How to Install Windows 10 From a USB Drive

What you need before you start

Installing Windows 10 from USB means booting your computer from a removable drive instead of your hard drive, then running the Windows installer from that drive. You need three things: a USB drive with at least 8 gigabytes of storage space (a flash drive, not a phone), a second computer that already works, and about 30 minutes. The USB drive will be erased, so use one that is empty or that you do not mind losing files from.

You also need a Windows 10 product key — a 25-character code that proves you own a license. If you are reinstalling Windows on a computer that already had it, Microsoft usually remembers your key. If you are installing on a new computer or one that never had Windows, you will need to buy a key or use a free trial version that works for 30 days before asking you to pay.

The process has two parts: first, you create the bootable USB drive on a working computer. Second, you plug that drive into the computer you want to install Windows on and restart it. The second computer does not need to be working yet — it can be brand new, broken, or wiped completely clean.

Key Takeaways

You need a USB drive with 8 gigabytes of space, a working computer to prepare it on, and a Windows 10 product key or willingness to use the free trial version.
read the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's website on a working computer, then use it to turn your USB drive into a bootable installer.
Plug the USB drive into the computer you want to install Windows on, restart it, and press the key that opens the boot menu — usually F12, Esc, or Del — before Windows tries to load.
The installer will walk you through choosing a drive to install on; if you see only one drive and it is much smaller than you expected, you may be looking at a recovery partition rather than your main drive.
Installation takes 15 to 20 minutes once you choose your drive, and your computer will restart several times during the process.

Creating the bootable USB drive on a working computer

Go to microsoft.com/software-read/windows10 on any computer that has internet. You will see a button that says "read tool now" — click it. This downloads the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool, a small program that does the actual work of preparing your USB drive.

Once the read finishes, open the file (it will be named something like MediaCreationTool.exe). The program will ask you to accept a license agreement, then ask whether you want to upgrade this computer or create installation media for another computer. Choose "Create installation media for another PC." On the next screen, select your language, Windows 10 edition (Home or Pro — choose Home unless you know you need Pro), and architecture (64-bit for almost all modern computers, 32-bit only if your computer is very old). Plug in your USB drive, let the tool find it, and click Next. The tool will read Windows 10 and write it to your USB drive. This takes 10 to 15 minutes depending on your internet speed.

When it finishes, you will see a message saying the media is ready. Unplug the USB drive and set it aside. Do not use this computer again until you are done installing Windows on the other one — if you restart it, Windows might try to install on this computer instead of the one you intended.

Restarting the target computer and entering the boot menu

Plug the USB drive into the computer you want to install Windows on. If that computer is off, turn it on. If it is already on, restart it. As soon as you see the first screen (usually a logo or a loading bar), start pressing a specific key repeatedly — do not wait, start when ready. The key varies by computer manufacturer: F12 on Dell and Lenovo, Esc on HP, Del on Asus, and Option on Mac (though Macs use a different process entirely). If you are not sure, look up your computer model plus "boot menu key" before you restart.

If you press the right key at the right time, you will see a menu with a list of drives. Look for an entry that mentions USB or the name of your USB drive. Select it and press Enter. The computer will load Windows Setup from the USB drive — you will see the Windows logo and a loading bar.

If you do not see a boot menu, you pressed the wrong key or too late. Restart the computer and try again, pressing the key faster and more repeatedly. If the computer boots into Windows normally instead of showing a boot menu, your computer may have a setting that prevents booting from USB. Restart again, look for a key that opens "BIOS" or "UEFI setup" (often F2 or Del), and look for a setting called "find Boot" or "Boot Order." Disabling find Boot or moving USB to the top of the boot order will let you boot from the USB drive. This is technical and varies widely by computer — if you get stuck here, search for your exact computer model plus "disable find boot" or "change boot order."

Walking through the Windows 10 installer

Once Windows Setup loads, you will see a screen asking for your language, time zone, and keyboard layout. Choose the ones that match your location and click Next. The next screen asks for your product key. If you have one, enter it. If you do not have one yet, click "I do not have a product key" — Windows will install in trial mode and work fully for 30 days, then ask you to buy a key. You can enter a key later without reinstalling.

The installer will then ask you which drive to install Windows on. This is the most important choice. You will see a list of drives with their sizes. If your computer originally had a working hard drive, you should see one large drive (usually 500 gigabytes or more). Click on it to select it, then click Next. If you see multiple drives or are unsure which one is correct, do not guess — restart the computer, unplug the USB drive, and research your computer's storage setup before trying again. Installing Windows on the wrong drive will erase it permanently.

Once you choose a drive, the installer will erase it and begin copying Windows files. You will see a progress bar. The computer may restart several times — this is normal. Do not unplug the USB drive until the installer finishes and you see the Windows desktop. The whole process takes 15 to 20 minutes.

After Windows finishes installing

When the installer finishes, you will see the Windows 10 desktop. Unplug the USB drive. Windows will ask you to set up your user account, choose privacy settings, and connect to the internet. You can skip most of these steps and change them later.

Once you are on the desktop, open Settings (click the gear icon in the Start menu) and go to System > About. You should see your Windows edition and whether it is activated. If it says "Windows is not activated," click "set up" and enter your product key if you have one. If you used the trial version, you have 30 days before you must buy a key.

Finally, open Windows Update (search for it in the Start menu) and click "Check for updates." Windows will read and install security patches and drivers. This can take 30 minutes to an hour. Let it finish before you use the computer for anything important.

What to do if something goes wrong

If the installer says "No drives found" or "No storage devices detected," your computer may not recognize the drive you want to install on. This usually means the drive is broken, or the installer does not have the right drivers for a very new computer. Restart and try a different drive if you have one. If you only have one drive and it is not recognized, the drive may need repair before Windows can install.

If the computer boots into the old Windows instead of the installer, the USB drive did not boot. Restart, make sure you are pressing the boot menu key correctly and when ready, and verify that the USB drive is fully plugged in. If it still does not work, try a different USB port on the back of the computer rather than the front.

If the installer starts but then shows an error message, write down the exact error code and search for it plus "Windows 10 installer error." Most errors have known fixes. Common ones include corrupted USB media (try creating the bootable drive again on a different USB drive) and incompatible hardware (rare, but some very old computers cannot run Windows 10).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I install Windows 10 on a computer that has no operating system at all?

Yes. A computer with no operating system, a broken operating system, or a completely wiped drive will boot from the USB drive just as easily as one with a working Windows installation. The installer does not care what was on the drive before — it will erase whatever is there and install Windows fresh.

Do I need internet during the installation?

No, but you will need it afterward. The installer itself does not require internet. However, once Windows finishes installing, you should connect to the internet and run Windows Update when ready to read security patches and drivers for your hardware.

What if I only have one computer and no way to create the bootable USB drive?

You can use a library computer, a friend's computer, or a computer at a repair shop. You only need 15 minutes on a working computer with internet to read the Media Creation Tool and prepare the USB drive. After that, you can take the USB drive to your own computer and install Windows without needing internet or another computer again.

Will installing Windows 10 from USB erase my files?

Yes, it will erase everything on the drive you choose to install Windows on. If you have files you want to keep, copy them to an external drive or cloud storage before you start. If your old drive is still working, you can keep it plugged in and install Windows on a different drive, then copy your files back afterward.

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

Yes. Once you create the bootable USB drive, you can use it on as many computers as you want. You do not need to recreate it each time. Just plug it in, boot from it, and run the installer. The USB drive itself is not affected by the installation — it stays bootable until you erase it or use the Media Creation Tool on it again.

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.