Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool can turn a USB flash drive into Windows 11 installation media. The finished USB can be used to install or repair Windows on a compatible computer.
Create a Windows 11 USB
- Connect a blank USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of space. Copy off any files you need because the drive will be erased.
- Download the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft’s official Windows 11 download page.
- Run the tool and accept the license terms.
- Confirm the language and edition, then choose USB flash drive.
- Select the correct USB drive and let the tool create the installation media.
To install Windows, connect the finished USB to the destination computer and start from it using that PC’s boot menu or firmware settings.
Before installing
Confirm that the computer meets Windows 11 requirements, including supported hardware, TPM 2.0, and Secure Boot where required. Back up important files before a clean installation because changing or formatting partitions can erase data.
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.
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