How to Create a Windows 10 Live USB with 3 Free Methods?

You might want to create a Windows 10 live USB for various reasons. Such a drive enables you to make your operating system portable and run it on multiple computers. But what is a Windows 10 live USB, and how can you create a live Windows 10 USB? This article aims to provide answers to these questions and will delve into a detailed explanation of Windows 10 live USB, along with discussing 3 free methods to create one. Tools will be covered to assist you in the process.

3 Ways to Create a Live Windows 10 USB on Laptop/PC

If you wish to create a live Windows 10 USB for your laptop or PC, this section will delve into three dependable methods. Continue reading as we elaborate on the steps involved in each approach.

Method 1: Using a Professional Bootable USB Creator

The simplest and fastest method to create a Windows 10 live USB is by using a professional USB creation tool, such as Tool OS2Go. This tool enables you to make a portable Windows installation USB drive that can be used on any device. It allows you to run a fully functional Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7 setup from a USB flash drive or external hard drive.

OS2Go is a tool that enables you to create an emergency bootable disk and install Windows 10 from USB directly from BIOS. (How to install Windows 10 from USB from BIOS) You can bypass the "minimum requirements" restrictions and successfully install Windows 11. For instance, it allows you to install Windows 11 without Secure Boot and TPM. (How to install Windows 11 without Secure Boot and TPM) Additionally, the tool lets you run Mac applications on your Windows PC without any limitations.

The main features of OS2Go include the following:

Download a free version of OS2Go on your computer today for a professional Windows USB creator. The user steps are straightforward, making it easy to get started. Try it now.

Step 1. Install OS2Go on your Windows computer, which will display the used space on your system drive. Insert a USB drive with a capacity larger than the system drive's used space. Select the target USB drive and click Next to proceed.

Step 2. OS2Go will warn you that the next step will erase all data on your drive. Make sure you've backed up all important data. Click Continue to proceed.

Step 3. Adjust disk layout. The default disk layout on the target drive will be identical to the source drive. You can also edit the layout to suit your requirements. Check the option if you're using a Solid State Drive as the Windows boot drive. Then, click Proceed.

Step 4. OS2Go will then begin creating the portable USB drive. This process may take some time, depending on your operating system and network conditions. Once the progress reaches 100%, the USB drive should be bootable.

Step 5. Insert the portable Windows USB and start your computer. Press the necessary key (F2, DEL, F10, etc.) to access BIOS. Select to boot from the USB drive.

Note: Please ensure that the boot mode (either UEFI or Legacy) of the portable USB and your target computer are identical, or else you might not be able to boot.

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Method 2: Using the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool

First, you'll need to download the Media Creation Tool on a computer with an internet connection to proceed with this method. This tool allows you to create a live USB since it includes a Windows 10 live USB ISO download. To do this, follow the steps below:

Step 1. Go to the Microsoft Windows 10 download page and click the "Download now" button. This will download the "MediaCreationTool.exe" file to your computer. Install the tool on your PC and run it.

Step 2. Tap Create installation media (USB...) for another PC and press Next.

Step 3. Choose the Windows 10 edition, language, and architecture. Then, click Next.

Step 4. Select the USB flash drive and click Next. (Make sure the USB has a capacity of at least 8GB.)

Step 5. Select the USB drive connected to your computer and click Next.

Select the USB connected to your PC.

Step 6. The Windows Tool will download Windows 10 to your selected USB.

The tool will download Windows 10.

Step 7. Once the download is complete, the tool will create a bootable Windows 10 USB drive. When you see the message "Your USB flash drive is ready," click Finish to exit the tool.

Click "Finish" to exit the tool.

Method 3: Using Rufus

Rufus is a free and open-source utility for Microsoft Windows used to format and create bootable USB flash drives or Live USBs. To create a live USB using Rufus, you'll first need to visit the Windows 10 download page to obtain the Windows 10 ISO file. Once you have the ISO, you can follow these steps to proceed:

Step 1. Download, install, and open Rufus on your computer.

Step 2. Click "Select" and choose the Windows 10 ISO file you want to make bootable.

Select and choose the Windows 10 ISO file.

Step 3. Next, click the drop-down menus next to "Image option," "Partition scheme," and "Target system" to select your preferred choices.

Step 4. Click the 'Start' button to begin the Windows 10 live USB creation process. Wait patiently until it completes. Once finished, it will show "Ready" under the status bar. This is how to create a Windows 10 bootable USB from ISO using Rufus.

You can read the following article to understand the difference between Rufus and the Windows Media Creation Tool.

Bonus Tip: How to Run Windows 10 from a USB Drive

After creating a bootable live USB drive, the following steps will guide you through running Windows using it. Here's how to run the Windows 10 installation from a USB drive:

Step 1. Turn off and restart your PC. Then, press ESC, DEL, F2, or F10, depending on your computer model, to access the BIOS setup.

Step 2. In BIOS, click on the "Advanced" tab to access the "Boot menu."

Step 3. Choose your preferred "Boot mode" for your computer and select "USB drive" under "UEFI boot order." Save the changes and exit the BIOS.

Step 4. Restart your PC, insert the bootable live USB, and press F9 repeatedly to access the boot menu. From the list, select your bootable drive. This will initiate the Windows setup and installation process.

Step 5. Choose your language, then click "Next." On the following screen, select "Install Now." Follow the on-screen prompts to install a fresh version of Windows on your computer. Wait patiently for the process to complete.

Read the following article to learn detailed instructions on how to run/install Windows 10 from a USB drive.

How to Install Windows 10 on a New Hard Drive from USB

This article explains how to install Windows 10 on a new hard drive using a USB flash drive. Read more >>

What Is a Windows 10 Live USB and Why Do You Need One?

A Windows 10 live USB is a bootable flash drive that contains a copy of your entire operating system. It allows you to modify the operating system whenever you need and supports writable storage. With a Windows 10 live USB, you can perform data recovery, system administration, save settings, or install new software packages on your system.

A live USB is portable and lets you run your operating system anytime without carrying your computer around. It's also useful for conserving internal disk space since you can install larger programs on it.

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In Brief

This article has outlined 3 methods to create a Windows 10 live USB. These include using a professional USB creation tool, the Media Creation Tool, and Rufus. The most recommended approach is utilizing a professional USB creator like Tool OS2Go. This software enables you to easily create a portable Windows USB drive for your Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7 PC in a convenient manner.

OS2Go enables you to run your operating system through USB on any PC. Furthermore, it lets you bypass the Windows 11 installation system requirements, allowing you to use it on your computer without limitations. Are you ready to begin using a professional USB creator now? Make sure to download and install OS2Go on your PC.

Frequently Asked Questions: How to Create a Live USB for Windows 10

Here are some common questions about how to create a live USB Windows 10:

1. Is a live USB the same as a bootable USB?

There's a distinction between the two. A bootable USB merely enables you to boot and install Windows, erasing any preexisting files in the process. Conversely, a live USB permits you to boot and install Windows while also preserving the alterations made. This implies that the live USB is portable, enabling you to run your operating system across multiple computers.

2. How to create a bootable USB Windows 10 without an ISO file?

It's possible to create a bootable USB without an ISO file using Command Prompt on Windows 10. Simply launch Command Prompt as an administrator on your computer and then enter a series of commands to make the drive bootable.

3. How to create a bootable USB Windows 10 using Command Prompt?

Follow these steps to create a bootable USB Windows 10 using Command Prompt:

Step 1. Insert the USB drive into your computer and open Command Prompt with administrator privileges.

Step 2. Type diskpart and press Enter. Next, type list disk, then press Enter to display all connected disks.

Step 3. To choose your USB drive, type select disk followed by the drive number or letter, and then hit Enter.

Step 4. Next, enter the following commands sequentially, pressing Enter after each one:

1. clean
2. create partition primary
3. select partition 1
4. format fs=ntfs quick
5. active

Step 5. Type exit, then press Enter to quit Diskpart. Close the CMD window.

Step 6. Copy all the files from your operating system's installation disc and paste them onto the bootable USB drive.

4. How to create a Windows 10 bootable USB without using the Media Creation Tool?

If you don't wish to create a Windows 10 bootable USB with the Media Creation Tool, you can utilize a professional USB creation tool such as OS2Go or WinToUSB. These software options enable you to create a portable Windows installation USB drive that can be run on any computer. They allow you to use your system anywhere, along with your applications, preferences, and passwords. Make sure to download OS2Go and give it a try today.