Dark blue abstract background with soft, semi-transparent curved lines and gradients, creating a smooth and modern visual effect—perfect for illustrating a Windows 11 guide or complementing content about how to activate Windows 11 seamlessly.

How to Install Windows 10 or Windows 11 Using a USB Drive

This guide shows how to create a bootable USB drive using Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool and then install Windows from that USB. Follow the steps carefully.

 

Step 1: Download the Media Creation Tool

Download Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool on the PC you want to prepare the USB on. You will use it to create a bootable USB installer for Windows.

After downloading, make sure you can find the file (usually in your Downloads folder). 

Step 2: Open Downloads and run the Media Creation Tool

A Windows 11 desktop shows File Explorer open to the Downloads folder. MediaCreationToolW11 is highlighted, with numbered red circles marking the taskbar folder icon, Desktop in Quick access, and the file name.

Open File Explorer, go to Downloads, and double-click the MediaCreationTool file to start it.

 

Step 3: Allow the tool to make changes

A Windows User Account Control prompt asks, “Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?” with options “Yes” (highlighted) and “No.” The app is published by Microsoft Corporation.

If Windows shows a User Account Control pop-up, click Yes.

 

Step 4: Accept the license terms

A Windows 11 Setup screen displays applicable license terms. The “Accept” button is highlighted at the bottom right, with options for Microsoft, Support, Legal, and United States visible below the terms. The desktop background is blue.

Read the license terms (optional) and click Accept to continue.

 

Step 5: Select language and edition

A Windows 11 setup screen prompting the user to select language and edition. The “Next” button is highlighted in red at the bottom right. The screen background shows the Windows 11 default wallpaper and taskbar.

On the Select the language and edition screen:

  • For most users, keep the recommended options selected.
  • If you need a different language/edition, uncheck Use the recommended options for this PC and choose what you need.

Click Next.

 

Step 6: Choose USB flash drive

Windows 11 Setup screen with USB flash drive selected as the media option. Instructions note a minimum of 8 GB required. Next button is highlighted at the bottom right.

Select USB flash drive and click Next.

Important: The USB drive should be at least 8 GB.

 

Step 7: Select the USB drive

A Windows 11 setup screen displaying two removable drives, C: and E:, with E: selected. The Next button at the bottom right is highlighted, and the desktop background is visible behind the setup window.

Select your USB drive from the list and click Next.

Warning: All files on the USB drive will be deleted. Back up anything important first.

 

Step 8: Wait while Windows downloads

A Windows 11 Setup window shows “Downloading Windows 11” with a circular progress indicator at 14%. The background shows a partially visible Windows desktop and taskbar.

The tool will now download Windows and prepare the USB drive. This can take a while depending on your internet speed.

Keep the PC on and do not remove the USB drive.

 

Step 9: Finish — your USB drive is ready

A Windows 11 setup screen displays the message Your USB flash drive is ready. The Finish button is highlighted in red at the bottom right corner. The desktop taskbar is visible at the bottom.

When you see Your USB flash drive is ready, click Finish.

Your bootable USB installer is now created.

 

Step 10: Restart the PC and open the Boot Menu

Black MSI boot screen with PRO Series in large white text at the center. Instructions below indicate BIOS setup, boot menu, and M-Flash activation keys, with an MSI logo in the bottom right corner.

Insert the USB drive into the PC where you want to install Windows, then restart the PC.

During the first boot screen, press the key for the Boot Menu. This depends on the manufacturer.

  • Dell: F12
  • MSI: F11
  • HP: Esc or F9
  • Lenovo: F12 (sometimes Fn + F12)
  • Acer: F12
  • ASRock: F11
  • Gigabyte: F12

If you’re unsure, search your PC model + “boot menu key”.

 

Step 11: Select the USB boot device

A computer boot menu displays several boot device options, with UEFI: Generic Flash Disk 8.01, Partition 1 highlighted in orange. Other options include SSD, HDD, DVD, and setup entries.

In the Boot Menu, select the USB device (often shown as UEFI + your USB name) and press Enter.

 

Step 12: Press any key to boot from USB (if prompted)

Text on a black screen reads: Press any key to boot from CD or DVD. The background has a subtle, repeating key pattern in grey.

If you see the message Press any key to boot from CD or DVD, press any key on your keyboard.

 

Step 13: Choose language, time, and keyboard settings

Windows 10 setup screen showing options to select language, time and currency format, and keyboard method. The Next button at the bottom right is highlighted with a red circle and arrow.

Select your preferred language, time and currency format, and keyboard layout.

Click Next.

 

Step 14: Start the installation

A Windows Setup screen with the Windows logo, Windows text, and a highlighted Install now button in the center. Options to Repair your computer appear in the bottom left.

Click Install now.

 

Step 15: Enter your product key (or skip)

A Windows Setup screen prompting the user to activate Windows, with a product key entry field highlighted and the Next button indicated by numbered red circles. Links for Privacy Statement and I dont have a product key appear below.

You have two options here:

  • Option A (recommended): Enter your Windows product key and click Next.
  • Option B: Click I don’t have a product key and activate later after installation.

 

Step 16: Select the Windows edition to install

A Windows Setup screen shows a list of Windows 11 editions to install, including Home, Education, and Pro versions, with Windows 11 Pro N highlighted. Buttons labeled Next and numbered steps are visible.

Select the Windows edition you want to install (for example, Windows 11 Pro), then click Next.

 

Step 17: Accept the license terms

A Windows Setup screen displays software license terms. A checkbox for accepting terms is highlighted as step 1, and the Next button is highlighted as step 2. The text mentions Microsoft Software License Terms.

Check the box to accept the Microsoft software license terms, then click Next.

 

Step 18: Choose installation type (Custom)

A Windows Setup screen asks Which type of installation do you want? with two options: Upgrade and Custom: Install Windows only (advanced). The Custom option is highlighted with a red box.

Select Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).

 

Step 19: Delete existing partitions (clean installation)

A Windows Setup screen showing disk partitions with options to delete, format, or extend. Step 1 highlights selecting a partition; step 2 highlights clicking the Delete button below the partition list.

This is the clean installation step.

Select each partition on the main drive (usually Drive 0) and click Delete until you only see Unallocated Space.

Warning: Deleting partitions permanently removes data from that drive. Make sure you backed up everything important before doing this.

 

Step 20: Confirm the deletion warnings

A Windows Setup screen displays a warning pop-up about deleting a partition. The message states data might be lost if the partition is deleted. The user’s cursor hovers over the red OK button in the dialog box.

If Windows shows a warning pop-up during deletion, click OK to confirm.

 

Step 21: Start installation and wait for Windows to finish

A Windows Setup screen showing drive selection for installation. Drive 0 Unallocated Space with 60.0 GB is highlighted, and the Next button in the bottom right corner is outlined in red.

Once you see Unallocated Space, select it and click Next. Windows will begin installing.

 

A Windows Setup screen showing the installation process. Getting files ready for installation (0%) is highlighted, and Copying Windows files is checked. Other steps are not yet started.

Installation can take some time and your PC may restart several times. Keep the PC powered on and do not remove the USB drive unless Windows tells you to.

After installation finishes, you’ll go through the initial setup (region, keyboard, account, privacy settings). Once completed, your Windows installation is ready.

 

All done

Your Windows installation is complete. If you skipped entering a product key during setup, you can activate Windows after installation using your key.

If you need productivity software after installing Windows, you can also explore options like Microsoft Office, antivirus tools, and other utilities in our store.