How to Install Windows 10 From USB

Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, so a fresh install won’t get regular security updates. It still installs and activates, and it remains the right fit for some older PCs that can’t run Windows 11. The steps below cover how to install Windows 10 from USB, from creating the bootable drive to finishing setup.

Before you start: Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, and the one-year Extended Security Updates program for home users has also ended. Windows 10 still installs and activates, but it no longer gets regular security updates. If your PC supports Windows 11, it’s safer to install Windows 11 from USB instead.

Table of Contents

1. Step 1: Create a Windows 10 Bootable USB
2. Step 2: Boot Your PC From the USB Drive
3. Step 3: Install Windows 10 From USB
4. Step 4: Set Up Windows 10
5. Common Problems When Installing Windows 10 From USB

Step 1: Create a Windows 10 Bootable USB

1. Plug the USB drive into a working PC. Go to the Windows 10 download page, click Download tool now, open MediaCreationTool and click Accept. Then select Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC and click Next.

2. Uncheck Use the recommended options for this PC if you’re making the USB for a different computer, then choose the language, edition (Windows 10) and architecture (64-bit for almost all PCs). Click Next.

3. Select USB flash drive and click Next.

4. Choose your USB drive from the list and click Next. The tool downloads Windows 10 and makes the drive bootable, which usually takes 15 to 45 minutes.

5. When you see Your USB flash drive is ready, click Finish.

Already have a Windows 10 ISO file? You can use the free tool Rufus instead: select your USB drive, click SELECT to choose the ISO, and click START.

Step 2: Boot Your PC From the USB Drive

1. Plug the USB drive into the PC where you want to install Windows 10. Turn it on and immediately tap the Boot Menu key, select the USB drive (often listed as UEFI: [USB name]) and press Enter.

Boot Menu keys for common brands:

• Dell, Lenovo, Acer, Gigabyte: F12
• HP: Esc, then F9
• ASUS: Esc (laptops) or F8 (desktops)
• MSI: F11

If the PC boots straight into the old system, enter BIOS/UEFI setup (usually F2 or Del), move the USB drive to the top of the Boot order, then press F10 to save and restart.

Step 3: Install Windows 10 From USB

1. Choose your language, time and currency format, and keyboard, then click Next.

2. Click Install now.

3. Enter your product key, or click I don’t have a product key if this PC already had Windows 10 activated.

4. Select the edition your PC had before (for example, Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro) and click Next. Choosing a different edition causes activation errors.

5. Check I accept the license terms and click Next.

6. Select Custom: Install Windows only (advanced). The Upgrade option only works when you run Setup from inside Windows.

7. Select each partition on Drive 0 and click Delete, then OK. Only delete partitions on the drive where you’re installing Windows. Other drives may hold your data.

8. Select Drive 0 Unallocated Space and click Next. Windows creates the partitions it needs and starts installing. Your PC restarts several times. Remove the USB drive after the first restart.

Step 4: Set Up Windows 10

1. Choose your region and click Yes, then confirm your keyboard layout and connect to the internet.

2. On Windows 10 Pro, choose Set up for personal use and sign in with your Microsoft account. On Home, you go straight to the sign-in screen.

3. Create a PIN, choose your privacy settings, and wait a few minutes for the desktop to appear.

Finally, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update to install the latest updates and drivers, and check Activation on the same page to confirm Windows is activated.

Common Problems When Installing Windows 10 From USB

• The USB drive isn’t in the Boot Menu: try another USB port, enable USB boot in BIOS, or recreate the drive. If your PC uses old Legacy BIOS instead of UEFI, create the USB with Rufus and choose the MBR partition scheme.
• “Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition table”: delete all partitions on Drive 0 and install on the unallocated space. Setup converts the disk automatically.
• No drives appear during setup: newer Intel laptops need a storage driver. Download the Intel Rapid Storage Technology (IRST/VMD) driver from your PC maker’s site, copy it to the USB, and click Load driver.
• Want to keep your files? Don’t boot from the USB. Open the USB drive in Windows, run setup.exe and choose to keep personal files and apps.

If your PC supports Windows 11, it’s safer to make the move with our guide to installing Windows 11 from USB. Until then, keep the USB drive handy, since you can use it later to repair or reinstall Windows.