The Windows 10 Media Creation Tool can create Windows 10 bootable/installation USB drives. If the USB drive you created is not bootable, chances are that you did not set your computer's boot order correctly. Reformatting the USB drive as FAT32 will make sure it is bootable on Legacy BIOS or UEFI computers. Of course, it does not rule out that the Media Creation Tool fails to work on your computer for some reason.

You can also create a Windows 10 bootable/installation USB drive from an iSO image file.

First, you need to download the official Windows 10 ISO file from the Microsoft website.

Then, you can use the Rufus tool to create a Windows 10 installation USB drive from the ISO.

Or, if you are familiar with Windows commands, you can also use the Command Prompt to create a Windows 10 bootable USB drive from the ISO.

Here are the detailed steps: https://www.isumsoft.com/windows-10/create-windows-10-bootable-usb-from-iso.html

Answer from Kris Evans on Stack Exchange
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Microsoft Support
support.microsoft.com › en-us › windows › create-installation-media-for-windows-99a58364-8c02-206f-aa6f-40c3b507420d
Create installation media for Windows - Microsoft Support
Run MediaCreationTool.exe. The media creation tool walks through creating installation media. Support for Windows 10 has ended on October 14, 2025
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Microsoft
microsoft.com › en-us › software-download › windows10
Download Windows 10
October 21, 2025 - If you are installing Windows 10 on a PC running Windows XP or Windows Vista, or if you need to create installation media to install Windows 10 on a different PC, see Using the tool to create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) to install Windows 10 on a different PC section ...
Discussions

Can't find anyone to make me a windows 10 install drive. Where can I buy one
You can download an ISO to put onto a USB stick. No charge. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 Download the link that says "create Windows installation media". They won't let you just download it. You have to download an intermediary tool that then downloads the ISO. Once done, set your BIOS to boot from the USB stick. At that point you can upgrade or do a fresh install. But you will need an activation code. If your computer already had Win10 then it should be OK. If not, you can buy a legal key online for about $25. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/Windows10
11
0
March 6, 2024
I put Windows media creation tool on a USB and try to put it into my computer. I don’t know what the next steps are.
It's not clear what you want to do. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/techsupport
58
188
February 6, 2021
The Correct Way to Install Windows 10
Aaaaand don't forget to do it every updates because Windows likes to enable bloatware back More on reddit.com
🌐 r/pcmasterrace
176
1168
October 19, 2017
Used the official Media Creation Tool to create a Win10 ISO which I then used via Rufus to create a bootable drive which I installed on a brand new Dell that came with no OS. Find out that Windows 11 got installed! What gives?
Somewhere along the line you picked Windows 11 instead of Windows 10. There is no need for Rufus, the media creation tool will put Windows 10 on a flash drive for you. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/Windows10
16
7
June 18, 2024
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Windows 10 Forums
tenforums.com › tutorials › 2376-create-bootable-usb-flash-drive-install-windows-10-a.html
Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10 - Windows 10 Help Forums
(see screenshot below) 10 Connect your USB flash drive, click/tap on the Refresh drive list link, select the USB flash drive, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below) 11 It will now start Downloading Windows 10 and Creating Windows 10 media.
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ASUS
asus.com › support › faq › 1039507
[Windows 11/10] How to Create and Use a USB Flash Drive Installation Media to Reinstall Windows | Official Support | ASUS Global
November 3, 2025 - Connect the USB flash drive that you want to create as a Windows installation media to your device, select [USB flash drive]⑦ and then select [Next]⑧. Note: All files on the USB flash drive will be deleted during the process, so please back up your files first if you have data inside originally.
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rTS
rtech.support › installations › install-10
Windows 10 EOL | rTS Wiki
4 days ago - If you are insterested, check our linux installing guide. Aside from Linux, ChromeOS is a viable option, especially if your main tasks are browsing the internet and working with documents. It is designed for ease of use and feels similar to using a tablet, making it easy to get comfortable with. If you decide to go with chromeOS, check out this official guide. Section titled “3. Windows Extended Security Updates”
Top answer
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The Windows 10 Media Creation Tool can create Windows 10 bootable/installation USB drives. If the USB drive you created is not bootable, chances are that you did not set your computer's boot order correctly. Reformatting the USB drive as FAT32 will make sure it is bootable on Legacy BIOS or UEFI computers. Of course, it does not rule out that the Media Creation Tool fails to work on your computer for some reason.

You can also create a Windows 10 bootable/installation USB drive from an iSO image file.

First, you need to download the official Windows 10 ISO file from the Microsoft website.

Then, you can use the Rufus tool to create a Windows 10 installation USB drive from the ISO.

Or, if you are familiar with Windows commands, you can also use the Command Prompt to create a Windows 10 bootable USB drive from the ISO.

Here are the detailed steps: https://www.isumsoft.com/windows-10/create-windows-10-bootable-usb-from-iso.html

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You can create bootable USB for Windows 10 using Command Prompt on Windows. Here's the YouTube video on - How to create bootable USB for Windows using Command Prompt

In summary you'll have to follow these steps

  1. Open Command Prompt as an Administrator
  2. On Command Prompt window type diskpart and then click ENTER
  3. Inside disk part, now type command list disk and click ENTER, make sure you have inserted your USB drive, and note the disk number of the USB Drive.
  4. Type select disk <x> where x being your disk number of USB Drive.
  5. Type clean
  6. To create a new primary partition on the USB flash drive, type create part pri, and then click ENTER.
  7. To select the partition that you just created, type select part 1, and then click ENTER.
  8. To format the partition, type format fs=ntfs quick, and then click ENTER.
  9. Type active, and then click ENTER.
  10. Type exit, and then click ENTER.
  11. When you finish preparing your custom image, save it to the root of the USB flash drive.
Find elsewhere
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Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 102622
Install Windows 10 on your Mac with Boot Camp Assistant - Apple Support
2 weeks ago - A 64-bit version of Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro on a disk image (ISO) or other installation media. If installing Windows on your Mac for the first time, this must be a full version of Windows, not an upgrade. If your copy of Windows came on a USB flash drive, or you have a Windows product key and no installation disc, download a Windows 10 disk image from Microsoft. If your copy of Windows came on a DVD, you might need to create a disk image of that DVD.
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Corsair
help.corsair.com › hc › en-us › articles › 14206252671117-Windows-How-to-Install-Windows-10-11-Using-the-Media-Creation-Tool
Windows: How to Install Windows 10/11 Using the Media Creation Tool – Corsair
Click the "Download tool now" button to download the tool for the desired version of Windows. Insert a USB drive with at least 8GB of storage into your computer. Launch the Media Creation Tool by double-clicking the downloaded file.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/techsupport › i put windows media creation tool on a usb and try to put it into my computer. i don’t know what the next steps are.
r/techsupport on Reddit: I put Windows media creation tool on a USB and try to put it into my computer. I don’t know what the next steps are.
February 6, 2021 -

Firstly my computer had a problem after downloading windows 10 over a year ago. Then I mistakenly from the blue “choose an option” and “choose an operating system” page selected windows 10 4 times clearing the pervious operating system. As a result, I can’t select the previous windows 8 or 7. I can’t even preform a reset because the original is gone.

I tried to find a way to fix it.

My attempt now is putting the Windows media creation tool from https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=691209 on a UBS using working computer. So far so good.

On the laptop with the problem, from the choose an option page I selected using device and then I selected USB drive (UEFI). The laptop goes to a purple page. It says Windows set up, I select from the drop boxes and I click next. I click install now. It says Setup is starting.

It goes to activate windows. My laptop did have windows when I bought it I didn’t have a product key. So I don’t know what to do and therefore I select I don’t have a product key. (I reckon that selecting this will have a future implication, please do enlighten me with any support here too). After that it’s a select operating system you want to install. It gives me seven options I don’t know which one is the right one or which is the best so I select Windows 10 pro. I accept the terms then it looks to me which type of installation do you want. Because I don’t want to lose my files, I choose upgrade install and not custom. It says in the compatibility report option if you start your computer using with the installation media and then I close and then I’m back to the beginning of the windows set up purple screen. Help me.

Additional edit: is there a way for me to back up my device from the blue page that says choose an option?

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OnLogic Support
support.onlogic.com › support-articles › how-tos › operating-systems › windows › windows-10-home-and-pro-reinstallation
Windows 10 Home & Pro Reinstallation | OnLogic Support Documentation
Download and run the Media Creation Tool, linked above ... Specify the architecture. In almost all cases, the default of 64bit is correct. ... If the drive does not show, ensure it is formatted as FAT32 or try a different drive.
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Dell
dell.com › home › support home › knowledge base article
Create a retail image of Windows with the Microsoft Media Creation Tool | Dell US
June 9, 2025 - Create Windows installation media for Windows 11 and 10 with Media Creation Tool. Choose your media type (USB or DVD) and follow easy steps for OS upgrades or reinstalls.
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CNET
cnet.com › tech › computing › laptops › how to create a windows 10 bootable usb: it's easier than you think
How to create a Windows 10 bootable USB: It's easier than you think - CNET
June 16, 2025 - Microsoft has a dedicated tool that you can use to download the Windows 10 system image (also referred to as ISO) and create your bootable USB drive. 1. Go to this page, scroll down to Create Windows Installation Media and click on Download tool now.
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Medium
medium.com › @kapilvarshney › create-windows-10-installer-usb-media-using-media-creation-tool-f8aa5111392b
Create Windows 10 installer USB media (using Media Creation Tool) | by Kapil Varshney | Medium
July 20, 2018 - I am using a standard 8 GB (recommended size) USB drive to create the installed media. Download the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft. Click on “Download tool now”. ... 4. The previous step will launch the Windows 10 Setup window.
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MSI USA
us.msi.com › support › technical_details › DT_OS_Installation
How to install Windows 10?
1. Go to "Create installation media for Windows," choose either Windows 10 or Windows 11 based on your needs, and enter the official download page.
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Computer Hope
computerhope.com › issues › ch000333.htm
How to Create a Windows 10 Installation Disk
June 1, 2025 - All existing data on the disk will be destroyed. Open a web browser and go to Microsoft's Windows 10 download page. Under Create Windows 10 installation media, click Download tool now.
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TechRadar
techradar.com › computing › software › windows
How to make bootable USB Windows 10 | TechRadar
August 18, 2024 - Download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from the Microsoft website. Launch the Media Creation Tool and accept the terms. Select Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC.
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Digital Citizen
digitalcitizen.life › how-download-windows-10-and-create-your-own-installation-media
Windows 10 Media Creation Tool: Create Windows 10 installation media
October 7, 2025 - How to get the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool, and use it to create a Windows 10 ISO file, or a USB stick with the Windows 10 Setup.
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Rufus
rufus.ie
Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way
Rufus is a small application that creates bootable USB drives, which can then be used to install or run Microsoft Windows, Linux or DOS. In just a few minutes, and with very few clicks, Rufus can help you run a new Operating System on your computer...