Rufus
rufus.ie
Rufus - The Official Website (Download, New Releases)
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...
Create bootable USB drives the easy way
Rufus is a utility that helps format and create bootable USB flash drives, such as USB keys/pendrives, memory sticks, etc · It can be especially useful for cases where:
Cree unidades USB arrancables fácilmente
Licencia Pública General de GNU (GPL) versión 3 o posterior. Es libre de distribuir, modificar o incluso vender el software, en la medida en que la licencia GPLv3 sea respetada.
Создать загрузочный USB-диск? Это…
Rufus - это утилита для форматирования и создания загрузочных флешек, карт памяти и т.д · Rufus особенно полезен, когда нужно:
Index of /downloads
Rufus Downloads · Name Last modified Size Description · Parent Directory - rufus-4.11.exe 2025-10-02 18:00 1.8M Rufus 4.11 rufus-4.11p.exe 2025-10-02 18:00 1.8M Rufus 4.11 (Portable Version) rufus-4.11_x86.exe 2025-10-02 18:00 1.8M Rufus 4.11 (x86 32-bit Version) rufus-4.11_arm64.exe 2025-10-02 ...
Microsoft Store
apps.microsoft.com › detail › 9pc3h3v7q9ch
Rufus - Free download and install on Windows | Microsoft Store
October 2, 2025 - Rufus is a utility that helps format and create bootable USB flash drives, such as USB keys/pendrives, memory sticks, etc. • Official site: https://rufus.ie • Source Code: https://github.com/pbatard/rufus • ChangeLog: https://github.c...
Videos
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How to Create a Windows 11 Bootable USB Flash Drive Using Rufus ...
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How to Create a Windows 10 Bootable USB Flash Drive Using Rufus ...
05:41
How to Create a Windows 10 Installation USB with Rufus (Tutorial) ...
04:29
How to Create a Rufus Bootable USB for Windows 10 in 5 Minutes! ...
04:21
How to Create a Windows 10/11 Bootable USB with Rufus (Step-by-Step ...
Difference between the official Media Creation Tool and Rufus for making Windows 10 installation media.
I am using Windows Media Creation Tool to make an USB installation media, and every time I make it, the checksum of two files change: install.esd and boot.wim. It makes it really hard to check the integrity of boot media, and honestly, there is… More on learn.microsoft.com
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July 16, 2022Difference between the official Media Creation Tool and Rufus for making Windows 10 installation media.
I am using Windows Media Creation Tool to make an USB installation media, and every time I make it, the checksum of two files change: install.esd and boot.wim. It makes it really hard to check the integrity of boot media, and honestly, there is… More on answers.microsoft.com
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June 16, 2022Just a question, why do some people use Rufus except media creation tool?
For creating a bootable USB drive with a standard windows iso, Rufus is not needed and I recommend using the media creation tool as it creates a usb suitable for UEFI and legacy bios. With Rufus you can make a mistake. However, Rufus is very useful for creating a full installation of Windows 10 on an external drive. I used to use wintousb to do this but now it is no longer free. You can do this manually but Rufus is more convenient. Rufus is also handy when installing from custom Isos with an install.wim file greater than 4GB (you can do it manually but Rufus is slightly easier). Rufus is probably easier when dealing with non windows Isos. So although it is probably never actually needed in any case, sometimes it is just easier. More on reddit.com
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July 22, 2019Is Rufus a replacement for the Windows Media Creation Tool? Or do I need them both to create a bootable USB?
it is not a replacement but in this case they do same thing
rufus will install/burn any iso on a usb and is not in any way related to windows, media creation tool will do only windows, it is its only purpose.
edit: ppl use media creation tool only because ms made it hard to download windows iso
More on reddit.com 39
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May 5, 2021What is Rufus?
Rufus is a free, open-source utility that allows you to create bootable USB drives. It's particularly useful for installing or running operating systems on PCs. Rufus makes the process quick and easy, providing you with a reliable solution for disk imaging tasks.
lenovo.com
lenovo.com › home
Rufus: The Best Free Tool for Creating Bootable USB Drives | Lenovo US
Which operating systems can Rufus create installation media for?
Rufus supports a wide range of operating systems, including Windows versions like Windows 10 and 11, as well as popular Linux distributions like Ubuntu, Fedora, and Debian. It is also capable of handling less common systems, such as FreeDOS or specialized recovery tools. This versatility makes Rufus a go-to utility for people working with diverse platforms, as it can cater to nearly any bootable ISO file, provided it is properly formatted for the task.
lenovo.com
lenovo.com › home
Rufus: The Best Free Tool for Creating Bootable USB Drives | Lenovo US
How does Rufus differ from other bootable USB creators?
Rufus stands out from other tools due to its speed and flexibility. It’s known for being faster at creating bootable drives compared to many alternatives. Rufus supports both BIOS and UEFI modes, making it suitable for a wide range of devices and systems. It also provides advanced options for customization, such as adjusting partition schemes, cluster sizes, and formatting options, giving users greater control during the creation process compared to simpler tools.
lenovo.com
lenovo.com › home
Rufus: The Best Free Tool for Creating Bootable USB Drives | Lenovo US
Reddit
reddit.com › r/techsupport › is rufus a replacement for the windows media creation tool? or do i need them both to create a bootable usb?
Is Rufus a replacement for the Windows Media Creation Tool? Or do I need them both to create a bootable USB? : r/techsupport
May 5, 2021 - I did see a YouTube video that rufus has a built-in tool to bypass the Microsoft Account Login for Windows 11. I am not really sure. Tho Rufus is just a Burning tool just like what WMCT do. ... Media creation tool is for downloading and directly installing windows from previous versions.
Dedoimedo
dedoimedo.com › computers › rufus-usb-media-creation-tool.html
Rufus USB media creator - Great tool, plus a Windows purifier
November 20, 2023 - Review and tutorial of Rufus, a free, open-source USB media creation tool for Windows, covering portable version usage, offline ISO selection and image download, Windows experience options override like Secure Boot, TPM, online account, encryption and others, tweaked USB drive testing, and more
SourceForge
sourceforge.net › projects › rufus.mirror
Rufus download | SourceForge.net
Rufus can come in handy when you need to simply format a USB drive, install an OS on a machine that lacks a CD/DVD-ROM drive, or when you need to boot an operating system temporarily without intentions of actually installing the media. This can be immensely useful while you're on the go or just need access to an OS for a temporary, isolated reason. The app can even be used to flash firmware to BIOS or other destinations by just using DOS. Even though Rufus is a tiny utility in comparison to other USB creation tools that can be rather bulky in size, it contends easily with the competition and creates bootable USB drives in record time!
FileWave
kb.filewave.com › books › filewave-general-info › page › rufus-creating-bootable-usb-drives
Rufus - Creating boota... | FileWave KB
In this article, we will explain how to use Rufus, a free and open-source utility that helps format and create bootable USB flash drives. Rufus is widely used for creating installation media from bootable ISOs, such as Windows, Linux, and other operating systems. It is an essential tool for ...
GitHub
github.com › pbatard › rufus
GitHub - pbatard/rufus: The Reliable USB Formatting Utility
Rufus is a utility that helps format and create bootable USB flash drives.
Starred by 34.1K users
Forked by 2.9K users
Languages C 86.6% | C++ 6.6% | Makefile 4.6% | C# 0.8% | Shell 0.6% | Assembly 0.3%
iFixit
ifixit.com › Guide › Windows+10-11+-+USB+Installation+Media+Creation+(Rufus) › 192874
Windows 10/11 - USB Installation Media Creation (Rufus) - iFixit Repair Guide
1 month ago - If you are unsure how to write a Windows 10/11 ISO to a USB flash drive, this guide will show you how to use Rufus and bypass the Microsoft account requirements if you do not want to have one on your PC or do not want to create one during setup. It can also be used to create an installer that works on “unsupported” PCs (1).
Ubuntu
ubuntu.com › tutorials › create-a-usb-stick-on-windows
Create a bootable USB stick with Rufus on Windows | Ubuntu
This tutorial will show you how to create a bootable USB stick on Microsoft Windows using Rufus.
Lenovo
lenovo.com › home
Rufus: The Best Free Tool for Creating Bootable USB Drives | Lenovo US
Rufus is one of the few tools that can create bootable drives for older or legacy operating systems. It includes support for pre-Windows 7 versions as well as FreeDOS, which is essential for running older DOS-based applications or performing low-level hardware updates.
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Rufus_(software)
Rufus (software) - Wikipedia
1 month ago - Rufus (The Reliable USB Formatting Utility, with Source) is a free and open-source portable application for Microsoft Windows that can be used to format and create bootable USB flash drives or Live USBs.
Top answer 1 of 4
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The recommended way is using the Windows Media Creation tool but using Rufus is also recommended.
You shouldn't be concern about the checksum when you are using Windows Media Creation tool because it will check for the integrity and if there is a failure, it will let you know. The Windows Media Creation tool is also smart enough so when there is a network interruption or any network failure, it continues with downloading correct files.
The way Windows Media Creation tool creating the media is a bit different from the Rufus and that is why you see different checksum.
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The esd is smaller than the wim.
When a bootable MCT is created using the Microsoft website it will be in esd.
The flash drive should be > or = 8 GB.
When the MCT is downloaded to the desktop it will be in wim format.
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/29588-see-full-details-about-windows-10-iso-file-usb.html https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/9230-download-windows-10-iso-file.html
This link has the Rufus method: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2376-create-bootable-usb-flash-drive-install-windows-10-a.html
Top answer 1 of 4
7
The recommended way is using the Windows Media Creation tool but using Rufus is also recommended.
You shouldn't be concern about the checksum when you are using Windows Media Creation tool because it will check for the integrity and if there is a failure, it will let you know. The Windows Media Creation tool is also smart enough so when there is a network interruption or any network failure, it continues with downloading correct files.
The way Windows Media Creation tool creating the media is a bit different from the Rufus and that is why you see different checksum.
2 of 4
1
The esd is smaller than the wim.
When a bootable MCT is created using the Microsoft website it will be in esd.
The flash drive should be > or = 8 GB.
When the MCT is downloaded to the desktop it will be in wim format.
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/29588-see-full-details-about-windows-10-iso-file-usb.html https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/9230-download-windows-10-iso-file.html
This link has the Rufus method: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2376-create-bootable-usb-flash-drive-install-windows-10-a.html
Windows Central
windowscentral.com › microsoft › windows 11
Best Media Creation Tool alternatives to create a Windows 11 bootable USB
July 19, 2025 - Rufus is one of the most popular free and open-source utilities, and it's perhaps the best alternative to the Media Creation Tool, at least by tech-savvy users and network administrators.
EaseUS
easeus.com › windows system to go › rufus vs. windows media creation tool: everything you need to know
Rufus vs. Windows Media Creation Tool: Everything You Need to Know - EaseUS
December 4, 2024 - Step 8. Click on the Finish and you will be able to use the USB drive to boot up the computer system and install Windows OS. Rufus is an open-source application that is widely used for creating USB installation media from bootable files of Windows.
Linus Tech Tips
linustechtips.com › software › operating systems › windows
Windows 10 Rufus vs Media Creation Tool - Windows - Linus Tech Tips
November 11, 2020 - I used to make bootable Windows 10 USBs with Rufus. Rufus allows us to create multiple bootable Windows 10 USBs with just one ISO. However I got frustrated at having to change between MBR and GPT. So I tried creating bootable Windows 10 USB with the Microsoft media creation tool. Not only can the...
PCWorld
pcworld.com › home › how-to › software how-to
How to create customizable USB Windows install drives with Rufus | PCWorld
April 30, 2025 - Rufus is an open-source program that creates bootable USB sticks for Windows installation and more. Compared to Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool, Rufus offers many more options for configuration setup.
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
How to create a bootable USB using Rufus - YouTube
A short tutorial about how you would go about creating a bootable USB drive using the Rufus software.RUFUShttps://rufus.ie/en/Buy me a cup of coffee☕:https:/...
Published July 19, 2023
Super User
superuser.com › questions › 1747733 › can-i-install-windows-10-media-creation-tool-through-rufus-on-hirens
Can I install Windows 10 Media Creation Tool through Rufus on Hiren's? - Super User
Your question is a little confusing. Rufus replaces the Media Creation Tool. If you are using Rufus then there is no reason to use the MCT. You should be downloading the ISO on a standard Windows installation.