Install Windows 11 From a USB Pen Drive (Step by Step)

A fresh Windows install fixes slow laptops, virus problems and half-broken updates. It's also what you need for a new assembled PC. Here is the whole process for Windows 11, using only official Microsoft tools.

What you need

• A USB pen drive of at least 8 GB (it will be erased)
• Another working PC with internet to prepare the drive
• Your Windows 11 product key (or you can enter it later)
• A backup of your files. A clean install wipes the drive you install on.

Step 1: make the bootable USB

1. On a working PC, open microsoft.com/software-download/windows11.
2. Under "Create Windows 11 Installation Media", click Download Now.
3. Run the Media Creation Tool, accept terms, choose language and edition (the recommended settings are fine).
4. Select USB flash drive, pick your drive and wait for it to finish.

Step 2: boot from the USB

Plug it into the target PC, restart, and press the boot-menu key repeatedly while it starts:

Choose your USB drive (often shown as "UEFI: your drive name").

Step 3: install

1. Choose language and click Install now.
2. At the key screen, enter your key, or click "I don't have a product key" and activate later.
3. Pick the edition that matches your key (Home or Pro).
4. Choose Custom: Install Windows only, select the drive, delete old partitions if needed, and continue.
5. The PC restarts a few times. Then set up region, account and privacy options.

Step 4: activate

Go to Settings → System → Activation → Change product key and enter your key. Full instructions: how to activate Windows 11.

Installation errors

• "This PC can't run Windows 11": your PC lacks TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot. See Windows 11 requirements.
• USB doesn't appear in the boot menu: recreate it and make sure the PC is set to UEFI mode.
• No drive visible during install: install the storage driver from your laptop maker's website.