You can create a Windows 11 bootable USB drive with Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool, Rufus, or Windows’ built-in DiskPart and DISM commands. The Media Creation Tool is simplest for x64 PCs; Rufus offers more control; and the manual method avoids third-party USB-writing software.
Use a blank USB drive with at least 8 GB of capacity. Every method below can erase the selected drive, so copy off any files you need before starting. Microsoft’s current public release is Windows 11 version 25H2, the Windows 11 2025 Update. Its official download page provides a multi-edition ISO for x64 PCs and separate Arm64 downloads.
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Before you create the installation USB
Windows 11 is designed for PCs with a compatible 64-bit processor, at least 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage, UEFI firmware that is Secure Boot capable, and TPM 2.0. A bootable USB does not make an incompatible computer officially supported.
You will also need:
- A blank USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of space. A 16 GB or larger drive is a practical choice.
- Administrator access on the PC used to create the drive.
- An internet connection if you use the Media Creation Tool or download the ISO.
- A backup of important files on the target PC if you plan to perform a clean installation.
The Media Creation Tool creates x64 media only. If the target device uses an Arm processor, download Microsoft’s separate Arm64 ISO instead and use a compatible creation method.
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Method 1: Use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool
Best for: Creating a standard Windows 11 installer with the fewest decisions.
Microsoft’s tool downloads Windows and writes the installation files directly to a USB drive. It requires Windows, administrator privileges, and an internet connection.
- Open Microsoft’s Download Windows 11 page.
- Find Create Windows 11 Installation Media and select Download Now.
- Open the downloaded tool. If Windows asks for permission, select Yes.
- Accept the license terms.
- On What do you want to do?, select Create installation media for another PC, then select Next.
- Choose the language, edition, and architecture. The current tool creates 64-bit x64 media.
- On Choose which media to use, select USB flash drive, then select Next.
- Select the correct USB drive. Check its drive letter, label, and capacity carefully.
- Select Next and wait while the tool downloads Windows and creates the installer.
- Select Finish when the process completes.
The selected USB drive is erased. The tool does not provide Rufus-style options for bypassing TPM, Secure Boot, RAM, or Microsoft-account requirements.
Media Creation Tool limitations
- It cannot create installation media for Arm-based PCs.
- It needs a working internet connection during creation.
- It requires administrator permissions.
- It does not let you choose advanced partition and boot-mode settings.
- For an upgrade launched from within Windows, Microsoft recommends using installation media in the same language as the current Windows installation.
Method 2: Create the USB with Rufus and an official ISO
Best for: Choosing the partition scheme and controlling Windows Setup options.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesRufus writes an ISO to the USB and can display optional Windows User Experience settings. Depending on the ISO, Rufus version, and detected hardware, these may include removing TPM, Secure Boot, or minimum-RAM checks, creating a local account, and removing the online Microsoft-account requirement.
Those options do not make an unsupported PC supported by Microsoft. They can also change between releases, so select only options you understand. The project’s releases page lists Rufus 4.14, released April 30, 2026.
Download the Windows 11 ISO
- Open Microsoft’s Download Windows 11 page.
- Scroll to Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices.
- Choose Windows 11 (multi-edition ISO for x64 devices).
- Select Download Windows 11.
- Choose the product language and select Confirm.
- Select 64-bit Download and save the ISO.
Write the ISO to the USB
- Download Rufus from rufus.ie or the project’s official GitHub releases page.
- Insert the USB drive and start Rufus.
- In Device, select the intended USB drive.
- Under Boot selection, leave Disk or ISO image (Please select) selected.
- Select SELECT and open the Windows 11 ISO.
- For a modern Windows 11 computer, use these settings:
Rufus setting Recommended value Image option Standard Windows installation Partition scheme GPT Target system UEFI (non CSM) File system Leave Rufus’s recommended value - Select START.
- If the Windows User Experience dialog appears, select only the options appropriate for the installation.
- Confirm the warning that the USB will be erased, then select OK.
- Wait for Rufus to finish.
Important Rufus details
GPT + UEFI (non CSM) creates media intended to boot in UEFI mode. It is the normal choice for a current Windows 11 PC, but it will not boot a legacy-BIOS-only computer. For an older system that must use legacy BIOS, Rufus can create MBR + BIOS (or UEFI-CSM) media instead.
The target computer’s firmware mode must match the media. If the firmware is booting in Legacy or BIOS mode while the USB was created for UEFI, the drive may not boot or may display a message saying that it was created for UEFI.
Rufus’s Windows 11 hardware-check bypasses apply when you boot the computer from the Rufus-created USB. They are not a universal bypass when you open the USB in Windows and run setup.exe. Running Setup from the existing desktop is an in-place upgrade path, not the same as booting from installation media.
One unusual failure can occur on a PC running Windows in S mode. If you select Rufus’s option to remove the online Microsoft-account requirement, Setup may show Windows could not parse or process the unattend answer file. Recreate the USB without that option, or remove S mode before installing.
Method 3: Format the USB and copy the ISO manually
Best for: Using Windows’ own command-line tools without the Media Creation Tool or Rufus.
This method requires the official Windows 11 ISO, a blank USB drive, a Windows technician PC, and administrator access. It uses DiskPart to format the USB and File Explorer or Robocopy to copy the ISO files. It is more error-prone than the first two methods, particularly because FAT32 cannot store an individual file larger than 4 GB.
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Open Windows Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin), then run:
Commands: diskpart; list disk; select disk X; clean; create partition primary; select partition 1; active; format fs=fat32 quick; assign; exit
Replace X with the number of the USB shown by list disk. Do not guess. Compare the disk’s capacity with the USB’s actual size before running clean. Selecting the internal SSD or hard drive will remove its partition information.
Here is what the destructive commands do:
cleanremoves the selected disk’s partition and volume information.create partition primarycreates the installation partition.activemarks the partition as active.format fs=fat32 quickcreates a FAT32 file system.assigngives the USB a drive letter.
If active fails, confirm that the partition is selected; use list partition, then select partition 1 before running active.
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Copy the ISO files
- In File Explorer, right-click the Windows 11 ISO and select Mount.
- Note the drive letter assigned to the mounted ISO. The examples below use
D:. - Note the USB drive letter. The examples below use
E:. - Copy the complete contents of the mounted ISO to the USB.
If the copy completes normally, the manual USB is ready. If Windows reports File is too large for the destination file system, the ISO’s sources\install.wim file exceeds FAT32’s 4-GB limit. Use the documented split-file procedure instead.
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Split an oversized install.wim file
First copy the ISO files except the oversized WIM file with Robocopy:
Robocopy command: robocopy D: E: /s /max:3800000000
Then split the image into files smaller than FAT32’s limit:
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DISM command: Dism /Split-Image /ImageFile:D:\sources\install.wim /SWMFile:E:\sources\install.swm /FileSize:3800
Windows Setup recognizes install.swm, install2.swm, and subsequent split files when they are stored in the USB’s sources folder.
FAT32 is useful for broad UEFI compatibility, but it is not the only possible file system for installation media. Rufus can use NTFS in some configurations, including its UEFI:NTFS boot mechanism. Microsoft’s manual procedure uses FAT32 and the split-WIM workaround.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Boot the target computer from the USB
- Insert the finished USB into the target PC.
- Shut the computer down completely.
- Turn it on and repeatedly press the manufacturer’s boot-menu key. Common examples include Esc, F10, and F12, but there is no universal key.
- Select the USB entry that begins with or identifies UEFI when installing on a modern supported PC.
- Windows Setup should load.
If the computer starts the existing operating system instead, open the boot menu again and select the USB explicitly. If it does not appear, check the firmware boot order, try another USB port, and verify that the USB’s partition scheme matches the firmware’s boot mode. Some computers also require a temporary Secure Boot or boot-order change in firmware.
Booting from the USB and running a clean installation are separate from running setup.exe inside Windows. A clean install can delete existing partitions and files, so back up documents, confirm you have necessary product and recovery information, and carefully identify the target disk during Windows Setup.
Which method should you use?
| Situation | Recommended method |
|---|---|
| You want the simplest officially supported process on an x64 Windows PC | Media Creation Tool |
| You need ISO-based media, UEFI/BIOS choices, or Windows Setup options | Rufus |
| You want to use only built-in Windows tools | DiskPart, ISO mounting, and DISM |
| The target computer uses Arm hardware | Download the official Arm64 ISO; do not use the x64 Media Creation Tool |
FAQ
How large should a Windows 11 bootable USB drive be?
Microsoft specifies a blank USB drive with at least 8 GB for the Media Creation Tool. A 16 GB drive gives you more practical headroom, and the drive will be erased during creation.
Can I use a 4 GB USB drive for Windows 11?
Not reliably, and it does not meet Microsoft’s current minimum for the Media Creation Tool. Use an empty drive with at least 8 GB.
Does Windows 11 have a 32-bit installer?
No. Windows 11 installation media is 64-bit. Microsoft provides x64 media and separate Arm64 media; there is no 32-bit Windows 11 release.
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No. Rufus can bypass some installation checks when you boot from its USB, but Microsoft’s hardware requirements remain unchanged. Unsupported installations may have compatibility problems and may not be entitled to updates or support.
Why does the manually copied ISO fail because a file is too large?
FAT32 cannot store an individual file larger than 4 GB. If sources\install.wim exceeds that limit, copy the other files and split the WIM with Dism /Split-Image as shown above.
Why does the USB appear in Windows but not in the boot menu?
The firmware may be using the wrong boot mode, the USB may not have been created correctly, or the port may not be detected early in startup. Try the computer’s UEFI boot menu, another USB port, and matching the USB’s GPT/UEFI or MBR/BIOS settings to the target computer.
Can I run setup.exe from the USB to bypass TPM and Secure Boot checks?
Do not assume so. Rufus’s relevant bypasses are intended for installations started by booting from the created media. Running setup.exe from the existing Windows desktop follows a different upgrade path and may still enforce the checks.
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The Bottom Line
Use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool when you want the least complicated supported workflow. Choose Rufus when you need an ISO, boot-mode control, or its available Windows Setup options. Use the DiskPart method when you prefer built-in tools and are comfortable handling FAT32’s 4-GB file limit. Whichever method you choose, verify the USB before it is erased and boot the target PC in the mode for which the media was created.
Quick Recap
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