How to Create a Windows 10 Bootable USB Drive: Ultimate Guide

Table of Contents

Windows 10 bootable USB drive can be installed on a new computer or upgraded to an existing one – you will need to create one that can boot from Windows 10 contents. You will learn will two different ways to create or make Windows boot USB device that can boot Windows 10 in this article.

Windows 10 Bootable USB Drive

Method 1: Using the Media Creation Tool

The Media Creation Tool is an official Microsoft utility that allows you to download Windows 10 ISO files and create a bootable USB drive. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Download the Media Creation Tool

After Downloading the Media Creation Tool from the official Microsoft website and double-click on it to run the file.

Step 2: Accept the License Terms

Opens the Media Creation Tool, then read and check the “Accept” box and click on “Next.”

Step 3: Choose the Installation Type for the Windows 10 Bootable USB Drive

The next step is to choose the installation type. Select “Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC” and click on “Next.”

Step 4: Choose the Language, Edition, and Architecture

 Make sure to select the correct options and click on “Next.”

Step 5: Choose the USB Drive

Make sure to select the correct one and click on “Next.”

Step 6: Download Windows 10 and Create the Windows 10 Bootable USB Drive

In this step, the Media Creation Tool will start downloading the Windows 10 ISO file and create the bootable USB drive. It may take time to complete the process but it depends on your internet speed.

Method 2: Using the Rufus Utility

Follow these steps:

Step 1: Download Rufus

Follow the official website to download, and double-click on the file to run it.

Step 2: Choose the Drive media creation tool USB

Make sure to select the correct one.

Step 3: Choose the Windows 10 ISO File

Click on the <“Select“> button and browse to the location of the ISO file.

Step 4: Choose the Partition Scheme and File System

Make sure to select the correct options.

Step 5: Create the Bootable Drive

Finally, click on the <“Start“> button to create the bootable USB drive. Sometimes this process may take time but it will depend on the size of the ISO file.

FAQs

Do I need a USB drive with a certain capacity to create a bootable Windows 10 drive?

Yes, you’ll need a USB drive with at least 8 GB of storage space.

Can I use a Windows 10 bootable DVD instead of a USB drive?

Yes, you can use a DVD to create a bootable Windows 10 installation media using the Media Creation Tool. Sometimes it may take longer to create and install from a DVD compared to installing from a USB drive.

Can I make bootable USB Mac Windows 10?

Yes, you can use a Mac to create a Windows 10 bootable USB drive using the Media Creation Tool or a third-party utility like Rufus. But make sure that the USB device is FAT32 formatted, and a Windows 10 ISO file is used.

What if I encounter errors during the bootable USB creation process?

If you encounter errors during the process, try using a different USB drive, downloading the Windows 10 ISO file again, or using a different utility to create the bootable drive.

Can I use the same bootable USB drive to install Windows 10 on multiple computers?

Yes, you can use the same bootable USB drive to install Windows 10 on multiple computers. However, you’ll need to activate each copy of Windows 10 with a separate product key. 

Conclusion

Creating a Windows 10 bootable USB drive that is bootable with Windows 10 is simple, and may save a significant amount of time when installing or upgrading applications. A bootable USB stick for installing Windows 10 may be made using either the Media Creation Tool or a third-party program like Rufus. In all, the best thing to do is to create bootable USB Windows 10 Rufus

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