Windows · Guide

How to Create a Bootable USB Drive for Windows 11

Short answer

Download the official Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft, open Rufus, select your USB drive and the ISO, choose GPT with UEFI, then click Start. The drive is erased completely.

Requirements

A USB drive of 8 GB or larger
The official Windows 11 ISO from microsoft.com
Rufus
A backup of anything currently on the USB drive

Steps

1. Get the ISO from Microsoft
Download it from Microsoft's software download page, or let Rufus fetch it using its built-in download option.
2. Open Rufus as administrator
Rufus writes directly to the disk, so it needs elevation.
3. Select the USB device
Confirm the drive letter and capacity carefully. Everything on the selected device will be destroyed.
4. Load the ISO
Click Select, choose the Windows 11 ISO, and let Rufus set the image option automatically.
5. Set partition scheme
Choose GPT with target system UEFI (non CSM) for any PC made in roughly the last decade.
6. Write the drive
Click Start, accept the warning, and wait for READY. Do not unplug the drive before that.
7. Boot from it
Restart, open the boot menu (commonly F12, F11, or Esc depending on the manufacturer), and select the USB device.

Alternative methods

1. Use Microsoft's Media Creation Tool
It handles the download and the USB write in one step, with fewer options to get wrong.
2. Write from the command line
diskpart plus a file copy works for UEFI installs but is easy to get wrong; Rufus is safer for most people.

Troubleshooting

The PC will not boot from the USB drive

Check that Secure Boot settings allow the media and that you selected UEFI rather than legacy boot in Rufus.

Setup reports the PC does not meet requirements

Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot on supported hardware. Rufus offers bypass options, but the resulting install is unsupported by Microsoft.

Rufus fails partway through writing

Try a different USB port, preferably a rear USB 3.0 port, or a different drive. Failing flash media is a common cause.