Create Windows 10 Bootable USB: Easy Steps for Installation

Discover the straightforward process of creating a Windows 10 bootable USB for seamless installation.

Posted by @Irene December 17, 2024 Updated By @Irene April 7, 2024

Do you want to know how to create a Windows 10 bootable USB but don't know the steps? Do not look any further. Today, we'll show you how to do it step by step in this guide. You can say goodbye to hard steps and hello to easy operation with our simple steps.

How to Create Windows 10 Bootable USB

When upgrading to Windows 10, you will get a lot of new features and better things, but before you have to create a USB file that works well, whether you are using Windows for the first time or you are upgrading from previous versions, you will need to make sure your USB drive works fine. In this process, it is easy and does not require much technical knowledge if you want to build a USB drive that can activate Windows 10. Please follow these simple steps.

1. Necessary Preparations

Before we begin, let's gather the materials needed for creating a Windows 10 bootable USB drive:

  • A USB flash drive with at least 8GB of storage capacity.
  • A Windows 10 ISO file downloaded from the official Microsoft website.
  • A reliable USB creation tool such as Rufus or the Windows Media Creation Tool.

Now that we have everything we need let's proceed to the next steps.

2. Formatting the USB Drive

To ensure compatibility and proper functioning, it's essential to format the USB drive correctly. Follow these steps to format the USB drive:

  1. Insert the USB flash drive into an available USB port on your computer.
  2. Open Disk Management by right-clicking on the Start menu and selecting "Disk Management."
  3. Locate your USB drive in the list of available drives, right-click on it, and select "Format."
  4. Choose the file system as "FAT32" and leave the allocation unit size as "Default."  If you are using NTFS, you can also convert NTFS to FAT32 without formatting on the USB stick.
  5. Click "OK" to start the formatting process.

Once the formatting is complete, you're ready to proceed to the next step.

3. Creating the Bootable USB Drive

Now that we've formatted the USB drive let's create the bootable USB drive using the Windows Media Creation Tool:

  1. Download and install the Windows Media Creation Tool from the official Microsoft website.
  2. Launch the Windows Media Creation Tool and accept the terms and conditions.
  3. Select "Create installation media for another PC" and click "Next."
  4. Choose the language, edition, and architecture for Windows 10 and click "Next."
  5. Select "USB flash drive" as the media type and insert your formatted USB drive.
  6. Follow the on-screen instructions to create the bootable USB drive.

Once the process is complete, you'll have a bootable USB drive ready for Windows 10 installation.

4. Installing Windows 10

With the bootable USB drive prepared, it's time to install Windows 10:

  1. Insert the bootable USB drive into the computer where you want to install Windows 10.
  2. Restart the computer and access the BIOS or UEFI settings by pressing the designated key (usually F2 or Del) during startup.
  3. In the BIOS or UEFI settings, set the USB drive as the primary boot device.
  4. Save the changes and exit the BIOS or UEFI settings to restart the computer.
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the Windows 10 installation process.

Congratulations! You've successfully created a bootable USB drive for installing Windows 10.

Use AOMEI Partition Assistant to Create Windows 10 Bootable USB

Here's how to create all the contents of the USB memory bar that can load the operating system. If you want to run Windows 10 on a computer with an older version of the OS, then you can start Windows 10 directly from a running USB drive. AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard is a free partition separator that can work with all Windows 11, 10, 8 and 7. It allows you to use ISO files to create Windows OS bootable USB drives, as complete instructions for use:

AOMEI Partition Assistant

The Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer

  1. Download and install AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard for free, then launch the software.
  2. Navigate to the "Tools" section and choose "Windows To Go Creator" from the menu.

  1. In the "Windows To Go Creator," opt for "Create Windows To Go for personal computer" and proceed with "Next."
  2. Select "Create Windows To Go with system disc/ISO" and select the ISO file previously prepared. Click "Next" to proceed.
  3. From the available USB drives, select one and proceed with "Proceed." Once complete, insert the bootable USB into the target computer, adjust BIOS settings for USB boot, and power on for the OS to boot from the USB.

For enhanced functionality, upgrade to the Professional version, which enables using your existing OS on a USB for both PCs and Macs.

AOMEI Partition Assistant offers several leading benefits for managing Windows 10 systems beyond creating bootable USB drives. Some of these key advantages include:

  1. Partition Management: AOMEI Partition Assistant enables you to resize, move, merge, and delete partitions with ease. You can also convert partition types, align partitions for optimal performance, and create new partitions without losing data.

  2. Disk Partitioning: The software allows you to create, delete, and format partitions, as well as convert between MBR and GPT partition styles, which is particularly useful for newer UEFI-based systems.

  3. Disk Cloning: AOMEI Partition Assistant enables you to clone your entire disk or a specific partition, ensuring a seamless transition to a new hard drive or SSD without reinstalling Windows or reinstalling applications.

  4. Disk Cleanup and Drive Space Expansion: The software can help you clean up unused files, including temporary files, cache, and system restoration points, freeing up storage space on your computer.

  5. Data Recovery: AOMEI Partition Assistant comes with a built-in data recovery feature, enabling you to recover lost or deleted files and partitions without requiring a third-party tool.

  6. File System Conversion: The software supports converting file systems between NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, and Linux formats, making it easier to manage and share data across different devices and operating systems.

  7. Disk Partition Alignment: AOMEI Partition Assistant can align disk partitions according to the optimal sector size, improving overall system performance and extending the lifespan of your storage devices.

In summary, AOMEI Partition Assistant offers a comprehensive set of tools for managing and optimizing your Windows 10 system, making it an essential utility for both home and professional users.

Conclusion

Creating a bootable USB drive for Windows 10 is an easy and easy process and can be done by anyone with the right tools and instructions.Just follow the simple steps set out in this manual to make sure you install Windows 10 smoothly.Follow this tutorial to forget complex programs and easily upgrade using a newly-built bootable USB drive.

FAQs

Q: Can I use a Mac to create a Windows 10 bootable USB drive? A: Yes, you can use Boot Camp Assistant on a Mac to create a Windows 10 bootable USB drive.

Q: Do I need to purchase a Windows 10 license before creating a bootable USB drive? A: No, you can download the Windows 10 ISO file and create a bootable USB drive for installation without purchasing a license. However, you'll need to activate Windows 10 with a valid license key after installation.

Q: How long does it take to create a Windows 10 bootable USB drive? A: The time it takes to create a bootable USB drive depends on factors such as the speed of your USB drive and internet connection. On average, it takes approximately 15-30 minutes.

Q: Can I reuse the bootable USB drive for future installations? A: Yes, you can reuse the bootable USB drive for future Windows 10 installations by reformatting it and copying the Windows 10 ISO file again.

Q: What should I do if the Windows 10 installation fails? A: If the installation fails, ensure that your computer meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 10 and try reinstalling using the bootable USB drive.