How To Create A Bootable Usb Windows 10

asus-zenbook-duo-14-04 — Have a USB kick drive handy should you always need to reinstall Windows ten on your PC.
Josh Goldman/CNET

Troubleshooting an onetime and slow PC isn't a fun feel, only it's besides something you lot can exercise on your own at home. In addition to common issues to look for, there's some other task you should take on -- create a bootable USB bulldoze. I know, I know. The kickoff time I heard the term "bootable USB," I felt a tinge of panic. And it'southward OK if you exercise, too. Creating the drive is a chore that sounds complicated and something that requires plenty of tech savvy, but in reality, information technology merely takes a few clicks of the mouse and a solid internet connexion to consummate. Don't experience intimidated at all. I hope.

Creating a Windows 10 bootable USB drive is something y'all should definitely do if you own a Windows computer. The backup media can salvage you both fourth dimension and a headache if you ever need to reinstall Windows. And if you're building a gaming PC, this is one of the final things y'all'll demand to finalize your build. (You tin can as well create a kick drive for Windows 11, if you're wanting to examination out the newest version of Windows before it's released on October. five.)

Also an empty 8GB USB bulldoze and a Windows PC, you'll need to set aside about 30 minutes, maybe longer, depending on your internet speed.

For those curious, it'due south possible to use a Mac to create a Windows ten boot drive, but the process is fairly involved and requires familiarity with Terminal, the Mac'due south command-line tool. It's not a process that I'd recommend for the boilerplate user. I recently built my offset gaming PC, and despite my mild comfort level with Terminal, I nevertheless plant using a Windows computer to exist a safer and easier process.

Utilise Microsoft'south media creation tool

Microsoft has a dedicated tool that y'all can use to download the Windows 10 arrangement image (as well referred to as ISO) and create your bootable USB drive.

i. Become tothis page, scroll down to Create Windows Installation Media and click onDownload tool now.

2. Once the download finishes, double-click the file calledMediaCreationToolxxxx to run it. (The terminal four digits of the file proper name signal the version number of Windows 10. Right at present, the filename isMediaCreationTool21H1, but that will change equally newer versions are released.) The file should be in your Downloads folder.

windows-10-boot-drive-creation-tool-steps-2 — Select Create installation media from the short list of options.
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

3. When the program opens, accept Microsoft'due south terms and atmospheric condition, then select Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC, and click Next.

windows-10-boot-drive-creation-tool-steps-3 — Arrange your settings equally needed.
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

4.Y'all'll be asked to select the language, edition and compages you lot want to use. By default, the tool will utilise the best options for the PC y'all're creating the kicking drive on. You tin change any of the options past unchecking the box side by side to Employ the recommended options for this PC and using the drop-downwardly options. If y'all're unsure about whether you demand a 64-fleck or a 32-chip architecture, select Both from the Architecture drop-down.

Annotation, that according to Microsoft's support page, if yous plan on using this tool to flash a unlike edition of Windows x, such as Windows 10 Pro (or vice versa) on a different PC, it will exist included when you lot select Windows 10 as the Edition. In fact, basic Windows x is the merely option, so don't stress yourself looking for a Pro option.

windows-10-boot-drive-creation-tool-steps-4 — Select USB flash drive.
Screenshot past Jason Cipriani/CNET

5.Click Next when you've adapted the options, leave USB flash drive selected, and plug your USB drive into your figurer. Select Next to go along.

windows-10-boot-drive-creation-tool-steps-5 — Double-cheque that yous're selecting the proper drive for your USB pollex drive.
Screenshot past Jason Cipriani/CNET

6.Finally, select the USB bulldoze from the list. If you lot accept more than one drive connected to your computer and are unsure which one to pick, disconnect the extra drives. Picking the wrong drive could be catastrophic, equally this process erases everything on the drive during the process. With the right drive selected, click Side by side.

windows-10-boot-drive-creation-tool-steps-6 — Information technology'll have a bit of time to complete, just Microsoft's tool takes care of the rest for y'all.
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

Microsoft'south tool will have intendance of the residuum from there. Go get a drink, take a walk or scan the internet while the tool does its task. The procedure should have about 30 minutes, give or take, depending on your internet speed.

When the tool is done, click Terminate and remove the USB bulldoze from your computer. Going forward, if you need to install or reinstall Windows, you lot can connect the drive to your calculator and reboot it. Your PC should boot to the bulldoze, giving you the option to install Windows.

If it doesn't automatically boot to the drive, yous'll need to reboot your computer into its BIOS firmware -- unremarkably done by pressing Esc, F2, or a like key while the computer is starting up -- and change the kicking drive or "bootmenu" to your flash drive. The process for each computer (or motherboard if you're building a gaming PC) will be unlike. When yous offset turn on your computer, at that place'll be a pocket-size line of text telling you lot which button to press to enter BIOS. If you lot don't come across it, or it goes abroad too fast, I suggest consulting your manual for instructions.

You can too use the media tool to upgrade from Windows seven to Windows 10, following these instructions. After getting Windows ten installed, hither are some tips to help become yous started. If reinstalling Windows ten feels like likewise much,use these tips to troubleshoot and speed it up.