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The quickest way to get a recovery USB for Windows 10 is to make it while the PC still starts normally. Open the Recovery Drive utility from Start, keep Back up system files to the recovery drive selected, choose an empty USB drive, and select Create. Microsoft warns that this erases anything already on the USB drive, and the finished drive does not hold your personal files. Back those up separately.
What you need before you start
- A Windows 10 PC that still starts and runs. Creating the drive is much harder once the PC has failed.
- A USB flash drive you are willing to erase. Move any files you want to keep to another location first.
- Enough time for the copy to finish. Microsoft notes that copying the files may take a while.
- A separate backup of personal files, such as documents, photos, and downloads. The Recovery Drive does not include them.
Microsoft’s Recovery Drive instructions do not state a minimum USB capacity. The 8 GB figure you may see elsewhere applies to Windows installation media, which is a different tool covered below.
How to create the Recovery Drive
- Open Start and search for Recovery Drive. You can also press Windows key + R, type
recoverydrive.exe, and press Enter. - In the Recovery Drive window, confirm that Back up system files to the recovery drive is ticked, then select Next.
- Connect the USB drive. Select it from the list of drives, then select Next.
- Read the warning that the drive will be erased. If the selected drive is the correct one, select Create.
- Wait for the process to complete, then select Finish. Label the drive with the PC name and the date it was made.
Microsoft says the Recovery Drive contains built-in Windows files, updates installed at the time of creation, and any manufacturer customizations on the PC. Because of that, Microsoft recommends recreating it about once a year, and after major changes to the PC.
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Recovery Drive versus Windows installation media
These two USB tools are often confused, but they do different jobs.
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| Item | Recovery Drive | Windows installation media |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Recover an existing PC using a drive made from that PC | Install or reinstall Windows |
| How it is created | Recovery Drive utility (recoverydrive.exe) |
Media Creation Tool, per Microsoft’s installation media instructions |
| Stated USB capacity | No minimum stated in Microsoft’s Recovery Drive instructions | Blank USB flash drive with at least 8 GB, per Microsoft’s installation media instructions |
| Personal files | Not included | Not included |
If you need to reinstall Windows on a PC that cannot reach a recovery environment, use the installation media route described in Microsoft’s guide to creating installation media for Windows.
How to use the recovery USB
Use the drive when the PC will not start normally. The steps below assume the PC can boot from USB.
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- Connect the Recovery Drive to the PC and turn it on.
- Open the boot menu or change the boot order so the PC starts from the USB drive. The key or menu varies by manufacturer, so check the device manual if you are unsure.
- When Windows Recovery Environment loads, select Troubleshoot, then Recover from a drive.
- Choose the removal option offered: Just remove my files or Fully clean the drive.
- Select Recover to confirm.
Recovery removes personal files, apps, and settings from the PC. Confirm that your backup is complete before you start. For background on the other recovery options in Windows, see Microsoft’s guide to recovery options in Windows.
Keep personal files backed up separately
A Recovery Drive restores the system, not your documents. Microsoft points users to Windows Backup or File History for personal-file protection. Use one of those tools, or copy important folders to an external drive, on a regular schedule. A separate external drive for backups should be kept apart from the recovery USB so that a single erase does not remove both.
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Windows 10 support status
Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. The PC continues to run, but Microsoft no longer provides free software updates through Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for the operating system. A recovery USB still helps you restore a working system, but it does not change that support status. If the PC is still in use, plan for a supported operating system or a separate security solution.
Source: Microsoft Support, Recovery options in Windows.
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Common problems
- The USB drive does not appear in the list. Disconnect it, reconnect it to a different port, and reopen the Recovery Drive utility.
- The PC does not boot from the USB. Check the boot menu or BIOS and UEFI settings in your manufacturer’s manual. Some PCs need the USB drive connected before power-on.
- You are not sure which drive is which. Remove other USB drives before you start. The Recovery Drive utility erases the drive you select, so do not rely on the drive letter alone.
Microsoft’s own task label for this process is Create a recovery drive. Searching for that phrase will bring up the official instructions.
Quotable from Microsoft Support: “Use an empty USB drive because this process will erase any data that’s already stored on the drive.”
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Official page: Microsoft Support, Recovery Drive.
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