Creating a bootable USB is essential when you want to install a new operating system, troubleshoot a computer, or run a live system. One of the easiest and most reliable tools for this is Rufus — a free, lightweight utility for Windows.
Whether you're installing Windows, Linux, or any other OS, Rufus makes the process simple and fast.
Go to the official Rufus website and download the latest version. Rufus is portable — no installation needed.
Connect your USB stick to your computer. Make sure you back up your data — the USB will be fully formatted.
Run the Rufus .exe file. You will see the Rufus interface like this:
Click START to begin.
You might see a warning: "All data on this USB drive will be destroyed." 👉 Click OK to continue.
The process usually takes a few minutes. Once finished, Rufus will show "READY".
Safely eject your USB drive. You now have a bootable USB ready to install or troubleshoot your system!
✔️ Always verify you've selected the correct USB drive to avoid accidental formatting. ✔️ Make sure the ISO file is complete and not corrupted. ✔️ Rufus supports multiple OS types: Windows, Linux, rescue tools, etc.
Rufus is one of the fastest and most reliable tools to create a bootable USB.
✅ Simple ✅ Lightweight ✅ Free
Whether you're a beginner or a pro, Rufus will get the job done quickly.