How to Create a Windows 10 Installation USB Drive

What you need before you start

To install Windows 10 from a USB drive, you need three things: a USB drive with at least 8 gigabytes of storage space, a computer that already has Windows or another operating system running, and the Windows 10 installation file from Microsoft. The USB drive will be erased during this process, so move any files you want to keep to another location first.

You will also need about 30 minutes and a stable internet connection to read the Windows 10 file, which is roughly 5 gigabytes. If your internet is slow, this step may take longer. Once the USB drive is ready, you can use it to install Windows 10 on any computer that can boot from USB — which includes almost all computers made in the last 15 years.

Key Takeaways

You create a Windows 10 installation USB using the Media Creation Tool, which Microsoft provides for free on their website.
The process erases everything on the USB drive, so back up any files stored there before you begin.
After the USB is ready, you restart the computer where you want to install Windows 10 and tell it to boot from the USB drive instead of its normal hard drive.
The installation itself takes 20 to 40 minutes depending on your computer's speed, and you will need to restart multiple times during the process.
You will need a Windows 10 product key during installation, or you can choose to install without one and set up later.

read the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft

Go to microsoft.com/software-read/windows10 in your web browser. This is Microsoft's official page for Windows 10 downloads. You will see a button labeled "read tool now" — click it to read the Media Creation Tool, which is the program that builds your installation USB.

The read is about 20 megabytes and takes less than a minute on most connections. Once it finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the file named MediaCreationTool.exe. Windows will ask if you want to allow this program to make changes to your computer — click "Yes" to continue. The Media Creation Tool will open and show you a license agreement.

Run the Media Creation Tool and select USB drive

Read through the license terms and click "Accept" at the bottom. The tool will then ask what you want to do — select the option that says "Create installation media for another PC" and click "Next". This tells the tool you are building a USB for a different computer, not the one you are currently using.

On the next screen, the tool asks you to choose the language, edition, and architecture for Windows 10. The default settings — English, Windows 10, and 64-bit — work for most people. If you know your target computer uses 32-bit Windows, select that instead. Click "Next" to continue.

The tool will ask whether you want to use a USB flash drive or create an ISO file. Select "USB flash drive" and click "Next". Plug in your USB drive if you have not already — the tool will show you a list of USB drives connected to your computer. Select the one you want to use. The tool will warn you that everything on this drive will be deleted. Click "Next" to confirm.

Wait for the read and USB creation to finish

The Media Creation Tool will now read the Windows 10 installation files from Microsoft's servers and write them to your USB drive. This step takes 15 to 30 minutes depending on your internet speed and how fast your USB drive is. Do not unplug the USB drive or close the program during this time — if the process stops before it finishes, the USB drive will not work.

You will see a progress bar showing the read and the writing process. When both are complete, the tool will show a message saying "Your USB flash drive is ready." At this point, you can close the Media Creation Tool and unplug the USB drive. Your installation USB is now ready to use on any computer.

Boot from the USB drive on your target computer

Plug the USB drive into the computer where you want to install Windows 10. Restart that computer. As it starts up, watch the screen for a message that says something like "Press F12 to enter boot menu" or "Press DEL for setup" — the exact key varies by computer manufacturer. Press that key repeatedly as the computer boots. This opens a menu showing which devices the computer can start from.

Look for an entry that mentions your USB drive — it might say "USB Drive," "Removable Media," or show the brand name of your USB drive. Select it and press Enter. The computer will boot from the USB drive instead of its normal hard drive, and the Windows 10 installation will begin. This takes 30 seconds to a minute.

Complete the Windows 10 installation

Once Windows 10 starts from the USB, you will see a screen asking what language you want to use and where you are located. Select your language and region, then click "Next." The next screen shows a button labeled "Install now" — click it to begin the installation process.

Windows will ask for a product key — this is a 25-character code that came with your Windows 10 license. If you have one, type it in. If you do not have a key yet, click "I don't have a product key" and continue. You can add the key later after Windows is installed. The installation will then ask you to choose which drive to install Windows on — select your main hard drive and click "Next."

Windows will now copy files to your hard drive and install itself. This takes 20 to 40 minutes. Your computer will restart several times during this process — this is normal. Do not turn off the computer or unplug the USB drive. When the installation finishes, Windows will ask you to create a user account and set up your computer. Once you complete these steps, Windows 10 is installed and ready to use.

Troubleshooting if the computer does not boot from USB

If your computer starts normally instead of booting from the USB drive, the boot order may not have changed. Restart the computer and try pressing a different key — common boot menu keys are F2, F10, F11, or Escape, depending on whether your computer uses an Intel, AMD, or other processor. Some computers also have a BIOS or UEFI settings menu where you can permanently change the boot order, though this is usually not necessary.

If you still cannot get the computer to boot from USB, check that the USB drive is fully inserted into the port. Try a different USB port on the computer — some ports may not support booting. If the computer is very old, it may not support booting from USB at all, in which case you would need to use a DVD instead. You can also create a Windows 10 installation DVD using the same Media Creation Tool by selecting "ISO file" instead of "USB flash drive."

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same USB drive to install Windows 10 on multiple computers?

Yes. Once you create the installation USB, you can use it on as many computers as you want. Each computer will need its own Windows 10 product key to set up, but the USB drive itself can be reused. You do not need to recreate it unless you want to update it to a newer version of Windows 10.

What if I do not have a product key for Windows 10?

You can install Windows 10 without a product key and use it for free with some limitations — the desktop will show a watermark saying Windows is not activated, and you cannot customize some settings. You can add a product key later through Settings > Update & Security > set up, and Windows will set up when ready once you enter a valid key.

Do I need to remove the USB drive after Windows starts installing?

No, but you can. Once the installation begins and Windows starts copying files to the hard drive, the USB drive is no longer needed. You can unplug it to free up the USB port, or leave it plugged in — either way works. Just make sure the computer boots from the hard drive when it restarts, not from the USB drive again.

Can I install Windows 10 on a computer that already has Windows 7 or Windows 8?

Yes. When you boot from the USB and reach the installation screen, select your existing hard drive as the installation location. Windows will ask if you want to keep your files — you can choose to keep them or erase the drive and start fresh. Keeping your files is usually safer if you are upgrading from an older Windows version.

How long does the whole process take from start to finish?

Creating the USB drive takes 15 to 30 minutes depending on your internet speed. The actual installation on the target computer takes 20 to 40 minutes. The entire process from downloading the Media Creation Tool to having Windows 10 fully installed and ready to use usually takes about one to two hours.

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.