Install Windows 10 from USB

Installing Windows 10 from USB is the fastest and easiest way to install Windows 10. Creating a Windows 10 USB via a Microsoft tool immediately helps you to install Windows 10 easily.

To install the Windows 10 operating system on a computer, you need a bootable USB stick, for example a USB stick.

Because most modern computers today no longer have a CD or DVD drive, installing an operating system using an optical drive is not possible.

However, all modern computers have at least one USB input, so you can easily install Windows 10 on your computer via this input and a USB stick.

If you have a USB stick, you don't need to purchase an expensive external CD/DVD drive. Moreover, you can use a USB flash drive to save your data if you need it.

To install a 32-bit Windows 10 operating system, you will need at least an 8 GB USB stick, while for Windows 10 64-bit you will need at least a 16 GB USB stick.

Now that you have a USB drive, you will need a computer to prepare your bootable USB drive. Once done, remove the USB drive from that computer and insert it into the computer where you want to install Windows 10.

The computer on which you want to install Windows 10 via USB has a processor need 1Ghz or faster. At least 1GB for Windows 10 32-bit and at least 2GB of internal memory for Windows 10 64-bit. About 20GB of free disk space and support for DirectX version 9.

Install Windows 10 from USB

Install Windows 10 on USB via Media Creation Tool

To get started, insert the USB stick into a computer that already has Windows installed. You will need this to create the Windows 10 installation media on USB.

Open the browser and go to: Download Windows 10 (microsoft.com). Then click on the link: Download utility now.

Open the file being downloaded. This is the media creation tool. This tool helps you write Windows 10 installation files to USB.

There are a few things being prepared once you open the media creation tool. Accept the condition.

Select the option: Create installation media (USB stick, DVD or ISO file) for another PC. Click next.

Select the language, version and architecture for the computer running Windows 10 will install. So take into account the computer on which Windows 10 will be installed and not the computer on which you are creating this Windows 10 USB installation media. Click next.

Click on “USB stick”. There must be at least 8GB free on the USB stick. Click next.

If you have not yet inserted the USB stick into the computer, do so now. Then click Refresh Station List. Select the USB stick found and click next.

Windows 10 is downloaded to your computer. After downloading Windows 10, the installation media will be verified and the media will be created for Windows 10.

The Windows 10 installation media via USB is created. This may take a while.

When the Windows 10 installation media has been created, click Finish.

Insert the bootable USB stick into the PC where you want to install Windows 10 and set the boot order on the USB stick so that the computer starts the Windows 10 installation process from it.

To do this, go to startup in the boot menu. While the computer is starting up, press the appropriate key to enter the BIOS or UEFI controls. Generally this should be the F11, F12, DEL, or ESC keys. If not, consult your computer or motherboard manual.

After getting to the boot menu, select the USB drive and save the settings. Now your PC will restart from the USB drive and ask you to press any key to start the installation of the Windows 10 installation process. Press a key, for example the space bar, to start the Windows installation from the external medium.

read more Restore Windows 11 to Windows 10.

Install Windows 10 on USB via RUFUS

To begin download Rufus to your computer. Then insert the USB stick into your computer.

Make sure the USB drive is visible in the “Device” section at the top. Then click on the arrow and change the option to “Download”, then click on the “Download” button.

You will now be asked which ISO file you want to download. Select it “Windows 10” ISO file and click Continue.

Then select the release you want to install. By default, the latest release is selected. Click Continue.

Then select the edition of Windows 10 that you want to install via USB. Click Continue.

You can now select a language for the Windows 10 installation. Dutch is selected by default, if you want to install a different language, select the desired language. Then click Continue.

Finally, you will be asked which architecture you want to download. You can choose from x64 or 32bit. Most computers today are x64 (64bit). Click Download to save the Windows 10 ISO file to your computer.

Select the desired location for the Windows 10 ISO file. We will need this file later to install Windows 10 on the USB stick.

The Windows 10 ISO file will now be downloaded. This may take a while.

Once the Windows 10 ISO file has finished downloading, click the “START” button at the bottom. All data has already been configured correctly. Accept that the current data on the USB stick will be lost and click OK.

The USB with Windows 10 is now being created. When it's done, you can use this USB stick to install Windows 10 on a computer.

Also read: Install Windows 11 from USB.

I hope this helped you. Thank you for reading!