Booting from a USB drive lets you start your PC from something other than its internal drive, which you need to install or reinstall Windows, run a recovery or antivirus tool, or try Linux. Windows 11 gives you an easy way to do this from inside Windows, and every PC also has a boot menu key you can press at startup. This guide covers both, how to change the boot order permanently, and what to do when the PC ignores the USB drive.
Why Boot from a USB Drive?
- Install or reinstall Windows 11 on a new drive or a PC that won’t start.
- Repair Windows with Startup Repair, System Restore, or Command Prompt from the installer’s Repair your computer option.
- Scan for malware with a bootable antivirus tool, which can find threats that hide while Windows is running.
- Try Linux from a live USB without changing anything on your drive.
- Recover files from a PC whose operating system is damaged.
Before You Start: Make the USB Drive Bootable
Copying files onto a flash drive doesn’t make it bootable. Use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool for a Windows 11 installer, or a tool like Rufus for Linux and other ISO files. See how to make a bootable USB for Windows 11 for the full steps and how big a USB drive you need for Windows 11. Use a drive of at least 8 GB, and remember that creating the bootable drive erases everything on it.
Check Whether Your PC Uses UEFI
Press Windows + R, type msinfo32, and press Enter. Look at BIOS Mode in System Summary. It should say UEFI on a Windows 11 PC. That matters because a USB drive created for legacy BIOS (with the MBR partition scheme) may not appear in the boot menu of a UEFI-only PC. While you’re there, Secure Boot State shows whether Secure Boot is on.
Method 1: Boot from USB Using Windows 11 Settings
This is the easiest way, because you don’t need to know any special keys. It works on PCs with UEFI firmware, which includes all Windows 11 PCs.
- Plug in the bootable USB drive.
- Open Settings > System > Recovery.
- Next to Advanced startup, click Restart now, then confirm.
- On the blue Choose an option screen, select Use a device.
- Choose your USB drive from the list. It may appear as the drive’s brand name or as “EFI USB Device.”
The PC restarts and boots from the USB drive. If you don’t see Use a device, use Method 3 instead.
Method 2: Use Shift + Restart
This is a shortcut to the same Advanced startup screen. Click Start, select the power button, hold Shift, and click Restart. Keep holding Shift until the blue screen appears, then choose Use a device and select the USB drive. This also works from the power button on the sign-in screen, which helps if you can’t sign in.
You can also open Advanced startup from Command Prompt or Terminal with shutdown /r /o /t 0.
Method 3: Use the Boot Menu Key
Every PC has a key that opens a one-time boot menu during startup. Plug in the USB drive, restart the PC, and press the key repeatedly as soon as the screen goes dark. Then pick the USB drive with the arrow keys and press Enter. Common keys include:
- Dell: F12
- HP: Esc, then F9 for Boot Device Options
- Lenovo: F12, or the small Novo button on some IdeaPads
- ASUS: Esc (F8 on many desktop motherboards)
- Acer: F12 (you may need to turn on F12 Boot Menu in the BIOS first)
- MSI: F11
- Microsoft Surface: Shut down, then press and hold Volume Down while you press and release the power button. Let go when the Surface logo appears.
If the key doesn’t work, Windows may be starting too fast. Use Restart rather than Shut down and power on, since Restart always does a full boot.
Method 4: Change the Boot Order in UEFI/BIOS
If you want the PC to always check for a USB drive first, change the boot order in the firmware settings.
- Open Settings > System > Recovery and click Restart now next to Advanced startup.
- Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings, then click Restart. You can also press F2 or Del during startup on most PCs.
- Find the Boot tab or Boot Priority section.
- Move the USB drive (or “USB HDD,” “Removable Devices”) to the top of the list.
- Save and exit, usually with F10.
According to Microsoft’s startup settings guide, the Advanced startup menu is also where you’ll find Startup Settings and other recovery tools if you need them later.
What to Do After It Boots
If you’re installing Windows, follow the setup prompts, and see our guides to a clean install of Windows 11 or installing Windows 11 on a new PC. When you’re done, remove the USB drive so the PC starts from its internal drive again, or move the internal drive back to the top of the boot order.
Tips for Booting from USB on Windows 11
- Try a USB port directly on the PC, not a hub or front-panel port.
- Use a USB 3.0 drive for faster installs, but try a USB 2.0 port if the drive isn’t detected.
- Save your BitLocker recovery key before changing firmware settings.
- Back up important files before installing or repairing anything.
Troubleshooting
The USB Drive Isn’t in the Boot Menu
The drive may not be bootable, or it may be set up for legacy BIOS instead of UEFI. Recreate it with the Media Creation Tool, or with Rufus set to the GPT partition scheme. Also try another port, and turn off Fast Boot in the firmware settings, which can skip USB detection.
“Secure Boot Violation” or the USB Won’t Start
Windows 11 installers and major Linux distributions work with Secure Boot. If you’re using another tool, check its documentation. You can temporarily turn off Secure Boot in the firmware settings, but turn it back on afterward.
The PC Keeps Starting Windows
The boot menu key may have been pressed too late, or Fast Startup skipped the menu. Use Method 1 or 2, which don’t depend on timing.
Windows Asks for a BitLocker Recovery Key
Changing the boot order or firmware settings can trigger BitLocker. Enter the recovery key from your Microsoft account’s recovery key page, then undo any changes you don’t need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I boot from any USB drive?
Only one that has been made bootable with an operating system or tool, such as the Windows 11 installer or a Linux ISO written with Rufus.
What if my computer doesn’t recognize the USB?
Try another port, recreate the drive with GPT for UEFI, and turn off Fast Boot in the firmware. If the drive doesn’t show up in File Explorer either, it may be faulty.
How can I access the BIOS?
From Windows, go to Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings. At startup, the key is usually F2, F10, or Del.
How big does the USB drive need to be for Windows 11?
At least 8 GB. A 16 GB or larger drive gives you more room if the installer grows with updates.
Why won’t my computer save boot order changes?
Make sure you choose Save and Exit (usually F10). If settings reset every time, the CMOS battery on the motherboard may be dead, or a firmware update may have restored the defaults.
Related: how to change the boot Drive in Windows 11.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.