--- title: "Create a bootable USB stick with Rufus on Windows\n | Ubuntu" description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things. url: https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md keywords: index, follow --- # Create a bootable USB stick with Rufus on Windows 1. [Overview](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#1-overview) 2. [Requirements](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#2-requirements) 3. [USB selection](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#3-usb-selection) 4. [Select the Ubuntu ISO file](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#4-select-the-ubuntu-iso-file) 5. [Write the ISO](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#5-write-the-iso) 6. [Additional downloads](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#6-additional-downloads) 7. [Write warnings](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#7-write-warnings) 8. [Writing the ISO](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#8-writing-the-iso) 9. [Installation complete](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#9-installation-complete) ## 1. Overview **New version available** This tutorial has been rewritten and replaced by the [Create a bootable USB stick](https://documentation.ubuntu.com/desktop/en/latest/how-to/create-a-bootable-usb-stick/) guide. With a bootable Ubuntu USB stick, you can: * Install or upgrade Ubuntu * Test out the Ubuntu desktop experience without touching your PC configuration * Boot into Ubuntu on a borrowed machine or from an internet cafe * Use tools installed by default on the USB stick to repair or fix a broken configuration This tutorial will show you how to create a bootable USB stick on Microsoft Windows using [Rufus](https://rufus.ie/). For most users we recommend [balenaEtcher](https://www.balena.io/etcher/) instead of Rufus which is simpler to use and also available on MacOS and Ubuntu. Instructions are now included in the primary [Install Ubuntu Desktop](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/install-ubuntu-desktop#1-overview) tutorial. Creating a bootable Ubuntu USB stick from Microsoft Windows is very simple and we’re going to cover the process in the next few steps. Alternatively, we also have tutorials to help you create a bootable USB stick from both [Ubuntu](https://tutorials.ubuntu.com/tutorial/tutorial-create-a-usb-stick-on-ubuntu) and [Apple macOS](https://tutorials.ubuntu.com/tutorial/tutorial-create-a-usb-stick-on-macos). --- [Suggest changes ›](https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/create-a-bootable-usb-stick-with-rufus-on-windows/14020) about 14 minutes to go *Previous step* [*Next step*](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#2-requirements) ## 2. Requirements You will need: * A 4GB or larger USB stick/flash drive * Microsoft Windows XP or later * [Rufus](https://rufus.ie/), a free and open source USB stick writing tool * An Ubuntu ISO file. See [Get Ubuntu](https://www.ubuntu.com/download) for download links Take note of where your browser saves downloads: this is normally a directory called ‘Downloads’ on your Windows PC. Don’t download the ISO image directly to the USB stick! If using Windows XP or Vista, download version 2.18 of Rufus. --- [Suggest changes ›](https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/create-a-bootable-usb-stick-with-rufus-on-windows/14020) about 13 minutes to go [*Previous step*](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#1-overview) [*Next step*](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#3-usb-selection) ## 3. USB selection Perform the following to configure your USB device in Rufus: 1. Launch Rufus 2. Insert your USB stick 3. Rufus will update to set the device within the **Device** field 4. If the **Device** selected is incorrect (perhaps you have multiple USB storage devices), select the correct one from the device field’s drop-down menu You can avoid the hassle of selecting from a list of USB devices by ensuring no other devices are connected. --- [Suggest changes ›](https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/create-a-bootable-usb-stick-with-rufus-on-windows/14020) about 13 minutes to go [*Previous step*](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#2-requirements) [*Next step*](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#4-select-the-ubuntu-iso-file) ## 4. Select the Ubuntu ISO file To select the Ubuntu ISO file you downloaded previously, click the **SELECT** to the right of “Boot selection”. If this is the only ISO file present in the Downloads folder you will only see one file listed. Select the appropriate ISO file and click on **Open**. --- [Suggest changes ›](https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/create-a-bootable-usb-stick-with-rufus-on-windows/14020) about 12 minutes to go [*Previous step*](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#3-usb-selection) [*Next step*](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#5-write-the-iso) ## 5. Write the ISO The *Volume label* will be updated to reflect the ISO selected. Leave all other parameters with their default values and click **START** to initiate the write process. --- [Suggest changes ›](https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/create-a-bootable-usb-stick-with-rufus-on-windows/14020) about 12 minutes to go [*Previous step*](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#4-select-the-ubuntu-iso-file) [*Next step*](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#6-additional-downloads) ## 6. Additional downloads You may be alerted that Rufus requires additional files to complete writing the ISO. If this dialog box appears, select **Yes** to continue. --- [Suggest changes ›](https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/create-a-bootable-usb-stick-with-rufus-on-windows/14020) about 11 minutes to go [*Previous step*](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#5-write-the-iso) [*Next step*](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#7-write-warnings) ## 7. Write warnings You will then be alerted that Rufus has detected that the Ubuntu ISO is an *ISOHybrid image*. This means the same image file can be used as the source for both a DVD and a USB stick without requiring conversion. Keep *Write in ISO Image mode* selected and click on **OK** to continue. Rufus will also warn you that all data on your selected USB device is about to be destroyed. This is a good moment to double check you’ve selected the correct device before clicking **OK** when you’re confident you have. If your USB stick contains multiple partitions Rufus will warn you in a separate pane that these will also be destroyed. --- [Suggest changes ›](https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/create-a-bootable-usb-stick-with-rufus-on-windows/14020) about 10 minutes to go [*Previous step*](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#6-additional-downloads) [*Next step*](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#8-writing-the-iso) ## 8. Writing the ISO The ISO will now be written to your USB stick, and the progress bar in Rufus will give you some indication of where you are in the process. With a reasonably modern machine, this should take around 10 minutes. Total elapsed time is shown in the lower right corner of the Rufus window. --- [Suggest changes ›](https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/create-a-bootable-usb-stick-with-rufus-on-windows/14020) about 0 minutes to go [*Previous step*](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#7-write-warnings) [*Next step*](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#9-installation-complete) ## 9. Installation complete When Rufus has finished writing the USB device, the Status bar will be filled green and the word **READY** will appear in the center. Select **CLOSE** to complete the write process. Congratulations! You now have Ubuntu on a USB stick, bootable and ready to go. To use it you need to insert the stick into your target PC or laptop and reboot the device. It should recognise the installation media automatically during startup but you may need to hold down a specific key (usually F12) to bring up the boot menu and choose to boot from USB. For a full walkthrough of installing Ubuntu, take a look at our [install Ubuntu desktop tutorial](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/install-ubuntu-desktop#1-overview). ### [Finding help](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#p-39396-finding-help) If you get stuck, help is always at hand: * [Ubuntu Discourse](https://discourse.ubuntu.com/) * [Ask Ubuntu](https://askubuntu.com/) * [IRC-based support](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/IRC/ChannelList) Was this tutorial useful? --- [Suggest changes ›](https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/create-a-bootable-usb-stick-with-rufus-on-windows/14020) about 0 minutes to go [*Previous step*](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows?format=md#8-writing-the-iso) *Next step*