Engadget Guide Explains How to Create a Bootable Windows 11 USB Drive

According to the guide, Microsoft's official tool simplifies downloading Windows 11 for installation on the current PC or another machine. Before starting, users need a USB flash drive with at least 8GB of storage. All data on the drive will be erased, so important files must be backed up. A stable internet connection is also required because the Windows download is several gigabytes. The device used for the process needs a compatible 64-bit (x64) processor; for an ARM-based device, the guide says users must download the official ARM64 ISO from Microsoft instead.

A valid Windows 11 license is optional for downloading the Media Creation Tool. The guide says users will be asked for a license during Windows 11 setup but can skip it, which results in only minor personalization limitations. The PC receiving Windows 11 must meet the operating system's minimum system requirements. The guide identifies TPM 2.0 as the biggest hurdle for older PCs. Other requirements include at least 4GB RAM, 64GB of storage and a graphics card compatible with DirectX 12 or later.

To start, users go to Microsoft's Download Windows 11 page, which presents three options. The first is for installing Windows 11 on the current machine, while the last downloads an ISO for advanced use. For creating installation media, users click Download Now under Create Windows 11 Installation Media. This downloads a small file called MediaCreationTool.exe. The guide says the file should be run as an administrator by right-clicking it and selecting Run as administrator. The tool will not work properly without admin rights. After it loads, users read the license terms and click Accept.

On the Select language and edition screen, the Use the recommended options box should already be checked and the correct language listed. Users can uncheck it and change the language if needed. On the next screen, they select USB flash drive. If the drive is not already connected, they plug it in, click Next and choose it from the list. The guide warns users to double-check that they have picked the correct drive because the tool will erase everything on it.

The tool then downloads Windows 11 and writes a bootable version to the USB drive. The time this takes depends on internet speed, PC performance and USB write speeds, and the guide says the process should be allowed to run without interruption. When it finishes, the tool confirms that the USB drive is ready. Users click Finish and can then connect the drive to the target PC. During startup, they press the key that opens the boot menu, which can be Esc, F12, Del or another key depending on the machine. They choose to boot from the USB drive and follow the Windows installation process.

The guide also lists fixes for common problems. If the tool does not recognize a USB drive, users can try a different USB port and make sure the drive is fully inserted. They can open File Explorer, go to This PC, right-click the USB drive and select Format, then format it using FAT32. They can also right-click the Start button, choose Disk Management and check whether the USB drive appears with an assigned drive letter. If it shows as unallocated, they can right-click the empty space, create a New Simple Volume and assign a letter. After these fixes, they should run the Media Creation Tool again. If it still does not work, the guide suggests trying another USB drive. For the tool not opening, the guide says it must be run as an administrator by right-clicking the downloaded .exe file and selecting Run as administrator. The guide also says it covers third-party alternatives if the official Microsoft tool is not the right fit.