How to Install Windows 10 (To Go) on a USB Drive

Do you want to run Windows 10 from your USB drive?

Are you traveling and you miss your Windows 10 PC?

Create your own USB drive that runs Windows 10 for you!

In this tutorial you will learn how to create a bootable Windows 10 USB drive using Rufus and WinToUSB.

As you know, there is a tool called Windows to Go that allows you to create a bootable Windows drive.

This tip will also work if you want to create a Windows 7 USB drive if you like Windows 7.

Install Windows 10 on to a USB Drive Using Rufus

Download Rufus from the official website and double-click on it to launch it. The program doesn’t require any installation, just open and you are good to go!

Connect your USB drive (at least 4GB) to your PC.

If you still don’t have a ISO of Windows 10, you can follow this guide to download Windows 10 ISO legally from Microsoft’s website.

Choose your USB Flash Drive in Device (use size or letter of drive). Then click on “SELECT“.

create bootable windows 10 usb drive 2 rufus

Locate your ISO image and click “Open” to load it in Rufus.

create bootable windows 10 usb drive 3 iso

In the Image option choose “Windows To Go“, GPT in partition scheme and UEFI in Target system.

Click “Start“.

The program will format your USB drive, click “OK” for confirmation.

create bootable windows 10 usb drive 5 ok

Select the version of Windows you want to install.

You Windows 10 USB drive is now ready! You can use it on any PC and any changes you make will be saved in your USB drive.

Install Windows 10 on to a USB Drive Using WinToUSB

You can download the free version of WinToUSB from the official website, after the download is finished double-click on the program to start the installation.

Select “I accept the agreement” and click “Next“.

Choose a folder of destination then click “Next“.

The installation is fast, you don’t need to wait more than 4 seconds…

Launch the program and choose the Image File (ISO).

Select the ISO and click “Open“.

Select the version of Windows 10 you want to install, click “Next“. Here I have chosen “Windows 10 Home“.

Choose “GPT for UEFI” and click “Yes“.

Wait few seconds…

Select the USB Drive as a destination disk.

Choose VHD as Installation mode.

Click “Next“.

The installation will take few minutes longer… go grab a glass of water of leave it running until the computer shuts down by the night by checking the option for that.