To boot a Windows 10 PC from a USB drive, plug in the drive, restart the PC, and press the one-time boot menu key as it starts. That’s usually F12, F11, F9, F8, or Esc, depending on the brand. Then choose your USB drive from the list. If Windows is working, there’s an easier way: hold Shift while you click Restart, then choose Use a device and pick the USB drive.
This guide covers three ways to boot from USB, the keys for each major brand, and what to do if the USB drive doesn’t show up.
Before you start: Make sure the USB drive is bootable
Copying files onto a USB drive doesn’t make it bootable. To create a Windows installer, use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool or Rufus with an 8 GB or larger drive. See how to download Windows 10 onto a USB drive for the steps. For other tools, like a Linux live USB or a recovery disk, follow that tool’s instructions.
Method 1: Use the boot menu key
- Plug the USB drive into the PC. Use a port directly on the PC, not a hub.
- Restart or turn on the PC.
- As soon as the screen turns on, press the boot menu key repeatedly (see the table below).
- In the boot menu, use the arrow keys to select your USB drive and press Enter. If there are two entries for the drive, choose the one that starts with UEFI.
- If you see “Press any key to boot from USB,” press a key right away.
| Brand | Boot menu key | BIOS/UEFI setup key |
|---|---|---|
| Dell | F12 | F2 |
| HP | F9 (or Esc, then F9) | F10 |
| Lenovo | F12 or Fn + F12 (Novo button on some models) | F1 or F2 |
| Acer | F12 (may need enabling in BIOS) | F2 |
| ASUS | Esc (laptops), F8 (desktops) | F2 or Delete |
| MSI | F11 | Delete |
| Gigabyte | F12 | Delete |
| Microsoft Surface | Hold Volume Down while pressing Power | Hold Volume Up while pressing Power |
Method 2: Boot from USB from inside Windows 10
This works when Windows starts normally, and it avoids timing the key press.
- Plug in the USB drive.
- Click Start > Power, then hold Shift while you click Restart. You can also go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery and click Restart now under Advanced startup.
- On the blue Choose an option screen, click Use a device.
- Choose your USB drive. The PC restarts and boots from it.
If Use a device doesn’t appear, your PC doesn’t support it or it’s in Legacy BIOS mode. Use Method 1 or 3.
Method 3: Change the boot order in BIOS/UEFI
Use this if you’ll boot from USB often, or your PC doesn’t have a boot menu.
- Restart the PC and press the BIOS/UEFI setup key. From Windows, you can also go to Advanced startup > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart.
- Find the Boot tab or Boot Priority section.
- Move the USB drive (sometimes listed as USB HDD, Removable Devices, or by its brand name) to the top.
- Save and exit, usually with F10.
After you finish with the USB drive, move your main drive (often labeled Windows Boot Manager) back to the top, or simply unplug the USB drive.
USB drive not showing up? Try these fixes
- Recreate the drive. The most common cause is a USB drive that wasn’t made bootable. Use the Media Creation Tool or Rufus.
- Match the boot mode. Modern PCs use UEFI. A USB drive made for Legacy BIOS (MBR only) may not appear. In Rufus, choose GPT and UEFI (non CSM) for most PCs.
- Turn off Fast Boot. In BIOS, disable Fast Boot so the PC checks USB devices at startup. In Windows, you can also turn off Fast startup in Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do.
- Check Secure Boot. Windows installers work with Secure Boot on. Some Linux and tool drives need Secure Boot turned off in BIOS.
- Try another port. Use a USB port on the back of a desktop. On older PCs, a USB 2.0 port (black, not blue) sometimes works better.
- Enable USB boot. Some business laptops have a USB Boot or Boot from USB option in BIOS that must be turned on.
- Try a different USB drive. Some cheap or very old drives don’t boot reliably.
Frequently asked questions
Will booting from USB erase my PC?
No. Booting from USB just starts the PC from the drive. Nothing changes unless you choose to install Windows or erase a drive in the tool you’re running.
Can I boot from USB with a locked BIOS?
If the BIOS has a supervisor password, you’ll need it to change boot settings. On work computers, ask your IT department.
Is this the same on Windows 11?
Yes. The boot menu keys are the same. In Windows 11, Advanced startup is in Settings > System > Recovery.
What do I do after booting from the Windows USB?
Follow the Windows Setup prompts. For a full walkthrough, see how to install Windows on a PC.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.