How to use Rufus to create bootable Windows 11 23H2 USB

If you must install Windows 11 23H2 from a USB bootable media, using Rufus is your best option, and here's how.

Avatar for Mauro Huculak
@Pureinfotech
Pureinfotech Logo
Rufus create Windows 11 23H2 USB
Rufus create Windows 11 23H2 USB

UPDATED 11/1/2023: Using the Rufus tool is perhaps the easiest way to create a bootable USB flash drive to install Windows 11 23H2 (2023 Update), and in this guide, I’ll outline the steps to complete this task. Rufus works similarly to the Media Creation Tool, but you also have the option to use an existing ISO or download the setup files directly from the Microsoft servers.

In addition, Rufus helps you to create a USB installation media for older versions, including 22H2, Windows 10, and 8.1. Furthermore, it’s the best tool to create a bootable media to bypass the requirements to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware.

In this guide, you will learn the steps to use Rufus to download the ISO file and create a bootable media to install Windows 11 23H2 on supported or unsupported hardware.

Create Windows 11 23H2 USB from Rufus

To create a Windows 11 23H2 USB bootable media, connect a USB flash drive with 8GB of space, and then use these steps:

  1. Open Rufus website.

  2. Under the “Download” section, click the link to download the latest version.

  3. Double-click the Rufus executable file to launch the tool.

  4. Click the Settings button (third button from the left) at the bottom of the page.

    Rufus open settings

  5. Under the “Settings” section, use the “Check for updates” drop-down menu and select the Daily option.

    Rufus enable updates

  6. Click the Close button.

  7. Click the Close button again.

  8. Open Rufus again.

  9. (Optional) Under the “Device” section, use the drop-down menu and select the USB flash drive to create the installation media.

  10. Under the “Boot selection” section, use the drop-down menu and select the “Disk or ISO image” option.

  11. Click the down-arrow button (on the right side) and select the Download option.

    Rufus Windows 11 ISO download option

  12. Click the Download button.

  13. Select the Windows 11 option.

  14. Click the Continue button.

  15. Under the “Release” section, select the “23H2 vX (Build 22631.XXXX – 2023.XX)” option to choose the Windows 11 2023 Update.

    Rufus Windows 11 23H2 ISO download

  16. Click the Continue button.

  17. Select the Windows 11 Home/Pro/Edu option.

  18. Click the Continue button.

  19. Select the language of Windows 11.

  20. Click the Continue button.

  21. Select the x64 architecture option.

  22. Click the Download button.

  23. Select the location to save the Windows 11 23H2 ISO file automatically.

  24. Under the “Image option” setting, select the “Standard Windows 11 Installation” option.

  25. (Optional) Continue with the default settings after the download.

  26. (Optional) Under the “Volume label” setting, specify a name for the drive — for example, Windows 11 23H2 Setup.

  27. Click the Start button.

  28. Clear the “Remove requirement for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot and TPM 2.0” option.

    Rufus user experience settings

  29. (Optional) Check the “Remove requirement for an online Microsoft account” option to be able to create a local account during the out-of-box experience (OOBE).

  30. (Optional) Check the “Create a local account with username” option and specify the account name if you want an installation with a local account instead of a Microsoft account (not recommended).

  31. (Optional) Clear the “Set regional options to the same values as this user’s” option.

  32. (Optional) Clear the “Disable data collection” option.

  33. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the bootable USB flash drive will be created to install Windows 11 on a device that meets the minimum requirements.

Create Windows 11 23H2 USB for unsupported hardware from Rufus

The Rufus app can also help you create a bootable USB to bypass the TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and memory requirements to install Windows 11 23H2 on unsupported hardware. You can also use the feature to download the Windows 11 23H2 ISO file, but for these instructions, I’ll use an existing ISO file.

To create a Windows 11 23H2 bootable USB for unsupported hardware, use these steps:

  1. Open Rufus website.

  2. Under the “Download” section, click the link to download the latest version.

  3. Double-click the Rufus executable file to launch the tool.

  4. Under the “Device” section, use the drop-down menu and select the flash drive to create the Windows 11 23H2 bootable USB media.

  5. Under the “Boot selection” section, use the drop-down menu and select the “Disk or ISO image” option.

  6. Click the Select button.

  7. Select the Windows 11 23H2 ISO file.

    Rufus open Windows 11 23H2 ISO file

  8. Click the Open button.

  9. Under the “Image option” section, select the “Standard Windows 11 Installation” option.

    Rufus image option

  10. Under the “Partition scheme” section, select the GPT option.

  11. Under the “Target system” section, select the UEFI (non-CSM) option.

  12. Under the “Volume label” section, specify a descriptive name for the Windows 11 23H2 bootable USB flash drive – For example, Windows 11 23H2 Setup.

  13. Use the default settings for the File system and Cluster size options.

  14. Check the Quick format option.

  15. Check the “Create extended label and icon files” option.

  16. Click the Start button.

  17. Check the “Remove requirement for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot and TPM 2.0” option.

    Rufus user experience settings

  18. (Optional) Check the “Remove requirement for an online Microsoft account” option to be able to create a local account during the out-of-box experience (OOBE).

  19. (Optional) Check the “Create a local account with username” option and specify the account name if you want an installation with a local account instead of a Microsoft account (not recommended).

  20. (Optional) Clear the “Set regional options to the same values as this user’s” option.

  21. (Optional) Clear the “Disable data collection” option.

  22. Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, the tool will create a bootable USB media that you can use to install version 23H2 on unsupported hardware.

Update November 1, 2023: The Windows 11 2023 Update is officially available starting October 31. You can get it from the Windows Update settings as well as using the available tools. 

About the author
Avatar for Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].