How to Install Windows 10 From a USB Drive

What you need before you start

Installing Windows 10 from USB requires three things: a USB drive with at least 8 GB of storage space, a computer that can boot from USB, and a Windows 10 installation file. You'll also need a second computer to create the bootable USB drive — the one you're installing on won't have Windows yet.

The USB drive will be erased during this process, so back up anything on it first. Make sure your target computer (the one receiving Windows 10) has its power plugged in for the entire installation — a power loss halfway through can corrupt the installation and force you to start over.

You'll need a Windows 10 product key or license to activate Windows after installation. If you're upgrading from Windows 7 or 8.1, you may be able to use your old key. If you don't have a key yet, Windows 10 will still install and run, but you'll see a watermark on your desktop and won't be able to personalize your background or access some settings until you add one.

Key Takeaways

You need a second computer to create the bootable USB drive using the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from Microsoft.
The USB drive must be at least 8 GB and will be completely erased during the process.
Your target computer must be set to boot from USB in its BIOS or UEFI settings before you plug in the drive.
The installation itself takes 15 to 30 minutes once it starts, and your computer will restart several times automatically.
After installation finishes, you'll need to enter a Windows 10 product key to fully activate the system.

Creating a bootable USB drive on another computer

Go to Microsoft's Windows 10 download page on a computer that already has Windows, Mac, or Linux. Download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool — this is the official Microsoft program that creates the installation USB. Run the installer and follow the prompts to open the tool.

Select "Create installation media for another PC" when the tool asks what you want to do. Choose your language, Windows 10 edition (Home or Pro — match what your product key is for), and architecture (64-bit for almost all modern computers, 32-bit only if your computer is very old or you know it only supports 32-bit). Plug in your USB drive and select it as the destination. The tool will download the Windows 10 files and write them to the USB drive — this takes 10 to 20 minutes depending on your internet speed.

When the tool finishes, eject the USB drive safely from your computer. Do not unplug it while the tool is still running or the drive may not work.

Changing your boot order in BIOS or UEFI

Before you plug the USB drive into your target computer, you need to tell it to boot from USB instead of from its hard drive. Restart your computer and watch the screen carefully as it powers on. You'll see a message like "Press F2 to enter Setup" or "Press Del to enter BIOS" — the key varies by manufacturer. Press that key repeatedly until you enter the BIOS or UEFI settings screen.

Look for a section called "Boot Order," "Boot Sequence," or "Boot Priority." You may need to navigate using arrow keys and Enter. Move USB or "Removable Media" to the top of the list so your computer checks the USB drive before the hard drive. Save your changes (usually by pressing F10 or selecting "Save and Exit") and let the computer restart.

If you can't find the boot order menu or your computer doesn't respond to the key presses, try a different key — common ones are F12, Esc, or F1. If you're still stuck, search online for "[your computer model] enter BIOS" to find the exact key for your machine.

Starting the Windows 10 installation

Plug the USB drive into your target computer while it's off or restarting. The computer should boot from the USB drive and show a "Windows Setup" screen within a few seconds. If nothing happens, your computer may not have recognized the USB drive — try a different USB port, or go back into BIOS and confirm the boot order is correct.

When Windows Setup appears, select your language, time zone, and keyboard layout. Click "Next" and then "Install Now." You'll be asked to enter your Windows 10 product key. If you don't have one yet, click "I don't have a product key" — you can add it later, and Windows will still install.

Accept the license terms and choose "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)" on the next screen. This gives you control over which drive Windows installs to.

Selecting a drive and completing installation

You'll see a list of drives and partitions on your computer. If your computer is brand new or you're wiping it completely, you'll see one large unallocated space. Click on it and select "Next" — Windows will create the partitions it needs automatically.

If your computer already has Windows or other data on it and you want to keep it, select only the partition you want to replace. If you want to erase everything, select all partitions, click "Delete," and then click "Next" on the unallocated space that remains. Deleting partitions is permanent and cannot be undone.

Windows will now copy files and install itself. This takes 15 to 30 minutes. Your computer will restart several times automatically — do not turn it off or unplug it. Once installation finishes, remove the USB drive and let Windows complete its setup. You'll be asked to create a user account, set a password, and configure privacy settings.

Troubleshooting if installation fails

If Windows Setup stops or shows an error, restart your computer and try again. If the same error appears, the USB drive may be corrupted. Go back to your second computer, download the Media Creation Tool again, and create a new bootable USB drive on a different USB stick.

If your computer won't boot from USB at all, check that you've set the boot order correctly in BIOS and that the USB drive is plugged into a port on the back of your computer (front ports sometimes don't work for booting). Some computers also have a one-time boot menu — restart and press F12 or Esc to choose the USB drive without changing BIOS permanently.

If Windows installs but won't start afterward, restart and press F8 repeatedly to enter Safe Mode. From there, you can troubleshoot or reinstall drivers. If you get stuck, you can always create a new USB drive and reinstall Windows from scratch.

What happens after installation is complete

Once Windows 10 finishes installing and you've created your user account, your computer will be ready to use. Windows will automatically download and install drivers for most hardware. If something isn't working — like your network card or graphics — Windows will show a notification, or you can visit Device Manager to see what needs a driver.

If you skipped entering a product key during installation, you can add one later by going to Settings > Update & Security > Activation. Windows will validate your key online and activate your copy. Until then, you'll see a watermark on your desktop saying "Activate Windows," but everything else works normally.

You can now delete the Windows 10 installation files from your USB drive and use it for other storage, or keep it as a backup installation drive for the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same USB drive to install Windows on multiple computers?

Yes. The bootable USB drive is just a copy of the Windows 10 installation files. You can use it on as many computers as you want, as long as each one has its own valid product key. You don't need to recreate the USB drive each time.

What if my computer doesn't have a USB port?

Older computers without USB ports cannot use this method. You would need to use a DVD instead, which requires burning the Windows 10 ISO file to a disc using a second computer with a DVD drive. The installation process is otherwise identical.

Do I lose my files if I install Windows 10 this way?

Only if you delete the partition during installation. If you're installing on a new hard drive or a blank partition, nothing is lost. If you're replacing an existing Windows installation on the same drive, you'll lose everything on that partition unless you back it up first.

Can I install Windows 10 without a product key?

Yes. Windows 10 will install and run without a key. You'll see a watermark on your desktop and won't be able to change your background or access some personalization settings, but everything else works. You can add a key anytime later.

How long does the whole process take?

Creating the bootable USB drive takes 10 to 20 minutes. The actual Windows installation takes 15 to 30 minutes. Changing BIOS settings and initial setup add another 10 to 15 minutes. Total time is usually 45 minutes to an hour from start to finish.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.