At least an 8GB stick, you won't need the full thing. Easier to get large thumbdrives then small ones these days. Answer from logicearth on reddit.com
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/windows11 › can i use a 7.79gb usb drive to create a windows 11 bootable usb?
r/Windows11 on Reddit: Can I use a 7.79GB USB drive to create a Windows 11 bootable USB?
August 19, 2024 -

Hi everyone,

I have an 8GB USB drive, but its actual usable space is only 7.79GB. I want to use it to create a bootable USB for installing Windows 11. Do you think this would be enough, or should I look for a USB with a larger capacity?

Thanks for any advice!

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Microsoft Learn
learn.microsoft.com › en-us › answers › questions › 5353981 › size-flash-drive-do-i-need-for-windows-11
Size Flash Drive Do I Need for Windows 11? - Microsoft Q&A
To create a bootable USB drive for Windows 11 installation, Microsoft recommends a USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of storage.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/techsupport › windows 11 bootable usb flash drive format to exfat, fat32 or ntfs?
r/techsupport on Reddit: Windows 11 Bootable USB Flash Drive Format to exFat, FAT32 or NTFS?
October 17, 2022 -

I am currently building my first PC in which I want to use Windows 11 Pro.

I read that I should create a Windows 11 Bootable USB Flash Drive to install Windows 11.

I use the SanDisk Ultra Flair 32GB USB Flash Drive. The Drive had SanDisk Security Software Installer and some other files saved on it.

So I thought I should delete all of it to eventually only have Windows 11 saved on the drive.

I did delete by right click and only after that I saw the Format Option.

I read that FAT32 only supports read/write up to 4GB.

Now I am unsure which File System I should format it to to make sure that it will work.

Right now it is formatted to exFAT and has 288KB of Used Space.

Thank you for your help.

Find elsewhere
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/buildapc › 7.2 gb flash drive as win 11 installer?
r/buildapc on Reddit: 7.2 GB flash drive as win 11 installer?
July 21, 2023 -

I want to make a bootable USB to install win 11, on the official site it says i need 8GB USB drive, it says 8GB on my flash drive but when I format the thing, of course it says 7.2 GB, is this fine for win 11 bootable USB? or do I need to get like a 16 GB stick?

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Quora
windows11hacks.quora.com › What-is-the-minimum-size-of-a-USB-stick-for-you-to-use-it-as-a-bootable-drive
What is the minimum size of a USB stick for you to use it as a bootable drive? - Windows 11 Hacks - Quora
Answer: Usually 8GB is enough. Most of system image install additional packages via internet during installation, or install them after reboot. So system image doesn't need to contains everything.
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Eleven Forum
elevenforum.com › windows support forums › tutorials
Create Windows 11 Bootable USB Installation Media | Windows 11 Forum
July 27, 2021 - You must be signed in as an administrator to create a bootable Windows 11 installation USB. The USB flash drive needs to be at least 8 GB or larger in size.
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Laptop Outlet
laptopoutlet.co.uk › blog › usb-size-windows-11-installation.html
What Size USB Do You Need for Windows 11 Installation
June 24, 2025 - If you're planning to install Windows 11 using a USB stick, one of the first things to sort out is the size. Too small, and it won’t fit the installer. Too large, and it’s unnecessary.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/windows › is there a very small windows 11/10 iso that can fit on a 16gb usb?
r/windows on Reddit: Is there a very Small Windows 11/10 iso that can fit on a 16gb usb?
February 16, 2022 -

Looking for a very small iso that can fit on a usb. All that needs to work is the browser, powershell and cmd> I did try making 1 myself except it crashes every time in a vm. Link me to a website containing a super lite iso. Preferably for windows 11 if not windows 10.

Thank You!

edit: im dumb at that i forgot to include the usb is 16gb and i need it for windows to go. i dont care how slow its gonna be i just need it to run for school lmao

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/buildapc › can’t make windows 11 bootable usb
r/buildapc on Reddit: Can’t make windows 11 bootable USB
April 27, 2024 -

Hey everyone,

I have just made my first PC. I am now trying to make a bootable USB but I keep getting an error saying there isn’t enough space?

It’s a brand new 32gb USB? Anyone have a solution? I never expected this to be the part that gave me any trouble 😂

Thanks!

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/laptops › a dumbfuck trying to install windows 11 onto 32gb usb journey.
r/laptops on Reddit: A dumbfuck trying to install windows 11 onto 32GB USB journey.
February 5, 2025 -
  1. Want to install Windows 11 on your shiny new laptop

  2. Have a USB to do it

  3. Fail on 1st attempt on pc cuz the pc had no ports except fucking headphone port

  4. Try making bootable USB on phone with an ISO

  5. Try it out in 2 days

  6. Fail miserably cuz some shitty error while instalation

  7. Try doing it on old laptop

  8. The system minimal requirements are 64x based system (you have 32x)

  9. Try doing ISO with old laptop

  10. Realize Rufus is 32x but on windows 8 or above (you have win7)

  11. Talk with cousin

  12. She says she can borrow her new laptop to do it on hers

  13. Be happy

  14. Wait 2 days

  15. Try doing it

  16. "Wdym the pendrive has less than 8 gigs?"

  17. Look at File manager

  18. "5.73GB out of 5.74GB free"

  19. Give up

UPDATE

So i have managed to buy another flash drive and do it on this one, i still have one question though, which is how to get the other flash drive back to original capacity.