How to Create a Bootable USB Drive for Windows 11 with Rufus

Creating a bootable USB drive for Windows 11 is essential for installing or repairing the operating system on your PC. Rufus is a free and powerful tool that makes this process straightforward. Follow this detailed stepbystep guide to create your Windows 11 bootable USB drive using Rufus.

*What You’ll Need:*
1. A USB flash drive with at least 8GB of storage.
2. A Windows 11 ISO file.
3. Rufus software.
4. A Windows PC.

*StepbyStep Guide:*

*Step 1: Download Windows 11 ISO File*

1. Go to the official [Microsoft Windows 11 download page](https://www.microsoft.com/softwaredo....
2. Scroll down to the "Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO)" section.
3. Select "Windows 11" from the dropdown menu and click "Download."
4. Choose your preferred language and click "Confirm."
5. Click the "64bit Download" button to start downloading the ISO file.

*Step 2: Download and Install Rufus*

1. Visit the official [Rufus website](https://rufus.ie/).
2. Download the latest version of Rufus.
3. Once the download is complete, open the Rufus executable to run the software. Rufus does not require installation as it is a portable application.

*Step 3: Prepare Your USB Flash Drive*

1. Insert your USB flash drive into a USB port on your PC.
2. Ensure that the USB flash drive is empty or that you have backed up any important data, as the process will erase all data on the drive.

*Step 4: Create the Bootable USB Drive*

1. Launch Rufus. The application should automatically detect your USB flash drive.
2. Under the "Device" section, ensure that your USB flash drive is selected.
3. Click on the "SELECT" button next to the "Boot selection" section and browse to locate your downloaded Windows 11 ISO file. Select the ISO file.
4. Rufus will automatically fill in the "Volume label" and other fields. You can leave these at their default settings, or customize them if you prefer.
5. Ensure that the "Partition scheme" is set to "GPT" and the "Target system" is set to "UEFI (non CSM)".
6. Check the "File system" field to ensure it is set to "NTFS".
7. Click "START" to begin the process. Rufus may ask if you want to download additional files to support the Windows 11 installation—allow it to do so.

*Step 5: Wait for the Process to Complete*

1. Rufus will start creating the bootable USB drive. This process may take several minutes, depending on the speed of your USB drive and your PC.
2. Once the process is complete, Rufus will show a "READY" status. You can now safely eject your USB drive.

*Step 6: Boot from the USB Drive*

1. Insert the bootable USB drive into the PC where you want to install or repair Windows 11.
2. Restart the PC and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings. This is typically done by pressing a key such as F2, F12, DEL, or ESC during startup. The key varies by manufacturer.
3. In the BIOS/UEFI settings, set the USB drive as the primary boot device.
4. Save the changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI settings. The PC will restart and boot from the USB drive.
5. Follow the onscreen instructions to install or repair Windows 11.

*Conclusion:*

Congratulations! You have successfully created a bootable USB drive for Windows 11 using Rufus. You can now use this USB drive to install or repair Windows 11 on any compatible PC.

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