How to install Windows 11 using a USB drive
Table of Contents
Install the Windows 11 has become indispensable for users of the Operating System of MicrosoftShe has already announced that she will end support for Windows 10 in 2025, so if you haven't yet opted for the latest system, come with us and learn how to do each of the steps in this tutorial we've prepared!
Requirements for installing Windows 11
Windows 11 was officially released in 2020 and brought some new requirements for installation, mainly regarding device security. See the table below for all of them:
| Components | Minimum Requirement | Recommended Specification |
| Processor | 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with 2 or more cores in a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC). | 8th generation or higher Intel Core i5/i7/i9 processor; 2nd generation or higher AMD Ryzen 5/7/9 processor. |
| RAM memory | 4 gigabytes (GB) | 8 GB or more. For heavier tasks and multitasking, 16 GB is ideal. |
| Storage | 64 GB or more of available disk space. | Solid State Drive (SSD) with 256 GB or more of storage for greater system speed and responsiveness. |
| System Firmware | UEFI, with Secure Boot capability. | UEFI with Secure Boot enabled. |
| TPM | Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0. | TPM 2.0 enabled in the system BIOS/UEFI. |
| Graphics Card | Compatible with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver. | A modern graphics card that supports DirectX 12 Ultimate to take full advantage of all visual and gaming features. |
| Fabric | High-definition (720p) screen with a diagonal of more than 9 inches, 8 bits per color channel. | A screen with Full HD (1080p) resolution or higher for a better visual experience. |
| Internet connection and Microsoft account | Windows 11 Home requires an internet connection and a Microsoft Account to complete device setup upon first use. | Broadband connection for faster updates and downloads. |
In addition, you can download the app. PC HealthCheck, a Microsoft tool that can check and analyze whether your machine meets the requirements for the latest system.
Step by step
Step 1Download the media creation tool at Windows 11 websiteTo do this, on the Microsoft page, scroll down until you find the tab for Media creation tool and then click download, as shown in the image below:
Step 2Run the media creation tool. It may be in your browser's downloads list or in your "downloads" folder. If everything goes well, the following screen should appear on your computer:
Step 3Accept the terms, choose your language, and proceed.
Step 4: Choose option USB Flash DriveRemember that you need a USB drive with at least 8GB of storage. Click next.
Step 5Choose your USB drive from the list.
Step 6Please wait while the media is downloaded and created. This should take a maximum of 10 minutes, and you can continue using your PC during this time.
How do I install Windows 11 using a USB drive?
Option 1
With the USB drive configured and Windows 11 installed, simply turn off your PC, insert the USB drive into one of your machine's USB ports, and turn it back on. If everything goes as it should, your PC will boot to the Windows installation screen. Then just follow the Microsoft instructions and wait.
Option 2
If your PC doesn't recognize the USB drive right away, you'll need to change your PC's BIOS settings. The idea is the same for everyone: the BIOS needs to read the USB drive before your SSD when your PC boots up.
Each manufacturer's BIOS differs aesthetically and in how to use it, but the idea here is the same: we need to make it read our USB drive before our SSD. In our tests, we used a... Acer Aspire 5 And it works like this:
Step 1Turn off your PC.
Step 2Turn on the PC.
Step 3Press the F2 key while the PC is booting up until you enter the BIOS. Similar to the image below:
Step 4Change the order of the devices, placing the USB drive first. Here, the keys used are F5 and F6 for this. Press F10 to save and exit, and you're done. (This may also vary depending on your BIOS).
Step 5Follow the steps in the Microsoft installation program and you're done.
After the installation is complete, simply remove the USB drive from your PC and restart everything. If everything went well, the PC will boot up with the Windows 11 welcome screen, asking for your initial credentials and settings.
And with that, we've completed the Windows 11 installation via USB drive. Comment below if this tutorial helped you or if you have any questions, and feel free to check out our other articles.
See also other features
reviewed by Luis Antonio Costa.
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