How to Boot from an External SSD on Windows 10/11

Updated by

Linda 

Authored by

Cici 

Last updated on April 19, 2024

External SSDs perform better than HDDs; the average boot time for an SSD is 10-13 seconds, compared to 30-40 seconds for an HDD. Apart from booting Windows from a USB or SD card, many users wonder if they can boot from an external SSD. Here's a typical scenario:

Don't worry, the/tool will guide you through the feasibility of booting Windows from an external SSD and provide a detailed solution.

Check out the info on booting from an external SSD.

Is it possible to boot from an external SSD?

Yes, you can boot from an external SSD. Having a bootable external drive can be very helpful if the operating system on your internal drive is damaged. There are even more benefits to booting Windows from an external SSD. Here are some key reasons:

• External SSDs are more durable: They have no moving parts, so they can withstand more shock. Additionally, SSDs generate less heat and noise, which means they're more energy-efficient and can help extend the battery life of your laptop.
• External SSDs are faster: SSDs can load and transfer files and applications more quickly. This also reduces the time it takes for your computer to start up.

Regardless of why you want to boot from an external SSD, this article provides a detailed solution for you. In the following sections, we will discuss how to boot Windows from an external SSD.

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How to Boot from an External SSD

There are three stages to booting from an external SSD. I'll provide detailed steps for each phase. Follow the instructions in this article to correctly boot and efficiently use your external SSD as a boot drive.

Phase 1: Prepare the external SSD and plug it into your computer

1. Connect the external SSD to your computer using a compatible interface (USB or Thunderbolt).

2. If it's a new SSD, initialize it first. Then format the SSD as an NTFS file system.

• Press and hold the Windows icon, then choose and open "Disk Management."
• Right-click on the external SSD you want to format, and select "Format."
• Choose the file system, and then adjust the cluster size as needed.

3. Ensure that the SSD has sufficient space for partitioning.

You need to ensure that the external SSD has enough space to accommodate the Windows 11/10 operating system. The capacity of the external SSD should be greater than or equal to the space used by the system partition.

Step 2: Install the operating system on the external SSD

There are several ways to install an operating system on an SSD: you can do it from a Windows ISO file or by cloning the Windows OS. Whichever way you choose, the best tool for the job is the Partition Master tool.

This utility offers powerful features to assist you in installing the operating system. It allows you to effortlessly and quickly migrate your Windows operating system to a new external SSD. It also simplifies the OS installation process, providing a secure and swift solution. Please continue reading for a detailed step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Select the source disk.

Click "Clone" on the left menu. Choose "Clone System Disk" or "Clone Data Disk," then click "Next." Select the source disk and click "Next."

Step 2: Select the target disk.

Select the desired HDD/SSD as the target disk, then click “Next” to proceed. Read the warning message and confirm by clicking the “Yes” button.

Step 3: Review the disk layout and edit the target disk partition sizes, if necessary.

When prompted that the utility will erase all data from the target disk, click Continue (back up any important data on the target disk beforehand).

You can choose to “Auto adjust disk size,” “Clone source disk size,” or “Edit disk layout.” (If you want to allocate more space for the C drive, choose the last option.)

Click “Start” to begin the disk cloning process.

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AOMEI Partition Assistant is a powerful tool that supports all external and internal devices. Hence, you can also use it to install Windows 10 from USB. Besides, if you're interested in how to boot Windows from SD card, click the link below for more information.

How to Boot Windows from an SD Card [Complete Guide]

Are you looking for a way to boot Windows from an SD card? In this article, learn how to create a bootable SD card and how to use it to start up Windows.

After installing the operating system on the external SSD, unplug it from your computer. Then follow these steps to set up your external SSD:

Step 3: In the BIOS, set the external SSD as the boot drive

After making the external SSD bootable, you also need to change the boot order in BIOS to boot from the external SSD. Upon starting your computer, it will automatically check if the external SSD is available. If it is, you can successfully boot Windows from the external SSD.

Here are the steps to set up an external SSD as a bootable drive for Windows:

Step 1: Restart your computer and enter BIOS setup by pressing F2/F12/Delete key.

Step 2: Change the boot order: Under the Boot Priority tab, find your target external SSD and move it to the top of the list.

Step 3: Save the changes and exit.

After you make an external SSD bootable, you can use the new SSD as your system's operating system drive.

Conclusion

Can you boot from an external SSD? This article offers a simple solution. With three steps, you can set an external SSD as the primary boot drive. With the tool Partition Master, you can clone the Windows system to the external SSD.

If you liked this article on how to boot Windows from an external SSD, don't forget to share it to help more people in need!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Booting from an External SSD

If you have more questions about booting from an external SSD or setting it as the primary drive, our FAQ section might have the answers.

**1. How do I boot from an SSD instead of an HDD in BIOS?** To boot from an SSD instead of an HDD in BIOS, follow these steps: 1. Restart your computer and press the key to enter BIOS during the startup process. This key is usually F2, F10, F12, Delete, or Esc, depending on your computer brand. 2. Inside the BIOS, locate the "Boot" or "Startup" settings. This may be found under different menus like "System Configuration" or "BIOS Features." 3. In the "Boot" menu, look for "Boot Order," "Boot Priority," or "Boot Device Priority." 4. Use the arrow keys to select the SSD as the primary boot device. It might be listed as "Solid State Drive," "PCI Solid State Disk," or an entry with the SSD's model. 5. Once you've selected the SSD, use the up and down arrows to move it to the top of the list, ensuring it's the first item in the boot order. 6. Save and exit the BIOS settings. Typically, press F10, then choose "Yes" or "OK" to confirm the changes and exit. 7. Your computer will restart and boot from the SSD. If everything is set correctly, you should notice faster boot times. Please note that these steps might vary slightly depending on the BIOS version and computer manufacturer. Consult your computer's user manual or online support resources if you're unsure how to proceed.

After you've installed the operating system of your choice on the external SSD, you can set the drive to boot by following these steps:

Step 1: Press F2/F12/Delete to enter BIOS.

Step 2: Change the boot order to start your operating system from the new SSD.

Step 3: Save the changes and reboot your computer.

< strong > 2. Why can't I set an external SSD as the boot drive?

A Boot Mode Error might prevent you from setting an external SSD as the boot drive: If the SSD is a GPT disk, you need to enable EFI/UEFI boot mode. You'd have to enter BIOS settings to change the boot mode. Alternatively, you could convert the SSD to an MBR disk. Otherwise, you won't be able to boot from the SSD.

3. Why doesn't the BIOS recognize the SSD for booting?

If the BIOS doesn't detect or recognize the SSD, it could be a damaged data cable or an incorrect connection. SATA data cables can sometimes become loose. Check that the SATA data cable is securely connected.

How to Boot Mac from External SSD?

Using an external SSD as your boot drive can provide your Mac with improved system responsiveness, application performance, and faster boot times. Here's how to boot from an external SSD on macOS: 1. **Backup Your Current System**: Before making any changes, ensure you have a backup of your current Mac's data using Time Machine or another reliable backup method. 2. **Format the External SSD**: Connect the external SSD to your Mac and open Disk Utility, which can be found in the Utilities folder within the Applications folder. Select the external SSD in the left sidebar, then click the "Erase" button at the top. Choose "APFS" as the format and give it a name. Click "Erase" to proceed. 3. **Create a Bootable macOS Installer**: You'll need a bootable macOS installer on your external SSD. To create one, insert a USB flash drive or use the external SSD if it has enough space. Open Terminal, which is located in the Utilities folder within the Applications folder. Copy and paste the following command into Terminal, replacing `/path/to/installer` with the actual path to the macOS installer app (usually `/Applications/Install macOS [version].app`) and `/dev/diskX` with the identifier of your target drive (replace 'X' with the correct number for your drive, which you can find in Disk Utility): ``` sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ [version].app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /dev/diskX --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ [version].app ``` Press Enter and enter your admin password when prompted. 4. **Boot into macOS Installer**: Restart your Mac while holding down the `Option` key. This will bring up the Startup Manager. Select the external SSD with the macOS installer and press Enter. 5. **Install macOS**: In the installer, choose the external SSD as the installation destination. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process. 6. **Set Up Your Mac**: After the installation is complete, your Mac will reboot. During the setup process, you may need to select the external SSD again in the Startup Manager. 7. **Move Your Data**: Once macOS is set up, you can transfer your data from your old internal drive to the new external SSD. You can do this using Time Machine restore or by manually copying files. 8. **Change Startup Disk Preferences**: To make your Mac boot from the external SSD by default, go to System Preferences > Startup Disk. Select the external SSD and click "Restart." Your Mac will now boot from the external SSD by default. Remember that using an external SSD as your primary drive requires it to be connected to your Mac during startup and use. Also, check the compatibility of your Mac with the external SSD's connection type (e.g., Thunderbolt, USB-C, etc.) to ensure optimal performance.

Step 1: Connect the external SSD to your Mac, then erase the external SSD: Use Disk Utility to reformat the external SSD.

Step 2: Install macOS on the external SSD.

Step 3. Restart your Mac, and hold down the Option key until you see the Startup Manager screen.

Step 4: Enable “Allow booting from external media or removable media” in Utilities.