Create a bootable USB flash drive for Windows 11

Applies to: All Windows 11 editions.

Create Bootable USB using Rufus

Things you’ll need for clean install: 

• Windows 11 ISO file which you can download free of cost from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11. 
• A working USB drive with minimum 8GB of capacity.
• A bootable USB creator tool. You can use any third-party bootable USB creating software available in the market. For this guide, we will use Rufus. The reason we are selecting Rufus because it properly configures GPT schemes which is essential for secure boot based installed. For details on creating bootable USB using Rufus and how to get this tool, you can refer this guide. However, you’re free to use bootable USB creating software of your choice. Use of third-party software is completely at your own risk. We recommend to create a System Restore point before using such tools.
• A working system where you can create your bootable USB drive.

Creating bootable USB drive:

1. Download and launch Rufus on your working system and locate the USB drive you want to make bootable.

2. Make following selections:

• Device: Select the USB drive which you want to make bootable.
• Boot selection: Locate Windows 11 ISO file.

• Image option: Select Standard Windows installation.
• Partition scheme: Make sure you select GPT here.
• Target system: Select UEFI (non CSM).
• Volume label: Enter the name for bootable USB or you can leave it with default name.
• File system: Select NTFS.
• Cluster size: Let Default value selected.

3. Click on START button to create the bootable USB drive. You’ll be notified when this process is completed by the tool and your bootable USB drive is ready. For details on above steps, refer this guide.

Your Windows 11 bootable USB drive is now ready. Proceed with steps to make clean install of Windows 11.