Rufus can turn a Windows 11 ISO into a bootable USB drive for a clean installation, repair, or in-place upgrade. The process is straightforward, but the choices in Rufus matter: selecting the wrong USB destroys its contents, and choosing the wrong partition scheme can make the computer refuse to boot the installer.
Version note: Windows 11 24H2 is no longer Microsoft’s current release. Microsoft’s download page now identifies Windows 11 2025 Update, version 25H2, as the current download target. Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro receive updates until October 13, 2026, but you need a 24H2 ISO specifically if that is the version you intend to install.
Before you start
Prepare the following:
- A Windows 11 24H2 ISO for the correct architecture. The standard ISO is for x64 PCs; Microsoft provides a separate Arm64 ISO.
- A blank USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of capacity. Rufus will erase it completely.
- A Windows PC running Windows 8 or later to run Rufus.
- A backup of any files on the target computer and the USB drive.
Microsoft’s installation language should match the language of the existing Windows installation if you plan to perform an upgrade rather than a clean install. Check it under Settings > Time & language, or open Control Panel > Region.
Rufus bypass options can remove some Windows 11 setup checks, but they do not make unsupported hardware supported. Microsoft warns that unsupported installations may have compatibility problems and are not guaranteed updates.
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1. Get the Windows 11 24H2 ISO
Open Microsoft’s Download Windows 11 page and look for Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices. The current page is aimed at 25H2, not 24H2, so do not assume that the current download is a 24H2 image. If you specifically need 24H2, obtain the ISO from an official Microsoft release or licensing channel that identifies it as 24H2.
The standard Windows ISO is multi-edition. You do not choose Home or Pro in the download list; Windows Setup selects the edition using the product key or the digital license associated with the PC.
Microsoft-generated ISO links expire after 24 hours. If you download an image, save it locally rather than relying on the link later.
Verify the ISO
Verification is worthwhile when the ISO will be used on several computers or stored for later. Open PowerShell and run this command, replacing the path with your file:
Get-FileHash C:Usersuser1DownloadsWin11_24H2_English_x64.isoPowerShell returns a SHA256 hash. Compare that value with the SHA256 value published by Microsoft for the same ISO. A mismatch means the file may be incomplete, corrupted, or not the image you intended to download.
2. Download and open Rufus
Download Rufus from rufus.ie. Rufus is portable: run the downloaded executable without installing it. The current Rufus download page lists version 4.15, including these builds:
| File | Use |
|---|---|
rufus-4.15.exe |
Windows x64 |
rufus-4.15p.exe |
Portable Windows x64 build |
rufus-4.15_x86.exe |
32-bit Windows |
rufus-4.15_arm64.exe |
Windows on Arm64 |
Use the build that matches the Windows PC on which you are creating the USB. Rufus itself does not need to match the architecture of the computer on which the finished USB will be used.
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- LED Indicator: The end of the USB key is designed with an indicator. The LED indicator lights up when you plug the zip drive USB into the devices, the light blinks while write/read activities are in process. In this case, do not remove the memoria USB pen drive. Otherwise, data integrity and the service life of the memorias USB are affected.
3. Create the bootable USB in Rufus
- Insert the USB flash drive.
- Start Rufus. Approve the User Account Control prompt if Windows displays one.
- Under Device, confirm that Rufus has selected the intended USB drive. Check its name and capacity carefully.
- Click SELECT and choose the Windows 11 24H2
.isofile. You do not need to extract the ISO first. - Choose the appropriate Partition scheme and Target system, explained below.
- Leave the file system and cluster-size settings at their defaults unless you have a specific reason to change them.
- Click START.
- If Rufus displays the Windows User Experience dialog, choose any options you need, then click OK.
- Read the warning that the USB will be formatted. Click OK only after confirming that the selected device contains no files you need.
- Wait for the status to show READY. Use Windows’ safe removal option before unplugging the drive.
Recent Rufus versions can also download an official Windows retail ISO through the arrow beside SELECT and the DOWNLOAD option. That is useful for obtaining the current Microsoft release, but it is not a way to force Rufus to download 24H2 when Microsoft’s current download target is 25H2.
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The correct setting depends on the firmware mode used by the target PC:
| Target computer | Partition scheme | Target system |
|---|---|---|
| Modern UEFI computer | GPT | UEFI |
| Legacy BIOS computer | MBR | BIOS or BIOS (or UEFI-CSM) |
GPT media is intended for pure UEFI booting. MBR media configured for BIOS or UEFI-CSM is intended for legacy firmware. If the computer supports UEFI, GPT and UEFI are normally the right choices for Windows 11.
Creating the USB with GPT does not convert the target computer’s internal disk. Windows Setup may need to convert the disk to GPT during a clean installation, which deletes its partitions. Back up the computer first.
Use Rufus Windows 11 bypass options
On compatible Rufus versions, the bypass controls appear after you click START, in the Windows User Experience dialog. They are not necessarily visible on Rufus’s main screen.
Depending on the ISO and Rufus version, the dialog may offer options such as:
- Removing the requirement for a supported TPM or Secure Boot configuration.
- Removing the requirement for an online Microsoft account, allowing a local-account setup path.
- Reducing other Windows 11 installation restrictions.
Select only the options you understand. Bypassing a check does not alter Microsoft’s support position. Also, Rufus cannot bypass every requirement. Windows 11 24H2 requires CPU support for PopCnt and SSE4.2. If Setup reports that the processor lacks either feature, Rufus cannot make 24H2 install on that processor.
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S Mode and the local-account option
If you select Remove requirement for an online Microsoft account and Setup later reports:
Windows could not parse or process the unattend answer file for pass [specialize].The settings specified in the answer file cannot be applied.Windows S Mode may be the cause. S Mode requires a Microsoft online account and conflicts with Rufus’s local-account option. Recreate the USB without selecting that option, or use an installation path compatible with the PC’s S Mode configuration.
FAT32, NTFS, and large installation files
FAT32 cannot store an individual file larger than 4 GB. That is why some Windows installation media cannot be copied to a FAT32 USB using ordinary drag-and-drop.
Rufus can create Windows boot media using NTFS and its UEFI:NTFS mechanism, including media containing files larger than 4 GB. Therefore, a bootable Windows USB does not universally have to use FAT32.
If you are creating the drive manually with Microsoft’s procedure and need FAT32, split the large install.wim file. With D: as the mounted ISO and E: as the USB drive, Microsoft’s example is:
robocopy D: E: /s /max:3800000000
Dism /Split-Image /ImageFile:D:sourcesinstall.wim /SWMFile:E:sourcesinstall.swm /FileSize:3800Windows Setup automatically uses the split files when the first file is named install.swm. This manual method is not required when Rufus successfully creates the USB.
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Boot the target computer from the USB
- Insert the finished USB into the target PC.
- Restart the PC.
- Open the one-time boot menu or enter UEFI/BIOS setup. Common keys include F2, F12, Delete, and Esc, but the correct key depends on the manufacturer.
- Select the USB device, preferably its UEFI entry if you created GPT/UEFI media.
- Follow Windows Setup for an upgrade, repair, or clean installation.
If the USB is not listed, try another USB port and check the firmware boot settings. Some manufacturers require Secure Boot to be temporarily disabled. Re-enable it after installation if the configuration supports it.
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After Windows finishes installing, remove the USB or restore the internal Windows drive as the first boot device. Otherwise, the computer may restart into the installer and appear to repeat the installation.
Fix common Rufus problems
The USB drive is missing from Rufus
Rufus does not list USB hard drives by default. Open Rufus’s advanced options and enable List USB Hard Drives, or press Alt+F. Be especially careful: formatting a USB hard disk is destructive, and Rufus does not officially support formatting non-flash USB drives in the same way as ordinary flash media.
“ERROR: BIOS/LEGACY BOOT OF UEFI-ONLY MEDIA”
This means the USB was created for pure UEFI, but the computer is trying to boot it in BIOS or Legacy mode. Either:
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- Recreate the USB with Partition scheme > MBR and Target system > BIOS (or UEFI-CSM).
If the drive is no longer meant to be bootable, Rufus can erase it with Boot Type > Non bootable.
Rufus says there is not enough space
Microsoft specifies an 8 GB USB, but a drive barely above 8 GB may have insufficient usable space for the ISO and selected layout. Use a reliable 16 GB or larger drive, and confirm that Rufus has selected the correct device.
Secure Boot or certificate errors on a 24H2 ISO
Rufus documents a specific limitation: Windows 11 24H2 ISOs do not work on platforms where the PCA 2011 certificate has been revoked and the firmware accepts only Windows UEFI CA 2023 bootloaders. The Rufus procedure involving Use ‘Windows CA 2023’ signed bootloaders requires Rufus 4.10 or later and a Windows 11 25H2 ISO; it is not a fix for a 24H2 ISO.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.ISO mounting versus making a USB
Right-clicking an ISO in Windows and selecting Mount, then running setup.exe, starts Windows Setup from the current operating system. That can perform an upgrade, but it does not create a bootable USB and does not boot the PC independently. Use Rufus when you need removable installation media or need to boot a computer that cannot start its existing Windows installation.
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FAQ
Can Rufus create a Windows 11 24H2 USB from an ISO?
Yes. Open Rufus, select the target USB under Device, click SELECT, choose the 24H2 ISO, choose the correct partition scheme, and click START. Rufus reads the ISO directly; manual extraction is not required.
Should I choose GPT or MBR in Rufus?
Choose GPT and UEFI for a modern UEFI computer. Choose MBR and BIOS or BIOS (or UEFI-CSM) for a legacy BIOS computer. The boot mode selected in the PC’s firmware must match the media.
Does Rufus remove all Windows 11 hardware requirements?
No. Rufus can remove some setup checks, including selected TPM, Secure Boot, and online-account requirements. It does not make the installation supported by Microsoft, and it cannot bypass the 24H2 PopCnt and SSE4.2 CPU requirements.
Why does Rufus not show my USB drive?
Enable List USB Hard Drives in Rufus’s advanced options, or press Alt+F. Check the drive carefully before formatting because Rufus will erase the selected device.
Does the Windows 11 USB have to be FAT32?
No. Rufus can use NTFS with its UEFI:NTFS mechanism, including when the installation contains a file larger than FAT32’s 4 GB per-file limit.
Why does the PC boot back into Windows Setup after installation?
The PC is probably still booting from the USB. Remove the USB or restore the internal Windows drive as the first boot device in UEFI/BIOS.
The Bottom Line
For a modern PC, the usual Rufus configuration is GPT and UEFI: select the Windows 11 24H2 ISO, click START, review the Windows User Experience options, and confirm the USB erase warning. Verify the ISO first if reliability matters, and remember that bypassing Windows 11 checks does not provide Microsoft support for incompatible hardware.
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