The instructions below will walk you through everything you want to know about installing Windows 11 using a bootable USB drive.
How To Create a Bootable Windows 11 USB Drive
How To Create a Bootable Windows 11 USB Drive
It’s possible to create a bootable Windows 11 USB drive using Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool. It handles everything from formatting the USB drive with the correct format to downloading and setting up the files required to boot into the Windows 11 Setup. But before you start, here’s what you need:
A USB stick with at least 8 gigabytes of storage space. You’ll lose all data on the flash drive, so create a backup of anything inside before you go ahead.A PC running Windows 8, 8.1, 10, or 11.An internet connection capable of downloading 5-6 gigabytes of data.
How To Install Windows 11 Using a Bootable USB Drive
How To Install Windows 11 Using a Bootable USB Drive
Windows 11 imposes stringent system requirements such as support for TPM (Trusted Platform Module) 2.0. So unless you plan on installing it onto a relatively recent desktop or laptop model, you must ensure that the PC is Windows 11-compatible by using Microsoft’s PC Health Check app. Provided that your PC meets Windows 11’s system requirements, the trickiest part next involves accessing your PC’s Boot Manager. That consists in pressing the relevant key at computer startup, such as F2, F9, or F12. It’s best to check with the PC manufacturer for the exact key. For example, you can open the Boot Manager on Acer laptops by pressing F9. Once you’ve invoked the Boot Manager, use the Up and Down arrow keys to select the USB drive, and press Enter to boot from it. If you have trouble accessing it, you must access the UEFI and change the boot order. After booting from the USB drive, you should see the Windows 11 Setup screen. Go through the steps that follow to install Windows 11.
How To Finish Setting Up Windows 11 on Your PC
How To Finish Setting Up Windows 11 on Your PC
After installing Windows 11, you must work your way through several pages of options to finish setting up the operating system. These are self-explanatory and involve specifying the country or region, adjusting your privacy settings, configuring Windows Hello, and so on. Here’s a brief run-down of the most important.
Enter a Unique PC Name
If you want to connect to your computer from other devices, you must insert a unique name that you can quickly recognize. It can’t consist of numbers only or exceed 15 characters in length.
Sign In With Your Microsoft Account
Signing in with a Microsoft Account gives you the option to sync settings and preferences with Windows devices and signs you into stock apps such as Microsoft Edge and Skype. If your Windows license is linked to your Microsoft Account, signing in also helps with activation. If you don’t want to sign in, you can opt for an offline account by selecting Sign-in options > Offline account.
Restore or Set Up As a New Device
If you signed in with a Microsoft Account, you get to decide if you want to restore any settings, preferences, and apps from your previous Windows installation. If not, make sure to select the Set up as new device option to set up your PC from scratch. After you’ve finished setting up Windows 11, you may have to wait for a while longer until the Windows Setup completes installing any pending updates. You can then start using Windows 11 immediately. If you’ve yet to activate Windows 11, don’t forget to get that sorted by heading over to Start > Settings > System > Activation.
Don’t Forget To Keep Windows 11 Up-to-Date
Don’t Forget To Keep Windows 11 Up-to-Date
You’ve finished installing Windows 11 using the bootable USB drive you created. Congratulations! You must now make it a point to keep the operating system up-to-date. Go to Settings > Windows Update to manage Windows Update. That way, not only do you get the latest security fixes and performance upgrades, but you also prevent any known bugs or issues messing up your Windows 11 experience.
