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How to create a Windows 11 bootable USB

Make a Windows 11 installation USB from the official ISO using Rufus.

By the Aptorise editorial team · Windows · 6 min read · Updated 26 September 2026

  1. 1

    Get a USB drive of 8 GB or more

    Everything on the drive will be erased, so copy off anything you need first.

  2. 2

    Download the official Windows 11 ISO

    Download the ISO only from Microsoft's Windows 11 download page. Never use ISOs from third-party sites.

  3. 3

    Open Rufus and select the ISO

    Choose your USB drive under Device, press Select and pick the ISO. For modern PCs keep the partition scheme as GPT.

    Rufus iconRufus
  4. 4

    Review the Windows setup options

    Rufus may offer options that change Windows setup requirements. Only change these if you understand the implications for your PC.

  5. 5

    Start and wait

    Press Start and wait for Rufus to finish before removing the drive.

  6. 6

    Boot from the USB

    Restart the target PC and open its boot menu, often with F12, F11 or Esc, then choose the USB drive.

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