To download Windows 11 onto a USB drive, plug in a blank USB flash drive of at least 8 GB, go to Microsoft’s Download Windows 11 page, and click Download Now under Create Windows 11 Installation Media. Run the Media Creation Tool, accept the license terms, choose your language and edition, select USB flash drive, pick your drive, and click Next. The tool downloads Windows 11 and makes the drive bootable, which usually takes 20 to 60 minutes depending on your connection.
This guide covers the Media Creation Tool step by step, an alternative using the ISO file and a tool like Rufus, how to boot from the USB, and fixes for common errors. Everything on the USB drive will be erased, so back up its files first.
What you need
- A USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of space (16 GB or larger gives more room). Everything on it will be deleted.
- A Windows PC with an internet connection to create the drive.
- A Windows 11 license or product key for the PC you’ll install it on. PCs upgraded from a licensed Windows 10 usually activate automatically.
- A target PC that meets Windows 11’s requirements, including TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. Check with the PC Health Check app.
Method 1: Use the Media Creation Tool
- Open Microsoft’s official Download Windows 11 page (search for “Download Windows 11 Microsoft” and make sure the address is on microsoft.com).
- Under Create Windows 11 Installation Media, click Download Now.
- Run the downloaded MediaCreationTool file and click Yes when User Account Control asks.
- Click Accept on the license terms.
- Leave Use the recommended options for this PC checked, or uncheck it to choose a different language or edition. Click Next.
- Select USB flash drive and click Next.
- Pick your USB drive from the list (click Refresh drive list if it’s missing) and click Next.
- Wait while the tool downloads Windows 11 and creates the media. Click Finish when it says Your USB flash drive is ready.
Method 2: Download the ISO and use Rufus
This is useful on a Mac or Linux PC with a Windows VM, if the Media Creation Tool fails, or if you want more control.
- On Microsoft’s Download Windows 11 page, under Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO), choose Windows 11 (multi-edition ISO), click Download, pick your language, and download the 64-bit ISO.
- Download Rufus from its official website (rufus.ie) and run it.
- Select your USB drive under Device, click Select, and choose the ISO.
- Leave Partition scheme as GPT and Target system as UEFI for modern PCs.
- Click Start. Rufus may offer options such as skipping the online account requirement; choose only the ones you need.
- Click OK to confirm the drive will be erased, and wait for READY.
On Windows, you can also double-click the ISO to mount it and run setup.exe to upgrade the current PC without a USB drive.
How to boot from the USB drive
- Plug the USB drive into the PC where you want to install Windows 11.
- Restart and press the boot menu key as the PC starts. Common keys are F12, F11, F10, F9, F8, or Esc, depending on the manufacturer.
- Choose the USB drive (it may be listed as UEFI: USB or by its brand name).
- Follow Windows Setup. Choose Custom: Install Windows only for a clean install, or run setup from within Windows to upgrade and keep files.
From Windows, you can also go to Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now, then Use a device and pick the USB drive.
Troubleshooting
- “We’re not sure what happened, but we’re unable to run this tool” (0x80042405 and similar) – run the tool from a folder on your C: drive, not the USB drive, and try a different USB port or drive.
- USB drive not listed – make sure it’s at least 8 GB, formatted, and not a USB hard drive the tool doesn’t recognize. Click Refresh drive list.
- Download is slow or fails – use a wired connection, pause VPNs, and try again later.
- PC won’t boot from USB – check the boot order in BIOS/UEFI, make sure the PC is set to UEFI mode, and try a USB 2.0 port.
- “This PC can’t run Windows 11” – enable TPM (often called PTT on Intel or fTPM on AMD) and Secure Boot in firmware settings.
Frequently asked questions
Is downloading Windows 11 free?
Downloading the installation media is free. You need a valid license to activate Windows after installing.
Can I use the USB drive for other files afterward?
Yes, but keep the Windows files in place if you want to use it for installs. You can reformat it when you no longer need it.
Can I create a Windows 11 USB on a Mac?
The Media Creation Tool only runs on Windows. On a Mac, download the ISO and use a Windows PC or virtual machine with Rufus, since simply copying the ISO files can fail on files larger than 4 GB.
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.