Updated By

Linda

Authored By

Tracy King

Last Updated on April 22, 2024

Can I burn an ISO file to a USB flash drive? Absolutely. Below, you'll learn what an ISO file is, the advantages of burning an ISO image to a USB, and how to successfully burn an ISO file to your target USB.

Of course, I can help you translate English into Chinese. Please provide the content you'd like to have translated.

Complexity: Simple, suitable for beginners
⏱️ Duration: 5-10 minutes
Applies To: Burning ISO images to USB for Windows 10/11 and Windows 7
Tools Needed: USB flash drive, Windows computer, File Explorer, Windows ISO file, ISO burning software

The main points to remember when burning an ISO image to a USB are:

    1. First, format the USB to FAT32. You can follow Step 1 for guidance. If your USB drive is already formatted as FAT32, skip straight to Step 2.
    2. Burning an ISO image is a complicated process that requires specialized ISO-to-USB burning tools or software. AOMEI Partition Assistant allows users to write ISO to USB with just a few simple clicks. Install this tool and follow the tutorial for assistance.

Benefits - Writing an ISO file to a USB

Here's a list of benefits of burning your required ISO files to a USB drive for your deeper understanding:

    • USB is portable and versatile, with many uses.
    • You can create a bootable USB flash drive for Windows.
    • You can fix your computer by booting from a Windows ISO image burned to a USB.
    • You can make a bootable USB from a Windows ISO for transferring, installing, or reinstalling Windows.

So, how do you burn an ISO image to a USB flash drive? What do you need? In the sections below, you'll learn the entire process through a step-by-step guide. Now, click the link to know the top 5 Windows 10/11 ISO burner tools in 2023.

How to Burn an ISO Image to a USB Drive on Windows

Here, we'll walk you through a complete guide on how to burn an ISO image to a USB drive on a Windows computer using the Windows ISO image burner.

We break this process down into three steps, as shown here.

# Stage 1: Prepare the USB drive for the ISO image

Before proceeding to create the bootable USB, note that there is a specific file system requirement for burning a Windows ISO image to a USB drive, which is that you need to format the USB flash drive to FAT32 first. Here's how to prepare your USB drive:

Step 1. Connect a 32 GB or larger USB flash drive to your computer.

Step two: Open the USB drive and back up all important files to another location.

Step 3. Press Windows + E to open File Explorer, then right-click on your USB flash drive.

Step 5: Click “OK.”

Format USB to FAT32 in File Explorer

Now go ahead and write the ISO to the USB.

#Step 2 Download ISO burning software for assistance

Some experienced users might recommend using the Windows Media Creation Tool to burn an ISO to USB. But that's too complicated for a Windows novice.

Here, we will introduce you to a reliable ISO burning software – Partition Master Professional, which has the Burn ISO feature that can write ISO to USB with just a few clicks.

Aside from burning ISO to USB, users can also use the software to set up their USB flash drives for various purposes, such as:

So, how to create a bootable USB from an ISO file? Proceed to the next guide to start burning the ISO image file to a USB drive and create a bootable USB right away.

#Phase 3: Burn the ISO Image to a USB Drive

To get started with burning the ISO to USB, first download the Windows ISO file on your computer. You can download the Windows 10 ISO from the official Microsoft link at Microsoft's website. Alternatively, you can search online for the Windows ISO image and safely access a download link for the image.

After downloading the Windows ISO file to your computer, you can start writing the ISO to the USB by following these steps:

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant and then enter the "Create Bootable Media" interface. Click "Burn ISO Image" and then click "Next".

Select to Burn ISO

Step 2. Select the ISO image you downloaded to your computer, and click “Open.”

Select to burn ISO

Step 3. Click “Next,” select your USB device as the destination, and click “Burn” to perform the task.

As a side note, if you're wondering how to use the burned ISO image to install the Windows operating system on a USB drive, you can refer to this guide from Microsoft for assistance: Install Windows from a USB flash drive.

Read also: Solutions to Cannot Burn ISO File to USB

What is an ISO file?

Before we proceed, let's first understand what an ISO image file is:

An ISO image, also referred to as a disc image, is a digital representation of the contents of a CD, DVD, or Blu-ray disc, sector by sector, including the optical disc file system. ISO files are intended to contain a binary image of an optical media filesystem, with the data in files precisely replicated in binary format, just as they would be stored on the disc. The data within an ISO image will be organized according to the file system used on the disc from which it was created. — Source: Wikipedia

In short, an ISO file is a single file that contains all the parts needed to build an operating system or program. However, this file is useless on its own without opening, assembling, and using it. Typically, you can use an ISO to USB tool like Partition Master, Rufus (Rufus for Mac, Linux, or Ubuntu), or BalenaEtcher to burn the ISO image onto a USB drive.

So, what can you do with an ISO image? Here are several uses for ISO images:

    • Data transfer
    • Data backup
    • Operating system migration or installation/reinstallation
    • Program copying, backup, migration, etc.

Moreover, the most common use of an ISO image file is to burn it to a USB drive. Why would you want to burn an ISO image to a USB drive? You will find the answer below.

?Explore more: How to Burn ISO to External Hard Drive on Windows 10

It's easy to burn an ISO to a USB drive with the right tools.

This page simplifies the process of creating a USB installer into three steps:

  1. #1. Format the USB as FAT32
  2. #2. Download an ISO burning software
  3. #3. Follow simple steps to download the ISO image and burn it to the USB to create a bootable USB drive

Experienced users can skip Step 2 and proceed directly to Step 3 to burn the ISO file with the official Microsoft method. However, if you're new to Windows, we recommend following the instructions in this guide one step at a time. With the help of a reliable ISO writing tool like AOMEI Partition Assistant, the entire process is both simple and effortless.

Frequently Asked Questions About Writing an ISO Image to a USB 1. What is an ISO image? An ISO image is a file that contains all the data found on a CD or DVD, typically used for backing up software, operating systems, or large applications. It's a standard format that can be directly burned to a disc or written to a USB drive. 2. Why write an ISO image to a USB? Writing an ISO file to a USB drive allows for convenient installation of operating systems on devices without optical drives or for portable applications. Additionally, some modern computers support booting directly from USB, making the installation process more convenient. 3. How do I write an ISO image to a USB? You can use various free tools such as Rufus, Etcher, or Windows' built-in "Create a bootable USB drive" tool. Generally, the steps involve selecting the ISO file, inserting the USB drive, and clicking "Write" or "Burn." 4. Will writing an ISO to USB format the USB drive? Yes, typically when writing an ISO image to a USB drive, it will first format the drive to clear any existing data. Therefore, make sure to back up any important files before starting. 5. How big does my USB drive need to be? The size depends on the ISO file. Generally, installing Windows 10 might require at least an 8GB USB drive, while Linux distributions may need 4GB or less. Ensure your USB drive has a capacity greater than the ISO file size. 6. Can I use the USB drive with the ISO on any computer? If the ISO is an operating system installer, it should generally work on any compatible computer. However, if it's specific software or applications, it may require certain system requirements to be met. 7. How do I boot my computer from the USB after writing the ISO? Most modern computers allow users to choose to boot from USB at startup. Typically, you'll need to change the boot order in the BIOS or UEFI settings, prioritizing the USB device. 8. What if I fail to write the ISO to the USB? If you encounter issues, check if the USB drive is damaged, ensure you're using the correct tool and steps, and try writing the ISO on another computer. Persistent problems may require contacting technical support for assistance. 9. Can I write multiple ISO files to the same USB? Yes, but each ISO would typically require its own boot process, meaning you'd have to select the correct ISO at startup. Some tools allow for creating a multi-boot USB that can contain and launch multiple ISO files. 10. Can the USB drive be used for regular file storage after writing the ISO? After writing the ISO, the USB drive is usually formatted with a specific file system that might not be suitable for general file storage. If you want to store other files on the same USB drive, consider using a partition tool to create additional partitions before writing the ISO.

Here, we also gather some additional questions related to ISO imaging to USB, which you can read further if interested and find the answers:

1. Can I use Rufus to write an ISO image to a USB drive?

    1. Download and open the Rufus tool. Insert the USB drive, then select the device. Choose "Disk or ISO image." Find and select the ISO image you want to burn. 2. Under the "Image" option, select "Standard Windows installation." Click "Start," leaving the other options at their default settings. 3. Wait for Rufus to display "Ready," then close Rufus and remove the USB drive.

2. Can I burn the ISO image to a USB stick?

Certainly! You can use the following method to directly burn a pre-downloaded ISO image onto a USB drive:

    1. Plug the USB into your computer.
    2. Format the USB to FAT32.
    3. Run an ISO imaging burning tool, like Partition Master.
    4. Burn the ISO image to the USB.

3. How do I burn an ISO image to a USB drive on Linux?

    Plug in the USB drive to your Linux computer. Run the UNetbootin application on your Linux computer. Select "Diskimage," then choose "ISO File" and click "Download." Click "Open," select the "USB Drive," and then click "OK."

4. How to Burn ISO to USB on Mac?

    Connect the USB drive to your Mac. Go to Applications and open the Terminal utility. In Terminal, enter the following command lines one by one, pressing Enter after each: ```shell diskutil list ``` ```shell diskutil unmount /dev/diskX ``` (Remplace `diskX` with the actual identifier for your USB drive, such as `/dev/disk2`. Make sure you identify the correct USB drive before executing this command.)
  1. sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\
  2. *.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
    3. Please note that the asterisk (*) in the command above represents the "name of the installer application," such as "Install macOS Big Sur.app." Replace the asterisk with the actual name of the application and run the command. This will create an installation media on the specified volume (/Volumes/MyVolume). Before executing this, make sure you have named your disk "MyVolume" and confirmed that the installer application is located in the /Applications directory.

(Replace * with the name of your macOS, such as Catalina or Mojave. For example, BigSur.app. Replace 'volume' 'my volume' with the name of your USB drive.)

    Press the 'Y' key, then press Enter. Click 'OK.'

Copyright © 2004 - 2024. All rights reserved.