How to Create a Windows 10 Bootable USB Drive (3 Methods)

Alone the word “Windows 10 bootable USB” sounds daunting. Creating a Windows 10 installation media with lots of steps and terminal commands seems like a complicated thing.

But, let’s break a myth – it is not hard to create a Windows 10 bootable flash drive. In fact, it takes up a few simple steps to install a Windows 10 package on an external drive for easy access.

Our team has laid down the quickest and easiest methods to create a Windows 10 bootable USB drive for your convenience. So, let’s get moving.

Why Create a Windows 10 Installation Media?

A Windows 10 bootable USB drive means copying your Windows 10 environment to a portable flash drive. This will enable Windows 10 users to:

  • Clean install Windows 10 operating system to the new or old computer if your system corrupts.
  • If you want to upgrade from older Windows versions or downgrade from Windows 11, having a portable Windows 10 in your pocket can be extremely helpful.
  • Mac users can leverage bootable Windows 10 USB to create a Windows environment on MacOS.
  • Having a bootable workstation can eliminate the need to carry a laptop everywhere.

How to Easily Create a Windows 10 Bootable USB

Windows users have multiple options to create a Windows 10 installation media today. But the three prominent ones are:

Method 1. Create a Windows 10 Bootable USB with Media Creation Tool

Media Creation Tool is a free and easy solution for Windows 10 users to create a bootable USB drive. To follow this method, all you need is an 8 GB USB and these steps:

Step 1. Connect a USB drive to your Windows 10 computer. Ensure the drive is formatted to Windows compatible file format.

Step 2. Go to Microsoft’s official website to install the Media Creation Tool. Click on the Download tool now and follow the installation wizard steps.

Step 3. Double-click to launch the MediaCreationToolxxxx.exe file.

Step 4. Click on the Accept in the popup window.

Step 5. Choose the Create installation media option and click on the Next.

Step 6. Now, you have to define the language, edition, and architecture that you prefer to create a bootable USB. Or, you can select the option “Use the recommended options for this PC.”

Step 7. After that, select the USB flash drive and click Next to continue. If you have more than one removable drive connected to your computer, disconnect all other drives that you don’t need for the process.

Step 8. Finally, click on the Finish and wait for the process to complete. It might take a few minutes.

Method 2. Create a Windows 10 Bootable USB with Rufus

If you don’t want to use the Media Creation Tool to create a Windows 10 installation media drive, you can use Rufus. It is also a free and open-source application for Windows that can help you format and create bootable USB or Live USBs.

If you want to create a bootable media with an existing Windows 10 ISO file, follow these steps with Rufus:

Step 1. Go to the Rufus website, and under the download section, click on the latest release to download Rufus on your computer.

download Rufus

Step 2. Launch the Rufus-x.xx.exe file using double-clicking.

Step 4. Select the USB flash drive from under the Device tab.

Step 5. From the Bootable section, click on the Select button.

Step 6. Choose the Windows 10 ISO file and click on the Open button.

Step 7. Select the Standard Windows installation option from the Image option drop-down menu.

Step 8. After that, use the Partition scheme drop-down menu to select the GPT option.

Step 9. Then, select the UEFI option to use the Target system.

UEFI option

Step 10. Keep the default settings under the Show Advanced drive properties section unless you know what you are doing.

Step 11. Under the Volume label field, confirm the name of your drive.

Step 12. Also, don’t change the default settings for the File system and Cluster size options.

Step 13. Now, click on the Show advanced format options button to check the Quick format and Create extended label and icon files options.

Step 14. Click on the Start, OK, and finally, on the Close button to create a bootable USB drive from Windows 10 ISO.

Using the Rufus, you can also download the Windows 10 ISO file and then create a bootable drive. For that, steps will be slightly different, such as:

Step 1. Download the latest Rufus version on your computer and open the Rufus-x.xx.exe file.

Step 2. Go to Settings button > Click on the Check for updates drop-down menu > Select the Daily option > Close.

application Settings

Step 3. Reopen the Rufus-x.xx.exe file.

Step 4. Go to the Device section > Select the USB drive.

Step 5. Under the Boot selection,> Click on the arrow next to the Select option > Select the Download option > Download button.

Step 6. Under the Version drop-down menu, select the Windows 10 option > Continue button.

Step 7. Choose the 21H1 (Build 19043.xxx – xxxx.xx) option to download the latest Windows updates.

Step 8. Select the “Language” drop-down menu and select your installation language.

Step 9. Select the 32-bit or 64-bit option under the Architecture drop-down menu > Click on the Download button.

ISO image

Step 10. Select a folder to save the Windows ISO file > Save.

Step 11. Now, simply follow Step 7 to Step 14 as per above.

Method 3. Create a Windows 10 Bootable USB with EaseUS Partition Master

Rufus might be a great app, but it requires high technical skills to use this program. Thus, if you want to create a Windows 10 installation media within only 3 steps and with no technical hassle, EaseUS Partition Master is the best tool.

This tool can help you create a bootable USB drive, migrate Windows 11 to a new SSD, convert MBR to GPT disk, rescue data, and more. In addition, it is a free tool with an intuitive interface, perfect for novice users.

Here’s how to create a Windows 10 bootable USB using EaseUS Partition Master:

Step 1. Go to the EaseUS website to download the Partition Master on your computer using the automatic wizard. Also, prepare a USB drive.

Step 2. Open EaseUS Partition Master > Click on the WinPE Creator.

Step 3. Select your USB drive and install Windows 10 on it by clicking on the Proceed button.

Sum Up

There you have it, people! You have learned the three simple solutions to create a bootable USB. All the steps are discussed in full detail, so you will not face any problem using these methods.

But anyhow, if you get stuck somewhere, write it down in the comments, and we will surely help you. Also, if you find this post useful, please share it and follow us on social networks for more interesting guides.

Author Bio:

Dinesh Lakhwani

Dinesh Lakhwani, the entrepreneurial brain behind “TechCommuters,” achieved big things in the tech world. He started the company to make smart and user-friendly tech solutions. Thanks to his sharp thinking, focus on quality and the motto of never giving up, TechCommuters became a top player in the industry. His commitment to excellence has propelled the company to a leading position in the industry.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Popular Post

Recent Post

10 Best IPTV Apps For iOS & Android in 2024

By TechCommuters / March 27, 2024

Introduction: Watching TV on your phone or tablet has become incredibly popular in recent years. IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) allows you to stream live TV, movies and shows directly on your mobile devices. With IPTV apps, you can take your favorite TV channels and content with you wherever you go. In 2024, there are tons […]

How To Fix Dns_Probe_Started Error [Top 10 Ways]

By TechCommuters / March 25, 2024

Introduction: The DNS_PROBE_STARTED error occurs when your DNS lookups are failing. DNS (Domain Name System) is like the phonebook of the internet—it translates domain names (e.g. google.com) into IP addresses needed to load websites. When you attempt to visit a website, your device sends a DNS lookup request to your DNS server. If the DNS […]

11 Best IPTV Player For Mac In 2024 [Free & Paid]

By TechCommuters / March 22, 2024

Are you interested in watching your favorite live TV channels, lots of trending movies, and TV series on a Mac device? Then, look nowhere else! You can get your hands on the perfect IPTV player for Mac. Such top IPTV apps can easily turn your Macbook into the ultimate entertainment center, which we will discuss […]

10 Best Free Caller ID Apps For Android In 2024 [Latest List]

By TechCommuters / March 20, 2024

Introduction: In today’s fast-paced digital world, our smartphones have become an integral part of our daily lives, serving as a gateway to constant communication. However, with the rise of spam calls, telemarketers, and unwanted contacts, managing incoming calls can become a daunting task. This is where caller ID apps come into play, offering a reliable […]

10 Best Free File Manager Apps For iPhone & iPad 2024

By TechCommuters / March 18, 2024

Introduction: Managing files across different cloud services and local storage on your iPhone or iPad can be a hassle. While iOS has fairly robust built-in file management capabilities through the Files app, many users find they need more advanced functionality. That’s where dedicated file manager apps come in. These apps allow you to access, organize, […]

15 Best Finder Alternatives for Mac in 2024

By TechCommuters / March 16, 2024

If you are a Mac user, you probably already have a bittersweet relationship with Mac Finder. It is an indeed powerful file manager and graphical user interface tool for Macintosh. But, despite being the default Apple program, it lacks many features. Plus, Apple hasn’t made any efforts to update Finder in a long time.    However, […]

10 Best Free MMORPG for Android in 2024 [Latest List]

By TechCommuters / March 13, 2024

Introduction: MMORPG (Massively multiplayer online role-playing game) is an online game where a large number of players interact with one another in a virtual fantasy world. MMORPGs are extremely popular on PCs but are now also available on mobile devices. Mobile MMORPGs allow you to play these immersive and addictive games on the go on […]

9 Ways to Bypass Blocked Sites Without Using Proxies or VPNs

By TechCommuters / March 12, 2024

If your government or local ISP blocks certain websites, it must be really frustrating. While these blocks may be the reason for any violations by these websites, most of the cases involve these websites getting blocked for no apparent valid reasons. The Internet is full of knowledge and information, but these blocks can really be […]

Understanding FileVault and its Role in Data Security

By TechCommuters / March 11, 2024

Introduction: In this modern era where data breaches loom at large and data privacy is a serious concern, safeguarding personal and sensitive information is paramount. Keeping this in mind, Apple has designed this wonderful encryption software to safeguard the data of its Mac users which is known as FileVault. In this article, we will take […]

11 Best Free Duplicate Photo Finder for Android in 2024

By TechCommuters / March 10, 2024

Duplicate files are a perennial truth of any device. It generates in different forms due to different reasons. Multiple times file downloading, file sharing of the same file multiple times, and data backup of the same file are a few reasons why duplicate files accumulate on your device. You can find them in different forms […]