.  Unlike the Apply Operating System step, the operating system to be applied can be downloaded directly from Windows update.

<figure><img src="https://744643921-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FJO9NLelA0RS8JB4i9oaQ%2Fuploads%2FJXEhXRTqWBpoAyVliz9M%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=2e683ebe-8c19-4910-a397-ca9b9f25b2cc" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

To determine which image to apply, select the operating system, version, language, edition, and architecture for the OS.