How to Boot Windows 10 from a USB Flash Drive

Updated by

Sherly 

Written by

Cici 

Updated on April 22, 2024

Are you searching for a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to boot Windows 10 from USB and install it using a USB drive? You've landed in the right spot! Our tools can cater to all scenarios where you wish to boot from USB:

Here are the translations for the given text:
• Case 1. The current PC is an old system, such as Windows 7, and you want to install and run your latest Windows version using a USB drive.
• Case 2. When your Windows system fails or encounters a severe system error, booting from a USB will enable you to reinstall the system or perform troubleshooting.

This article will provide detailed solutions no matter why you want to boot Windows 10 from USB.

Stage 1. Preparations Before Booting Windows 10 from USB Before booting up Windows 10 from a USB drive, there are a few things you should do: 1. **Download the Windows 10 ISO**: Head over to the [Microsoft Software Download website](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10) and download the Windows 10 ISO file. Make sure you grab the correct version for your system (Home, Pro, or Education). 2. **Make a Bootable USB Drive**: You'll need a USB flash drive with at least 8GB of free space. Use Microsoft's own Media Creation Tool or a third-party app like [Rufus](https://rufus.ie/) to create a bootable Windows 10 USB drive. 3. **Backup Your Stuff**: Back up all your important files and data since the installation might wipe your main hard drive clean. 4. **Check System Requirements**: Confirm your computer meets the minimum specs for Windows 10: - Processor: 1 GHz or faster - RAM: 1 GB (for 32-bit) or 2 GB (for 64-bit) - Free disk space: 16 GB (for 32-bit) or 20 GB (for 64-bit) - Graphics: Microsoft DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver - Display: 1024 x 768 screen resolution 5. **Change Boot Order**: Restart your PC and hit the appropriate key (often F2, F10, F12, or Del) during startup to enter your BIOS or UEFI settings. Set the boot order to prioritize booting from USB. 6. **Disable Secure Boot**: If your rig has Secure Boot on, you might need to turn it off temporarily to boot from the USB. Look for this setting in the Security or Boot options in BIOS/UEFI. 7. **Turn Off Fast Startup**: In Windows, go to Settings > System > Power & sleep > Additional power settings > Change settings that are currently unavailable > Turn off Fast Startup. This ensures a clean shutdown, which is crucial for booting from USB. Once you've got all that squared away, you're ready to boot your PC from the USB drive and install Windows 10.

When you wish to boot Windows 10 from a USB drive, you'll need to have the appropriate tools and devices ready:

1. Get a USB drive with at least 16GB of free space to create a bootable USB. Format it in FAT32:

There are specific format requirements for creating a bootable USB. For a quick and safe method, use tools Partition Master Professional - a reliable and professional formatting tool to format USB larger than 32GB to FAT32 (Windows built-in tools do not support this operation.)

Step 1. After downloading and launching Partition Master, right-click on the target partition on the USB drive and select "Format."

Step 2. Choose Partition Label, FAT32 File System, and Cluster Size, then click OK.

Step 3. Acknowledge the warning window and click "Execute 1 Task" to apply the formatting requirement.

2. Download the Windows 10 ISO File: When creating a bootable USB, you need to copy the Windows ISO file onto the USB drive.

Step 1. Open: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 This is already in English. The text provided is a web address leading to the Microsoft website where you can download Windows 10. If you need the translation for a different language, please specify which language.

Step 2. Click Download Now to download the ISO file.

Step 2. Create a Bootable USB

You have two options for creating a bootable USB:

1. Use the tool Partition Master to create bootable installation media:

tools Partition Master is one of the best ISO burners that offers the Burn ISO feature, enabling users to create a bootable Windows USB. It streamlines the process of utilizing built-in tools. With this feature, you can boot from the USB to address system crashes or boot issues.

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, go to the Bootable Media section, and select Burn ISO.

Step 2. Select the downloaded ISO file and open it. Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed.

Moreover, the Partition Master tool also offers other features. If you're interested, you can click the following button to explore them:

2. Use the Windows Media Creation Tool

Microsoft offers the Windows Media Creation Tool, which enables users to upgrade their Windows and create bootable USB drives. This method is somewhat more intricate. If you're an experienced PC user, please click on the link for further details: Windows 10/11 Media Creation Tool

Once you've successfully created the Windows Bootable USB, proceed with the tutorial. And don't forget to share it with others if you find it helpful.

How to Boot Windows 10 from USB - 2 Methods

This section will provide a detailed method to boot from USB with or without BIOS. Here's how to do it:

Method 1: Boot from USB without using BIOS

If you can log in to Windows normally, you can follow this guide to boot your computer from within Windows:

Step 1. Connect the USB to your Windows computer. Then open Windows Settings > System > Recovery.

Step 2. Click Restart next to Advanced Startup to reinstall Windows 10 or troubleshoot.

Important: If you created the installation USB, run the installer by selecting setup.exe in File Explorer, and then follow the wizard to install Windows 10.

Method 2: Boot from USB via BIOS

If your computer fails to boot, you'll need to modify the boot options in BIOS/UEFI to start Windows 10 from a USB drive:

Step 1. Connect the installation USB or recovery USB to the computer and press and hold the F1/F2/F10/Del keys to enter BIOS.

The boot menu keys may differ depending on the manufacturer and model of the motherboard. Refer to the motherboard manual or search online using the computer's model number to identify the correct boot key.

Step 2. Locate the boot options and set the target disk as the first boot entry.

Boot from USB in BIOS

Step 3. Boot Windows 10 from the USB after completing the above steps. If you use the USB installation created by tools Partition Master, you will be taken to a fresh installation process.

For other methods to install Windows without a product key, please refer to the following article:

How to Install Windows 10 Without Product Key

You can install Windows 10 without a product key by downloading the Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft. This page provides a comprehensive guide on how to do it.

Conclusion

If you need to reinstall your system or fix boot-up errors, it's recommended to use tools like Partition Master to create a bootable disk or installation disk. Before beginning, ensure you have a suitable USB drive and format it as FAT32. Afterwards, follow the solutions outlined in this article to configure Windows 10 to boot from the USB drive.

If you want to enjoy the same Windows 10 configuration on multiple computers, create a bootable USB via Windows Media Creation Tool and follow the guide in this article to boot from USB.

Frequently Asked Questions About Booting Windows 10 from USB

Please read on if you have more questions about how to boot Windows 10 from USB.

1. How do you boot from USB Windows 10 without BIOS? If your computer doesn't have a BIOS option or if you want to boot from USB without entering BIOS, you can try the following methods: Method 1: Using UEFI Firmware Settings 1. Insert the USB drive containing the Windows 10 installation media. 2. Restart your computer and press the specific key (usually F2, F10, F12, or Del) repeatedly during startup to enter the UEFI firmware settings. The key may vary depending on your computer manufacturer. 3. In the UEFI settings, look for the "Boot" or "Startup" tab. 4. Within the Boot options, find the USB drive and move it to the top of the boot order list. 5. Save the changes and exit the UEFI settings. Your computer should now boot from the USB drive. Method 2: Windows 10 Bootable USB Auto-Boot (if supported) Some newer computers have an auto-boot feature that allows you to directly boot from a USB device without entering BIOS or UEFI settings. 1. Ensure your USB drive is inserted with the Windows 10 installation media. 2. Restart your computer. It should automatically detect the USB drive and boot from it. Remember that these methods might not work on all systems, especially older ones that strictly rely on BIOS. If none of these methods work, consult your computer's user manual or manufacturer support for specific instructions.

If you don't have BIOS, log in to Windows directly and change the boot drive using Windows Settings.

Step 1. Connect the USB to your Windows computer and open Settings.

Step 2. Go to System > Recovery > Advanced Startup.

Step 3. Click the Restart Now button on the right side.

2. How do I repair Windows 10 from USB? To repair Windows 10 using a USB drive, follow these steps: 1. **Create a Windows 10 Installation Media:** - Visit the official Microsoft website and download the [Windows Media Creation Tool](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10). - Run the tool, select "Create installation media for another PC," and follow the on-screen instructions to create a USB bootable Windows 10 setup. 2. **Boot from the USB Drive:** - Insert the USB drive into your computer and restart it. - Access your computer's BIOS or UEFI settings by pressing the relevant key (usually F2, F10, F12, or Del) during the initial startup screen. - Set your computer to boot from the USB drive and save the changes. 3. **Start the Repair Process:** - Your computer should now boot from the USB drive and display the Windows Setup screen. Select your language, time zone, and other preferences, then click "Next." - Click on "Repair your computer" located at the bottom-left corner of the screen. - Choose "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options" > "Startup Repair" to attempt an automatic repair. 4. **System Restore or Command Prompt:** - If Startup Repair doesn't fix the issue, you can try other options like System Restore, Reset this PC, or use the Command Prompt for manual repairs. - For System Restore, go to "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options" > "System Restore." - For Command Prompt, choose "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options" > "Command Prompt." 5. **Follow On-Screen Instructions:** - Complete the selected process by following the on-screen prompts. Be aware that some options may result in data loss, so ensure you have backups before proceeding. If the problem persists, you might need to perform a clean installation of Windows 10, which will erase all your personal files and settings. Make sure to back up important data before attempting a clean install.

Follow these steps to repair Windows 10 from USB:

Step 1. Create a bootable USB.

Step 2. Boot Windows from the bootable USB.

Step 3. Choose the right tool to repair Windows 10.

For a more detailed walkthrough, please read: Repair Windows 10 From USB

3. How do I install Windows 10 from USB in BIOS?

To install Windows 10 from a USB drive, please follow the steps outlined below:

Create a bootable installation USB using the Partition Master tool. Change the BIOS order on your PC to prioritize the USB drive. Restart the PC and boot from the bootable USB. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the Windows 10 operating system.