Windows 10: How to Boot from USB (A Step-by-Step Guide)

Have you ever needed to install or repair Windows 10 but your PC wouldn’t start normally? Or maybe you want to install Windows on a new hard drive or test another operating system? In all these cases, knowing how to boot from a USB drive in Windows 10 is a must.

Booting from a USB allows your computer to start (boot) from the USB drive instead of your internal hard disk — which is often necessary when installing a new operating system or troubleshooting serious system problems.

In this complete step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about booting from USB on a Windows 10 PC — from preparing your USB device to changing BIOS or UEFI settings safely.

Table of Contents

What Does It Mean to Boot from USB?

Booting from USB simply means starting your computer using a USB flash drive instead of the internal hard drive.

Normally, when you turn on your PC, Windows 10 boots automatically from your system drive (usually the C: drive). But by changing the boot order in your BIOS/UEFI settings or using a boot menu, you can tell your computer to start from a different device — like a USB drive, DVD, or external hard disk.

This is especially useful when:

Installing or reinstalling Windows 10
Recovering a corrupted system
Running diagnostic or repair tools
Installing alternative operating systems (like Linux)

Why Boot from a USB Drive?

Here’s why you might need to boot from a USB drive on Windows 10:

Reason	Description
💻 Install Windows 10	Bootable USB drives are the most convenient way to install Windows 10.
🔧 Repair a non-booting system	You can use a Windows recovery USB to fix startup problems.
🧰 Run diagnostic tools	Use bootable USBs with antivirus or diagnostic utilities.
🔄 Reinstall Windows	Fresh installations are quicker from USBs than DVDs.
⚙️ Try another OS	Test or install Linux distributions easily.

Simply put, booting from USB gives you complete control when Windows won’t start normally.

What You’ll Need Before Booting from USB

Before you start, make sure you have the following ready:

Item	Description
🔌 Bootable USB Drive	A USB flash drive (8 GB or more) containing Windows 10 installation files or repair tools.
💻 Windows 10 PC or Laptop	The device you want to boot or install Windows on.
🔋 Power Source	If using a laptop, plug it in to avoid interruptions.
🧠 BIOS/UEFI Access Knowledge	Basic familiarity with entering BIOS/UEFI settings (explained below).

💡 Tip: If you haven’t created a bootable USB yet, you can use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool or a free utility like Rufus to make one.

Step 1: Create a Bootable USB Drive

If you already have one, skip to Step 2. Otherwise, here’s how to make it:

Option 1: Use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool

Visit Microsoft’s official website:
👉 https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows10
Download and run the Media Creation Tool.
Select Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file).
Choose your language, edition, and architecture (64-bit).
Select USB flash drive when prompted.
Wait for the tool to download Windows 10 and create the bootable drive.

Option 2: Use Rufus

Download Rufus from https://rufus.ie.
Insert your USB drive.
In Rufus, choose your USB under Device.
Under Boot selection, choose your Windows 10 ISO file.
Select GPT for UEFI systems or MBR for older BIOS.
Click Start and wait for it to finish.

Your bootable Windows 10 USB drive is now ready.

Step 2: Plug in the Bootable USB Drive

Insert your bootable USB drive into a working USB port on your PC.
Make sure the port is functioning properly — ideally, use a USB 3.0 port for faster speed.

If your computer doesn’t detect the USB, try:

Plugging into a different port
Using the rear USB port on a desktop PC
Checking if the USB is properly formatted as FAT32 or NTFS

Step 3: Access the Boot Menu or BIOS Settings

Next, you need to tell your computer to boot from the USB drive.

When you turn on your PC, you’ll need to enter the BIOS/UEFI setup or open the Boot Menu.

How to Access BIOS/UEFI:

Restart your PC.
Immediately start pressing the BIOS key repeatedly.

Brand	BIOS/Setup Key	Boot Menu Key
Dell	F2	F12
HP	Esc or F10	Esc or F9
Lenovo	F1 or F2	F12
Acer	F2	F12
ASUS	F2	Esc or F8
Toshiba	F2	F12
MSI	Delete	F11

⚠️ If you miss the timing, restart your PC and try again.

Step 4: Change the Boot Order in BIOS/UEFI

Once inside the BIOS or UEFI interface:

Navigate to the Boot or Boot Order tab.
Find the list of devices your system can boot from.
Move USB Drive to the top of the list (using arrow keys or + / – keys).
If you’re using UEFI mode, look for an entry like UEFI: [Your USB Name].

Example Boot Order:

USB Storage Device
Hard Drive (SSD/HDD)
DVD-ROM Drive
Network Boot

This ensures your system checks the USB for boot files first.

Step 5: Save and Exit BIOS Settings

After changing the boot order:

Press F10 to save changes.
Select Yes when prompted to confirm.
Your PC will restart automatically.

When it restarts, it should begin booting from your USB drive immediately.

Step 6: Boot Your PC from the USB Drive

If your USB is set up correctly, you’ll see a message like:

“Press any key to boot from USB…”

Press any key, and the Windows Setup screen will appear.

From here, you can:

Install Windows 10
Access the recovery environment
Run diagnostics or repair startup issues

If your PC still boots to Windows normally, double-check your BIOS boot order or try the Boot Menu method below.

Alternate Method: Using the One-Time Boot Menu

Most modern laptops allow you to boot from a USB without entering BIOS by using a one-time boot menu.

Steps:

Insert your bootable USB.
Restart your PC.
Press the Boot Menu key (refer to the table above — e.g., F12 for Dell).
From the list, choose your USB device.
Hit Enter to boot directly from the USB.

This method is simpler and doesn’t permanently change boot settings.

What to Do After Booting from USB

Once your computer successfully boots from USB, you’ll see the Windows Setup screen.

You can:

Install Windows 10: Follow the prompts to install or reinstall Windows.
Repair Your PC: Click Repair your computer → Troubleshoot → Advanced options for recovery tools.
Access Command Prompt: Use it to fix boot issues or repair files.

Choose the option that fits your goal.

Troubleshooting: USB Boot Not Working on Windows 10

If your computer doesn’t boot from the USB, don’t panic. Here are some common fixes.

Problem	Cause	Solution
USB not detected	Faulty port or drive	Try another USB port or device
Boot option missing	Secure Boot enabled	Disable Secure Boot in BIOS
“No bootable device found”	Corrupted ISO or USB	Recreate USB using Media Creation Tool
PC still boots from HDD	Wrong boot order	Set USB as first boot device
Legacy/UEFI mismatch	Wrong partition scheme	Recreate USB with correct scheme (GPT/MBR)

💡 Pro Tip: On modern systems, use UEFI with GPT partitioning for best compatibility.

Tips for Successful USB Booting

Follow these expert tips to make sure your USB boot works every time:

✅ Use a reliable USB drive (at least 8 GB, preferably USB 3.0).
✅ Always safely eject the USB after creating the bootable media.
✅ Disable Fast Boot in BIOS if USB isn’t recognized.
✅ For older PCs, use Legacy Boot Mode.
✅ Keep your BIOS/UEFI firmware updated.
✅ Double-check ISO integrity — use official Microsoft downloads only.

These small precautions can save you hours of frustration.

Key Takeaways

Step	Description	Tip
1	Create a bootable Windows 10 USB	Use Media Creation Tool or Rufus
2	Insert the USB into the target PC	Ensure proper port connection
3	Access BIOS or Boot Menu	Press F2/F12/Esc based on your brand
4	Change boot order	Move USB device to the top
5	Save and restart	Press F10 to confirm
6	Boot from USB	Begin installation or repair
7	Troubleshoot if needed	Check Secure Boot or format issues

Pro Tip: The easiest method for most users is using the One-Time Boot Menu (F12) — no need to change BIOS permanently.

Conclusion

Knowing how to boot from USB in Windows 10 is an essential skill for any computer user. Whether you’re installing a fresh copy of Windows, troubleshooting errors, or restoring a dead system, booting from USB is the first step.

The process might sound technical, but as you’ve seen, it’s quite simple once you know where to look — plug in your bootable drive, open the boot menu, and select your USB.

With this guide, you can confidently handle any installation or recovery situation like a pro!

FAQs

1. How do I get my computer to boot from a USB in Windows 10?

Restart your PC and press the Boot Menu key (e.g., F12) during startup, then select your USB device.

2. Why won’t my USB boot on Windows 10?

Your USB might not be properly created or the BIOS might have Secure Boot enabled. Disable Secure Boot or recreate the USB.

3. Which key opens the boot menu on Dell or HP laptops?

Dell: F12
HP: Esc or F9

4. Can I boot from USB without changing the BIOS?

Yes, most PCs have a one-time boot menu (F12, Esc, or F8) that lets you choose the USB drive without changing settings permanently.

5. How do I know if my USB is bootable?

Insert it into a PC, open File Explorer, and check for setup.exe and “boot” folders — or test it by opening the Boot Menu.

🔑 Key Takeaways Recap

Booting from USB lets you install or repair Windows 10 easily.
Use the Media Creation Tool or Rufus to make your USB bootable.
Access the Boot Menu (F12, Esc, F9) or change the boot order in BIOS.
Disable Secure Boot if the USB isn’t detected.
Always use official Windows 10 ISOs for reliable installation.