How to Create Windows 11 Bootable USB from ISO | Easy Guide
Our expert tutorial explains the precise steps required to create Windows 11 bootable usb from ISO. You will learn which tools to use, how to configure settings correctly, and how to create bootable USB from ISO Windows 11 without errors, ensuring a smooth Windows 11 installation.
Last Updated September 12, 2025
Please Help! Can I Create Windows 11 Bootable USB from ISO?
Best Way to Make a Windows 11 Bootable USB on a Mac Sonoma?
My father's Windows 11 laptop can't boot after installing the latest system update. He asked me to reinstall Windows 11 on it. I did this a few years ago with the Bootcamp Assistant app. However, I am unable to find the app on my MacBook Air M1 running the latest macOS Sonoma 14.0. It turns out Boot Camp is removed from Apple Silicon Mac.
Now, my question is, what is the best way to create a Windows 11 bootable USB on Mac Sonoma?
- Question from discussions.apple.com
Burn ISO image to USB flash drive Windows 11
I am trying to do a clean install of Windows 11. My DVD does not work, and I think it is because of some corrupted files. I downloaded the correct ISO image, but it will only allow me the option of burning the image to a DVD. Windows help clearly states that the image can be burned to a DVD or USB flash drive. The installation instructions on the download page are a little garbled, but they seem to say that a flash drive will work. I sense that there is a bug, and Windows thinks it's good corporate policy to act ignorant and let people waste their time and find out on their own.
- Question from learn.microsoft.com
If you are stuck in creating a Windows 11 bootable USB from ISO on Mac or Windows computers, don’t worry, you have effective solutions to fix it and boot your computer normally.
What is a Windows 11 Bootable USB?
A Windows 11 boot USB (a copy of an ISO) is a USB flash drive that has been configured to be bootable and contains the complete Windows 11 installation setup, as well as a small, built-in operating system (a bootloader) that can start up your computer independently.
When you insert this drive and tell your computer to boot from it, it bypasses the existing operating system on your hard drive entirely. This lets you run the Windows installer, access recovery options, or run diagnostic tools. Thus, you can use the bootable USB to install Windows on a brand-new hard drive or repair a PC that won't start up normally. It's an essential piece of kit for any PC user.
Why Create A Windows 11 Bootable USB from ISO?
There are some reasons for creating a Windows 11 bootable USB:
⭕ Your hard drive could fail.
⭕ A Windows update might go sideways and leave your system unbootable.
⭕ Persistent software glitches
⭕ Install Windows 11 on a computer without an existing OS.
With a Windows 11 boot USB, you can fix them easily and quickly. So, how to create a bootable USB from ISO for Windows 11? Check the following useful content.
Prerequisites for Creating Your Installation Media
You can't build a house without bricks and mortar, and you can't create a bootable USB from an ISO in Windows 11 without the right components. Gathering these beforehand ensures a smooth, frustration-free experience.
Choosing the Right USB Drive for Your Windows 11 Boot USB
You'll need a USB that's fast and spacious enough. We recommend a USB 3.0 (or higher) drive with at least 16GB of storage. The 3.0 speed is crucial—it dramatically reduces the time it takes to both burn ISO to USB on Windows 11 and to install Windows later.
Back up all important files on your USB drive before anything, as the process will completely erase the drive.
Downloading the Official Windows 11 ISO File
1. Please go to the Microsoft webpage to download the Windows 11 ISO file.
2. Choose the Windows 11 version at the Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) section.
3. Hit Confirm at the Before you begin downloading an ISO section.
4. Then choose the product language of the Windows 11 ISO file, and then hit Confirm.
5. Tap the 64-bit Download button to download the Windows 11 ISO file; it’s only available for 24 hours.
With our tools assembled, it's time for the main event: transforming that ISO file and USB drive into an installation powerhouse. You can also burn the Windows 11 ISO to a DVD.
How to Create a Windows 11 Bootable USB from ISO
This is the core of the entire operation. While there are several ways to achieve this, we'll focus on the official Microsoft tool, which simplifies the process beautifully.
The Microsoft Media Creation Tool downloads the Windows 11 ISO and creates the bootable USB for you.
1. Please download the Windows 11 media creation tool on your computer.
2. Then run it, hit Accept.
3. Choose the language and Windows 11 edition, and hit Next.
4. Select USB flash drive and click Next.
5. The tool will now download Windows 11 directly from Microsoft and then create the bootable USB drive automatically.
6. Once it says "Your USB flash drive is ready", click Finish. Your Windows 11 bootable USB is created.
- Tips:✎...
- This is the longest step and depends on your internet speed.
- Please ensure you have enough space (at least 8GB of free space) on the C drive, or you might encounter the problem “8GB of free disk space needed on (C:). Remove files you no longer need or use Disk Cleanup to free up space. Then try again”.
- You can also choose an ISO file in step 4, then choose the USB drive as the location, and it will automatically create the bootable Windows 11 USB drive.
How to Boot from the Windows 11 Bootable USB?
How to boot from the USB drive and install Windows 11? try this:
1. Insert the bootable USB drive into the computer where you want to install Windows 11.
2. Restart the computer.
3. Hit F2, F10, F12, Del, or Esc while restarting to access the Boot Menu or BIOS/UEFI Settings. The correct key is usually displayed briefly on the screen during startup (e.g., "Press F12 for Boot Options").
4. In the boot menu, select your USB drive to boot from it. It might be listed as "UEFI: [Your USB Brand Name]" or just "[Your USB Brand Name]".
5. The Windows 11 setup screen will load. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 11.
It’s highly recommended to back up your precious files on your computer if you're installing Windows 11. Or your files might be lost.
Recover Files from Windows 11 Computer
If you find files get lost after reinstalling Windows 11, you have to use professional data recovery software to recover files easily. Installing Windows deletes all files from the bootable disk, usually the C drive. If there are multiple partitions (including personal files) on the bootable disk, these files will be lost. So, recovering important files from the Windows 10/11 computer is an emergency.
Fortunately, you can try the top-rated Windows data recovery software, MyRecover, is easy and quick to recover your files. It's designed to simplify data recovery and system management.
Here is how to create a Windows 11 bootable USB to boot up your computer and recover files in bulk if your computer is unbootable (follow steps 5-8 to recover missing files from a normal computer):
1. Connect your USB drive to a normal Windows computer. Then download and install MyRecover and run the installer.
100% Secure2. Tap PC Crashed Recovery, tick USB Boot Device, choose your USB flash drive, and hit Create.
3. It will create a Windows 11 bootable USB drive that can boot up your Windows computer that won’t boot, and wait for the process to complete.
4. Insert the Windows 11 bootable USB drive into the unbootable Windows computer, enter BIOS settings, and choose the USB Drive to boot from it in the boot menu, then it will load the MyRecover software.
5. Click Deleted Files Recovery or other options, select a location to scan.
6. Wait for the process to complete, then hit OK.
7. Select the files and hit Recover.
8. Pick a directory to save these recovered files.
- Tips:✎...
- You can recover files from a crashed computer by following steps 1-8; or recover files from a normal computer by following steps 5-8 after launching MyRecover.
- Recovering files from unlimited computers is available to you after upgrading to MyRecover Technician.
- Recover Deleted Files Easily with Simple Clicks
- 1000+ File Formats Supported
- Support HDD, SSD, External Hard Drive, USB Drive, SD Card, etc.
- Quickly Find Files Using File Types, Name, Size, etc.
- Preview Files Before Recovering
- Recover Unlimited Data
100% SecureFAQs About Windows 11 Bootable USB
Q: What is the best free software to create a Windows 11 bootable USB from ISO?
A: Rufus is best for bypassing TPM requirements on older hardware. The official Microsoft Media Creation Tool is the simplest for compatible PCs.
Q: Can I use the same bootable USB to install Windows 11 on multiple computers?
A: Yes, the installer is universal. However, you need a separate, valid Windows license key for each computer to activate it.
Q: Why won't my computer boot from the USB drive I created?
A: The main reasons are: Incorrect boot order in BIOS/UEFI settings; The USB wasn't created correctly (try making it again with Rufus); A BIOS/UEFI mode mismatch (ensure it's set to UEFI for modern PCs); Or a faulty USB port; try a different one.
Q: How long does it take to create a bootable USB and install Windows 11?
A: Creating the USB takes 10-20 minutes. Installing Windows 11 onto a PC from that USB takes another 30-60 minutes.
Q: Do I need to format the USB drive before making it bootable?
A: No. The tools will automatically format and erase the drive as part of the process. Just ensure there's no data on it that you need to keep.
Q: My USB drive is 16GB, but the tool says it's not big enough. Why?
A: Due to how storage is calculated, a 16GB drive has ~14.9GB of actual space, which can be too small for the large Windows 11 ISO. Use a 32GB USB drive to avoid this issue.
Conclusion
Until now, you have mastered how to create a Windows 11 bootable USB from an ISO file. Find the step-by-step guide to fix Windows problems or install Windows. If your files get lost, you can recover files from an emptied recycle bin, an unbootable computer, etc.