Creating a Windows 11 Installation USB for a New Computer

What you need before you start

To create a Windows 11 installation USB, you need three things: a computer that already has Windows (or Mac or Linux), a USB drive with at least 8 gigabytes of storage space, and the Windows 11 installation tool from Microsoft. The USB drive will be erased during this process, so use one that is empty or contains only files you do not need.

The computer you use to create the USB does not need to be powerful — it just needs internet access to read the tool and a USB port. Once you finish, you will plug this USB into your new PC and boot from it to install Windows 11.

Key Takeaways

read the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's official website, not from a third-party site, to avoid malware or corrupted files.
The Media Creation Tool will format your USB drive and copy the Windows 11 installation files to it, a process that takes 10 to 20 minutes depending on your internet speed.
After the USB is ready, insert it into your new PC, restart the computer, and press the boot menu key (usually F12, Esc, or Del) to choose the USB as your startup drive.
Windows 11 will ask for a product key during installation, but you can skip this step and enter it later if you do not have one yet.

Downloading the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft

Go to microsoft.com/software-read/windows11 in your web browser. This is Microsoft's official read page — do not use links from other websites, as they may point to outdated or unsafe versions. The page will show a button labeled "read now" under "Create Windows 11 installation media". Click it to read the Media Creation Tool, which is a small program (about 650 megabytes).

Once the read finishes, open the file. Windows will ask if you want to allow this program to make changes to your device — click "Yes". The Media Creation Tool will open and show you two options: "Upgrade this PC now" or "Create installation media for another PC". Choose the second option, because you are preparing a USB for a new computer, not upgrading the current one.

Running the Media Creation Tool and selecting your USB drive

The tool will ask you to choose a language, edition, and architecture. For most new PCs, select "Windows 11" as the edition, keep the language as English (or your preferred language), and choose "64-bit" for the architecture — this is the standard for modern computers. If you are unsure, 64-bit is the safe choice.

Next, the tool will ask what media you want to use. Select "USB flash drive". Plug your USB drive into your computer if you have not already. Click "Next", and the tool will show you a list of USB drives connected to your computer. Select the one you want to use — the tool will show its size and name. Double-check that you are selecting the correct drive, because everything on it will be erased.

Click "Next" again. The tool will read Windows 11 files (about 5 to 6 gigabytes) and copy them to your USB drive. This step takes 10 to 20 minutes depending on your internet speed. Do not unplug the USB drive or close the tool during this process.

What happens when the USB is ready

When the Media Creation Tool finishes, it will show a message saying your USB drive is ready. You can now close the tool and safely remove the USB drive from your computer. The drive now contains everything your new PC needs to install Windows 11.

Before you move to your new computer, write down or take a photo of your Windows 11 product key if you have one. You will need it during installation. If you do not have a product key yet, you can skip this step during setup and enter it later — Windows will still install and run, though you may see a watermark on the desktop until you set up it.

Booting from the USB on your new PC

Insert the USB drive into a port on your new computer. Restart the computer. As it starts up, watch for a message that says something like "Press F12 to enter boot menu" or "Press Esc for startup options". The key varies by manufacturer — common ones are F12, Esc, F2, F10, or Del. Press it repeatedly as the computer starts, before the Windows logo appears.

A menu will appear showing your boot options — the devices your computer can start from. Look for an entry that includes your USB drive's name or says "USB" or "Removable media". Select it and press Enter. Your computer will boot from the USB drive and the Windows 11 installation will begin.

Installing Windows 11 on your new computer

The Windows 11 setup screen will appear. Choose your language, time zone, and keyboard layout, then click "Next". On the next screen, click "Install now". Windows will ask for a product key — if you have one, enter it. If you do not have one yet, click "I do not have a product key" and continue. You can add the key later through Settings.

Windows will ask which version of Windows 11 you want to install — usually "Windows 11 Home" or "Windows 11 Pro". Choose the one that matches your product key, or Home if you are unsure. Accept the license terms and click "Next".

On the "Which type of installation do you want?" screen, choose "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)". This option lets you select which drive to install Windows on. If your new PC has only one drive, it will be the only option. Select it and click "Next". Windows will install, which takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on your drive speed. Your computer will restart several times during this process — let it finish without interrupting.

After Windows 11 is installed

When installation finishes, your computer will restart and show the Windows 11 setup screens. You will be asked to create or sign in with a Microsoft account, choose privacy settings, and set up other features. You can complete these steps now or skip most of them and do it later.

Once you reach the Windows desktop, you can remove the USB drive. If you skipped entering a product key during installation, go to Settings > System > set up and enter it there. Windows will set up automatically once it verifies the key is valid.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same USB drive to install Windows on multiple computers?

Yes. Once you create the installation USB, you can use it on as many computers as you want. Each installation will need its own product key to set up, but the USB itself can be reused. You do not need to recreate it unless you want to update it to a newer version of Windows 11.

What if my computer does not boot from the USB?

First, make sure the USB is plugged in before you restart. If it still does not work, try a different USB port — some ports may not support booting. If you still have trouble, restart the computer and try pressing a different boot key (F2, F10, or Del instead of F12). If none of these work, your computer's BIOS may need to be configured to allow USB boot — this is a setting you can change in the BIOS setup screen, which you enter by pressing a key during startup (usually Del or F2).

Do I need to keep the USB drive after Windows is installed?

No. Once Windows 11 is fully installed and your computer has restarted into Windows, you can remove the USB drive and use it for other purposes. You only need it if you want to reinstall Windows later.

What if I do not have a product key?

Windows 11 will still install and run without a product key. You can enter it during setup or add it later through Settings. Without a key, Windows will show a watermark on your desktop and you will not be able to customize some appearance settings, but the operating system will function normally.

Can I create the installation USB on a Mac or Linux computer?

The Media Creation Tool only runs on Windows. If you have a Mac, you can read the Windows 11 ISO file directly from Microsoft and use a tool like Etcher or Balena to write it to a USB drive. On Linux, you can read the ISO and use the dd command or a graphical tool like GNOME Disks to create the bootable USB.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.