To install Ventoy on Linux, download and extract its Linux archive, identify the whole USB device, then run the installer on that device. The initial installation erases the target drive; afterward, copy ISO files directly to Ventoy’s first partition instead of rewriting the USB for each image.
This guide uses Ventoy 1.1.17, released July 24, 2026. The Linux archive includes a terminal installer and a graphical installer for several architectures.
Important: Ventoy installation erases the selected disk. Confirm the device name carefully before running the installer. Use the whole device, such as /dev/sdb, not a partition such as /dev/sdb1.
What you need
- A Linux computer with an internet connection
- A USB drive, SSD, NVMe drive, or SD card you are willing to erase
- The Ventoy Linux archive
- One or more boot images, such as Linux ISO files
- Administrator access through sudo
Ventoy supports USB drives and other storage devices. Selecting your internal drive instead of the removable drive can destroy your operating system and personal files.
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Download Ventoy for Linux
Download ventoy-1.1.17-linux.tar.gz from the Ventoy project’s SourceForge download page. The official Ventoy website links to SourceForge and recommends checking the downloaded file’s SHA-256 hash.
In a terminal, move to the directory containing the archive. For example, if your browser saved it in Downloads:
cd ~/Downloads
sha256sum ventoy-1.1.17-linux.tar.gz
Compare the result with the SHA-256 value published for the release. Do not continue if the hash does not match.
Identify the correct USB device
Connect the drive, then list disks with:
lsblk -o NAME,SIZE,MODEL,TRAN,MOUNTPOINTS
Look for the removable device by its size, model, and transport type. A typical result might show an internal disk as /dev/nvme0n1 and a USB drive as /dev/sdb. The target is the disk name without a partition number.
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For additional detail, use:
sudo fdisk -l
Unmount any partitions on the target before installation. If the USB appears as /dev/sdb1 and /dev/sdb2, unmount those partitions—not the disk itself:
sudo umount /dev/sdb1
sudo umount /dev/sdb2
Replace the example names with the partitions shown on your system. If a partition is not mounted, umount may report an error; that is harmless.
Install Ventoy from the Linux terminal
-
Extract the archive:
tar -xzf ventoy-1.1.17-linux.tar.gz
-
Enter the extracted directory:
cd ventoy-1.1.17
-
Run the installer against the whole USB device. For a drive identified as /dev/sdb:
sudo sh Ventoy2Disk.sh -i /dev/sdb
-
Read the warning shown by the script, confirm that the disk is the intended device, and approve the destructive operation when prompted.
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The -i option performs a normal installation. Ventoy creates two partitions, with the larger first partition formatted as exFAT by default. The installation adds the boot framework; it does not put a particular Linux distribution on the drive.
Useful installation options
| Command | Purpose |
|---|---|
| sudo sh Ventoy2Disk.sh -i /dev/sdb | Install Ventoy normally |
| sudo sh Ventoy2Disk.sh -I /dev/sdb | Force installation even when Ventoy is already detected |
| sudo sh Ventoy2Disk.sh -u /dev/sdb | Update an existing Ventoy installation |
| sudo sh Ventoy2Disk.sh -l /dev/sdb | Display Ventoy information for the device |
| sudo sh Ventoy2Disk.sh -i -s /dev/sdb | Install with Secure Boot support |
| sudo sh Ventoy2Disk.sh -i -g /dev/sdb | Install using GPT instead of the default MBR partition style |
| sudo sh Ventoy2Disk.sh -i -s -g /dev/sdb | Enable Secure Boot support and use GPT |
| sudo sh Ventoy2Disk.sh -i -r 4096 /dev/sdb | Reserve 4,096 MB at the bottom of the disk during installation |
| sudo sh Ventoy2Disk.sh -i -L “VentoyUSB” /dev/sdb | Set the main partition label to VentoyUSB |
The -r reservation option applies only during installation. The MBR/GPT choice also applies only to initial installation; it is ignored when updating an existing Ventoy device.
Install Ventoy with the graphical interface
The Linux archive includes a native graphical installer. On a common 64-bit Intel or AMD system, open the extracted directory and run:
cd ~/Downloads/ventoy-1.1.17
./VentoyGUI.x86_64
On Ubuntu, Deepin, and similar distributions, you may also be able to double-click VentoyGUI.x86_64 in the file manager. The other included GUI binaries are:
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| Executable | Architecture |
|---|---|
| VentoyGUI.x86_64 | 64-bit Intel/AMD |
| VentoyGUI.i386 | 32-bit x86 |
| VentoyGUI.aarch64 | ARM64 |
| VentoyGUI.mips64el | MIPS64EL |
The window is titled Ventoy2Disk. Its Device drop-down lists detected drives, and the refresh button rescans attached devices. Select the removable disk, verify its size and model, then choose Install. An existing Ventoy disk should instead be updated with Update.
The GUI normally selects GTK when both GTK and Qt libraries are available. To force the Qt 5 interface, run:
./VentoyGUI.x86_64 –qt5
To enable Secure Boot support in the GUI, open Option → Secure Boot Support before installing. If the graphical program does not start or cannot perform the operation, use Ventoy2Disk.sh from the terminal.
Copy Linux ISO files to the Ventoy drive
After installation, unplug and reconnect the drive if your file manager does not mount it automatically. Open the larger first partition and copy ISO files directly onto it. You can use the file manager or a command such as:
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cp ~/Downloads/ubuntu.iso /media/$USER/Ventoy/
The mount path varies by distribution, so using the file manager is often simpler. You do not need to extract the ISO or write it with dd.
Ventoy searches directories and subdirectories recursively and lists supported image files alphabetically. Supported extensions include:
- .iso
- .wim
- .img
- .vhd
- .vhdx
ISO files larger than 4 GB are supported. You can store multiple distributions on the same drive, organize them into folders, and add or remove images without reinstalling Ventoy.
Boot from the Ventoy drive
- Leave the desired ISO on the first Ventoy partition and safely eject the drive from Linux.
- Connect it to the computer on which you want to boot.
- Open the firmware boot menu during startup. Common keys include F12, F11, Esc, or F8, depending on the manufacturer.
- Select the USB drive in the UEFI boot menu.
- When Ventoy displays its menu, choose the ISO you want to boot.
Ventoy does not need to be reinstalled when a distribution releases a new ISO. Remove the old image and copy the replacement to the data partition.
Enable and troubleshoot Secure Boot
Ventoy has supported Secure Boot since version 1.0.76. You can enable it during installation with -s:
sudo sh Ventoy2Disk.sh -i -s /dev/sdb
On the first Secure Boot boot, Ventoy normally displays a key-enrollment screen. Complete that procedure once for the computer. Ventoy 1.1.13 and later require enrollment of a new key because of the UEFI CA 2023 change.
Some firmware has an option named Allow Microsoft 3rd Part UEFI CA. Enable it if the machine refuses to boot Ventoy with Secure Boot enabled. The wording may vary slightly between firmware vendors.
If the expected blue enrollment screen does not appear and the computer instead shows an error such as Linpus lite xxxx, the machine is incompatible with Ventoy’s Secure Boot method. The official workaround is to disable Secure Boot in the firmware settings.
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Ventoy’s default Secure Boot policy bypasses Secure Boot checks for EFI files. A stricter policy requires the Ventoy Global Control Plugin, so Secure Boot behavior may differ from what a system administrator expects from a conventional signed boot chain.
Update Ventoy without deleting your ISO files
When a newer Ventoy release is available, update the existing installation rather than reinstalling it:
cd ~/Downloads/ventoy-1.1.17
sudo sh Ventoy2Disk.sh -u /dev/sdb
The update is nondestructive: files on the first partition remain in place. In the GUI, select the detected Ventoy disk and click Update, not Install. The installer may prompt for an update when it recognizes an existing Ventoy installation.
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Release 1.1.17 includes Secure Boot-process optimization, fixes for some UOS releases, EulerOS support, a disk-write logic fix, a GhostBSD boot fix, a Ventoy2Disk.sh PATH fix, BusyBox fdisk detection fixes, and a Proxmox boot fix in GRUB2 mode. Avoid older guides that call Ventoy 1.1.13 the current release; that release was deprecated because of a release mistake.
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The main Ventoy partition is exFAT by default. After installation, it can be manually reformatted as exFAT, FAT32, NTFS, UDF, XFS, Ext2, Ext3, or Ext4. Reformatting removes the files on that partition, so copy your ISO files elsewhere first.
Keep the default exFAT format when you need large files and broad modern operating-system support. Consider another filesystem only for a specific compatibility requirement, and verify that the computers on which you will boot can read it.
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Common mistakes
| Problem | Likely cause and fix |
|---|---|
| The script says the disk is already a Ventoy device | Use -u for a nondestructive update. Use -I only when you intentionally want to force a reinstall. |
| The wrong drive is listed in the installer | Disconnect unrelated removable drives, reconnect the target, and run lsblk again. Never guess from a device name alone. |
| The ISO does not appear in the Ventoy menu | Check that it is on the first, larger partition and has a supported extension. Confirm that the copy completed and that the file is not corrupted. |
| You tried to install to /dev/sdb1 | Ventoy requires the whole disk, such as /dev/sdb. Recheck the device before retrying. |
| Secure Boot displays a firmware error | Enable Allow Microsoft 3rd Part UEFI CA, complete key enrollment if offered, or disable Secure Boot if the system is incompatible. |
| The GUI will not launch | Run the architecture-appropriate executable from the extracted directory, try –qt5, or use the terminal script. |
| A guide tells you to rewrite the USB for every ISO | That is not how Ventoy works. Install Ventoy once and copy new ISO files to the first partition. |
FAQ
Does installing Ventoy erase the USB drive?
Yes. The initial installation formats the target disk and erases all data on it. Back up the drive and verify the whole-device path, such as /dev/sdb, before confirming the installer.
Can I install Ventoy on a drive larger than a USB flash drive?
Yes. Ventoy can be installed on USB drives, local disks, SSDs, NVMe drives, and SD cards. The same destructive-disk warning applies to every device type.
Do I need to extract Linux ISO files before copying them?
No. Copy supported .iso, .wim, .img, .vhd, or .vhdx files directly to the first Ventoy partition.
Does Ventoy support ISO files larger than 4 GB?
Yes. Ventoy supports ISO files larger than 4 GB, and its default exFAT data partition is suitable for large images.
Can I keep several Linux distributions on one Ventoy drive?
Yes. Copy multiple images to the first partition, optionally placing them in folders. Ventoy searches directories recursively and displays supported images in its boot menu.
Is Secure Boot required to be disabled for Ventoy?
No. Ventoy supports Secure Boot when installed with Secure Boot support enabled. Some computers require Allow Microsoft 3rd Part UEFI CA, while incompatible systems may require Secure Boot to be disabled.
What is the difference between Ventoy -i, -I, and -u?
-i performs a normal installation and fails if Ventoy is already detected. -I forces installation regardless of the existing state. -u updates an existing Ventoy installation without removing files from the first partition.
Can I change from MBR to GPT when updating Ventoy?
No. The MBR/GPT choice applies during initial installation. Ventoy ignores that choice during an update.
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On Linux, the safest workflow is to download and verify Ventoy 1.1.17, identify the removable disk with lsblk, install to the whole device with Ventoy2Disk.sh -i, then copy ISO files to the first partition. Use -u for later Ventoy updates, and enable Secure Boot support only after checking how your computer’s firmware handles key enrollment.
