How to Create a Windows 11 Bootable USB Drive

To create a Windows 11 bootable USB, use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool, select USB flash drive, and let the tool prepare an empty drive with at least 8 GB of space. If you already have a Windows 11 ISO, Rufus gives you another way to turn it into installation media.

A bootable USB lets you start Windows Setup even when the installed copy of Windows will not load. You can use it to install Windows on a new SSD, reinstall your PC, or open recovery tools to investigate a startup problem.

Which tool should you use to create a Windows 11 USB installer?

For a typical Intel or AMD PC, I recommend starting with the Media Creation Tool. It handles the download and USB preparation in one process, while Rufus is useful when you want to work with an ISO you have already saved.

Your situation	Recommended approach
You want a straightforward installer for an x64 PC.	Use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool.
You have a Windows 11 ISO and want to choose the USB settings.	Use Rufus with an official Microsoft ISO.
You have an Arm-based PC, such as a Snapdragon laptop.	Use Arm64 installation media and your manufacturer’s instructions. The Media Creation Tool creates x64 media only.

What you need before creating the bootable USB

Microsoft specifies a USB drive with at least 8 GB of space. I would choose a 16 GB or larger drive to leave more room for installation files and any drivers you need to keep with it.

• A working Windows PC with administrator access.
• A reliable internet connection for downloading the tool and installation files.
• A USB flash drive whose contents you have already backed up.
• Enough free space on the working PC for the download and temporary files.
• A backup of the destination PC’s important files if you plan to reinstall Windows.

Both methods erase the USB drive you select. Disconnect unrelated external drives first, then check the remaining drive’s name and capacity before continuing.

Check compatibility, activation, and recovery information

The destination PC must meet the Windows 11 system requirements, including a supported processor, TPM 2.0, and UEFI firmware that is Secure Boot capable. Keep Secure Boot enabled for a normal installation, and check whether the device needs x64 or Arm64 media before downloading an ISO.

Before wiping an existing installation, check your Windows activation and product key information and note whether you have Home or Pro. If you use Office, also check the account or license you will need to reinstall Office.

If BitLocker or device encryption protects your PC, make sure you can access its recovery key from another device or a printed copy. You may need it when using recovery tools or after changing firmware settings.

Official downloads · Windows 11

Download Windows 11 USB Creation Tools

Get the official Windows 11 installation media or use Rufus to make your bootable USB drive. Choose the correct processor architecture before downloading.

USB

Media Creation Tool

Microsoft · Windows 11 26H2 · x64

The easiest option for most Intel and AMD PCs. Downloads Windows 11 and prepares an installation USB drive automatically.

Get Media Creation Tool ↗

ISO

Windows 11 x64 ISO

Microsoft · Windows 11 26H2 · x64

Download a Windows 11 disk image for a compatible Intel or AMD PC. Use the ISO with Rufus to create your USB installer.

Get Windows 11 x64 ISO ↗

R

Rufus 4.15

Rufus · Bootable USB creator

A free utility for writing Windows ISO images to USB drives, with additional control over boot and partition settings.

Download Rufus ↗

ARM

Windows 11 Arm64 ISO

Microsoft · Arm-based devices

The separate ISO for compatible Arm-based PCs. Some devices need manufacturer-specific drivers in the bootable media.

Get Windows 11 Arm64 ISO ↗

i

Links checked: October 27, 2026. Each button opens the official provider page, where the actual download is selected. Preparing a bootable USB erases the selected drive. The Windows 11 Media Creation Tool supports x64 PCs only; Arm64 media is available separately.

Method 1: Create a Windows 11 bootable USB with the Media Creation Tool

The Media Creation Tool downloads Windows and prepares the USB drive for you. You do not need to download a separate ISO or format the drive manually first.

1. Connect the USB drive to your working Windows PC.
2. Open Microsoft’s Windows 11 download page from the download box above. Under Create Windows 11 Installation Media, select Download Now.
3. Run the downloaded tool, approve the administrator prompt, and accept the license terms.
4. Check the language and edition. Clear Use the recommended options for this PC if you need different options for the destination computer.
5. Choose USB flash drive as the media type, then select Next.
6. Select the correct USB drive. Check its name, drive letter, and capacity before you continue.
7. Wait for the download and media creation to finish. Select Finish when the tool confirms that the USB drive is ready, then safely eject it.

The exact screens can vary with the tool version. If you see a choice to create installation media for another PC, select it and continue with the USB option.

What if the destination PC uses an Arm processor?

An x64 installer will not install Windows on an Arm-based PC. Microsoft provides a separate Arm64 ISO, but some devices also need manufacturer drivers added to the installation media before it can boot successfully.

Check the support instructions for your exact laptop or tablet model before preparing that drive. Where the manufacturer provides a recovery image for the device, it may be the more straightforward way to restore its original setup.

Method 2: Create a Windows 11 bootable USB with Rufus

Rufus writes a Windows ISO to a USB drive and lets you review the boot settings. The program runs directly after download, so you do not need to install it first.

1. Download a Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft and save it on your PC. Choose the image that matches the destination computer’s architecture.
2. Download Rufus from its official website, then run it and approve the administrator prompt.
3. Under Device, select your USB drive and check its capacity carefully.
4. Use SELECT to open your Windows 11 ISO. If Image option is shown, choose Standard Windows installation.
5. For a typical supported Windows 11 PC, check that Partition scheme is GPT and Target system is UEFI (non CSM). Leave the other settings at the values Rufus proposes for the selected image.
6. Select START and review any Windows customization options. For a standard installation, leave options that remove hardware or account requirements unchecked, then confirm the warning that the USB drive will be erased.
7. Wait until Rufus reports READY. Close the program and safely eject the USB drive.

Should you choose GPT or MBR?

GPT with UEFI is the usual Rufus choice for a supported Windows 11 PC. MBR with a legacy BIOS target is intended for a different boot configuration and is not the standard setup used in this guide.

The USB drive’s layout and the destination SSD’s partition style are separate things. A Windows system disk used for a normal UEFI installation needs GPT, but that does not mean every USB drive capable of UEFI boot must itself use GPT.

Should the Windows 11 USB use FAT32 or NTFS?

FAT32 cannot store an individual file of 4 GiB or larger. That becomes a problem if the Windows image contains a large install.wim, even when the USB drive has plenty of free space overall.

Rufus can use NTFS and its UEFI:NTFS boot mechanism to handle those larger files. Leave the proposed file system in place and let Rufus prepare the required boot files; a manually formatted NTFS drive with an ISO copied onto it is not equivalent.

Test that your Windows 11 USB drive actually boots

Seeing setup.exe and folders such as boot, efi, and sources confirms that installation files are present. The useful test is whether your intended PC can start Windows Setup from the drive.

Connect the USB drive, restart the PC, and select it from the manufacturer’s boot menu. Once the initial Windows Setup screen appears, you can stop the test without starting an installation or changing partitions.

For a spare recovery USB, label the drive with its purpose, language, and architecture, for example Windows 11 installer, English, x64. Keep it somewhere you can find it when the PC will not start, and refresh older media before a planned reinstall.

How to boot from USB and install Windows 11

Use the manufacturer’s one-time boot menu to start the installer. The key varies by device, so check the manual rather than assuming that F12, Esc, or another key works on every PC.

1. Connect the prepared USB drive to the PC where you want to install Windows.
2. Restart the PC, open its boot menu, and select the USB entry. If separate UEFI and legacy entries appear, choose the UEFI entry.
3. Follow Windows Setup’s language and keyboard prompts, then choose the option to install Windows 11.
4. If asked for a product key, enter your key or choose I don’t have a product key when you will activate with an existing digital license for this PC. Select the Windows edition that matches that license.
5. For a clean installation, confirm the installation choices and review the destination disk carefully. Older setup versions may call this option Custom.
6. If the destination is a new, empty SSD, select its unallocated space. Delete existing partitions only when you deliberately want to erase that specific disk and have backed up everything you need.
7. Continue with the installation, then let the PC restart and complete the region, network, and account setup.

After the first restart, allow the PC to boot from Windows Boot Manager on the internal drive. If the USB installer starts again, choose the internal drive in the boot menu or remove the USB during the restart once Setup has finished copying its files.

What to check after installation

Open Settings > Windows Update and install the available updates, then obtain any missing drivers from your PC manufacturer. Check Settings > System > Activation to confirm that Windows activated with the correct edition.

You can then set up Windows Hello and check Microsoft Defender protection before restoring your everyday applications. If Defender is already active, there is no need to switch it off and on again.

Use the Windows 11 USB to repair a PC

When you want to investigate a startup failure, choose the repair option in Windows Setup. Depending on the installation media, it may be called Repair my PC or Repair your computer.

Windows Recovery Environment provides tools such as Startup Repair, System Restore, and Command Prompt. The available options depend on the installation and recovery state, and an encrypted drive may require its BitLocker recovery key.

If Windows still starts and you want to reinstall while keeping applications, open setup.exe from the USB inside your existing Windows session. With compatible installation media, Setup can offer Keep personal files and apps; check that this option is available before proceeding.

Windows 11 USB not booting? Fix these common problems

The USB drive does not appear in the boot menu

Connect the drive directly to the PC instead of through a hub or dock, then try another USB port. Check the manufacturer’s firmware instructions for USB boot settings and confirm that the installer architecture matches the PC.

If another compatible computer can boot from the drive, focus on the destination PC’s settings. If neither computer can start it, recreate the media with a fresh download or try a different USB drive.

The PC reports a Secure Boot error

Recreate the installer with current Microsoft media and an up-to-date version of Rufus if you use it. Older boot files or firmware trust settings can cause a Secure Boot rejection, so check the exact error and your manufacturer’s guidance before changing security settings.

Windows Setup cannot find the SSD

Check whether the SSD appears in the PC’s firmware settings first. If it does, Setup may need a storage controller driver supplied by the manufacturer. Download the driver package for your exact model, extract its files to a USB drive, and use Load driver on the disk selection screen to select the extracted driver folder.

Use the driver for your exact model and follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions. Changing RAID, VMD, or AHCI settings without checking the existing configuration can prevent an installed copy of Windows from starting.

Setup reports a GPT or MBR partition error

Check that you started the installer in UEFI mode and identify the partition style of the destination disk. A mismatch between the boot mode and disk layout needs to be resolved before installation can continue.

For a planned clean installation, deleting the partitions on the intended disk after backing up its files and selecting the resulting unallocated space allows Setup to create the appropriate layout. If you need to preserve existing data, stop and choose a suitable conversion or recovery procedure first.

The USB drive is write-protected or creation keeps failing

Check for a physical write-protection switch, close programs that are using the drive, and try another USB port. If the same drive repeatedly fails on different computers, test a different USB stick before spending more time on the installer.

FAQ: Creating a Windows 11 bootable USB

Can I create the USB installer on another computer?

Yes, you can prepare the installer on a working Windows PC and then use it on another compatible computer. Match the installation media to the destination PC’s architecture and choose the language you want to install.

Does creating the USB install Windows on the PC I am using?

No, creating installation media prepares the selected USB drive. Installing or reinstalling Windows is a separate step that you start afterward, so check carefully which drive you select during media creation.

Can I just copy the Windows 11 ISO file to a USB drive?

Copying the ISO file onto an ordinary USB drive does not create a standard Windows installer. Use the Media Creation Tool or Rufus to prepare the files and boot structure required by the methods in this guide.

Do I need a Windows product key to create the USB?

You do not need to enter a product key to create the installation media. Installing and activating Windows still requires a suitable license, which may already be associated with the destination PC.

Can I install Windows 11 without internet or a Microsoft account?

Microsoft’s stated requirements for Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro for personal use include internet connectivity and a Microsoft account during initial setup. Workarounds can depend on the build and tool version, so disconnecting the network is not a reliable general solution.

Does this let me run Windows 11 directly from the USB?

This guide creates installation and recovery media, rather than a portable everyday Windows desktop. You boot from the USB to install Windows on the PC’s storage or open the available repair tools.

Conclusion: Create the installer, then check it boots

For most x64 PCs, the Media Creation Tool is the easiest place to start, while Rufus is a useful choice when you already have an ISO. Check the destination drive carefully, use media that matches your PC, and test the USB before you need it for a repair or reinstall.