How to Create Bootable USB Drive For Windows 11

Creating a bootable USB drive is essential for installing or reinstalling Windows especially if you're facing an issue with your system. This method allows for a clean installation, system repairs, or upgrades from previous versions of Windows.

So whether you're upgrading from an older OS, troubleshooting a corrupted system, or setting up a new PC, this guide on how to create a bootable USB drive for Windows 11 covers the best-proven methods to create a bootable USB drive.

Prerequisites:

• USB Drive (with atleast 16GB of storage)
• Windows 11 (with product key)
• Administrator Access
• Compatible Device
• Internet Connectivity
• TPM 2.0 & Secure Boot

What is a Bootable Device

A bootable device is any hardware component that a computer can use to load and initiate its operating system during the startup process. These devices contain the necessary system files and instructions required for the computer to boot up properly. Common examples of bootable devices

• Internal Hard Drives (HDDs) and Solid-State Drives (SSDs)
• USB Flash Drives
• CDs/DVDs
• Network Boot via PXE (Preboot Execution Environment)

Method 1: Using Media Creation Tool

This is one of the safest and easiest method to start Windows 11 installation using USB from its official website. Here's how you can do it:

Step 1: Download the Windows Media Creation Tool

You can visit the official website and select "Create Windows 11 Installation Media" file to download in your Windows 11 PC.

Step 2: Run the downloaded Media Creation Installer

Once you select the path, click on "Save". Now, make a double-click to start the Windows 11 installer in your system. Start the Installation process and accept the License & Terms to proceed.

Step 3: Select the Compatible Installer

Once you click on "Next" after agreeing the License and terms, choose the language (English - United States), compatible Windows edition and architecture (32 or 64 bit).

You can check the your device configuration by navigating through Win + S (to open Search menu) and type System Information, click to open it and from there you can check all your system configuration. (also if you choose not to select any version, your system might pick by default the compatible version.

Step 4: Insert USB Drive and Create the Bootable Drive

Plug in your USB drive in the computer and select "USB Flash Drive" as the media type to use. Click "Next" and wait till the download gets completed and create the bootable USB drive. Once finished, eject the USB drive.

Method 2: Create Bootable USB using Rufus

You can also create bootable USB drive using Rufus which is an open-source software, compatible for Windows, Linux, and other operating systems.

Step 1: Download Rufus .exe file

Visit the Official Rufus site to download the .exe file in your system or if you're a Windows 10 user then you can also visit the Microsoft Store to download Rufus.

Step 2: Insert the USB Drive & Prepare the Windows ISO File

Plug in the USB drive and select "USB Flash Drive" as the media type to use. Also, get the Windows 11 ISO file from it's official website.

Step 3: Prepare the USB Drive

Start running the Rufus .EXE file, a pop-up will get open. Make a double-click and choose your USB device name under "Device".

Step 4: Select the ISO File and add a Partition Scheme

Go to "Boot Selection" and select the ISO file and click on partition scheme. A drop-drown will appear with MBR (for old BIOS-based system) and GPT (for modern PCs). Ensure to make the selection carefully to avoid any interruption.

Step 5: Complete the Booting Process

Note: Do not Power-off or eject USB device during this process as this may cause failure.

Click on "Start" and wait for sometime. Once the installation gets completed. You'll see the status as GREEN "READY". Click on start and eject the device. Your USB is ready..!!

Method 3: Using Command Prompt (Diskpart)

This method is for advance users who are comfortable with command-line tools. If you're looking for an alternative method to create a bootable USB, here's what you need to do:

Step 1: Open Command Prompt as Administrator

Press Win + S and type CMD and select "Run as Administrator". Alternatively, Press Win + X and select "Command Prompt as Administrator".

Step 2: Run Diskpart and Prepare the USB Device

Now type and run the following command in CMD:

diskpart

Now, type list disk (to check all the connected drives) and type select disk i ('i' is an external device here) and start formatting using the following command:

clean
create partition primary
select partition 1
format fs=ntfs quick
active
assign

Step 3: Prepare the Windows 11 ISO Files

Mount the ISO file by making a right click and copy all the contents to the USB drive. The command line should look like this:

PowerShell Mount-DiskImage -ImagePath “C:\PATH\Windows 11.iso

Step 4: Copy the Windows 11 ISO File to the USB drive

Run the following command to copy the ISO files to the USB drive and wait for the Installation to get completed.

robocopy J:\ X:\ /E /xf install.wim

Once the process is complete, save and exit.

Alternate Methods:

You can also use Third-party applications to perform a clean and safe USB booting for Windows 11. Below are some of the well-known software to perform this action:

1. MyRecover
2. iSunshare

Tips & Tricks

Once you create the bootable USB Drive in Windows from any of the provided method, you need to follow these steps to install Windows 11 in your system.

• Restart your PC and press F12, F2 or Del (depending upon the brand) during Startup
• Select the inserted USB drive to boot from.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to get a fresh Windows 11 installation in your machine.

General Troubleshoots

1. USB Not Detected (USB Device not recognized)

• You can try connecting with a different port (preferably USB 3.0)
• Try to format the drive to NTFS using Windows Disk Management.

2. Boot Failure

• You can enable UEFI Boot and disable Legacy Mode in BIOS
  • To access it, press Del/F2 during Boot
• Verify ISO integrity using SHA-256 checksum

3. Windows Cannot Install to This Disk

• Run this command to convert into GPT (erase all data) using the Command Prompt:

diskpart > list disk > select disk [number] > convert gpt

Note: Admin access required to perform this action

Conclusion

Creating a bootable USB drive from ISO using Media Creation Tool, Command Prompt, Rufus or any third-party tool is a simple and efficient way to install or recover your Windows 11 PC. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced user, using these methods to create a Windows 11 bootable drive will ensure a smooth installation process. Make sure to keep your USB drive ready for any future installations or recovery needs.

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Article Tags :

• Technical Scripter
• TechTips
• How To
• Technical Scripter 2022
• Windows-Tools
• How To
• Windows 11

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