How to clean install Windows 11 24H2

UPDATED 10/10/2024: Windows 11 24H2 (2024 Update) is the next major refresh of the operating system releasing on October 1, 2024, and you can perform a clean installation using a USB bootable flash drive to upgrade to the latest version.

Microsoft recommends using an in-place upgrade, but I always prefer a clean installation since modifying the current setup can cause problems and unexpected errors due to compatibility issues and custom system configurations. 

When you choose a fresh installation, you’re likely to run into fewer problems because you will be deleting everything on the drive and applying a fresh copy of the operating system. Also, if you have had the same setup for many months, this approach can resolve existing issues, performance, and memory usage.

Microsoft supports multiple ways to proceed with an installation, but the best approach is to use a USB flash drive, which you can create using third-party tools like Rufus. (You can also use the Media Creation Tool, but since the final version of the operating system won’t be available until later in the year, it’s not an option to create a Windows 11 24H2 bootable media at this time.)

In this guide, I’ll teach you the steps to set up Windows 11 24H2 as a clean installation using a bootable USB flash drive. 

Clean install Windows 11 24H2 from USB

The installation is a three-step process, which includes downloading the ISO file for the latest version of Windows 11 24H2, creating an USB bootable media, and then proceeding with the setup. 

Also, you must ensure the computer can boot from a USB flash drive, which means you may need to change the UEFI settings. Since the firmware settings are different on every computer, you must check your manufacturer support website for more specific details.

1. Download Windows 11 24H2 ISO file

To download the official Windows 11 24H2 ISO file, use these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Support website.

2. Under the “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO)” section, select the Windows 11 option.

   

3. Click the Download button.

4. Select the installation language.

   

5. Click the Confirm button.

6. Click the Download button to save the Windows 11 24H2 ISO file on the computer.

   

Once you complete the steps, you can use the ISO file to create a bootable media.

If you plan to set up a virtual machine, you can mount the ISO file directly into the hypervisor to proceed with the installation. Otherwise, continue with the steps to create a bootable USB flash drive.

2. Create Windows 11 24H2 bootable media

To create a bootable USB media of version 24H2, use these steps:

1. Open Rufus website.

2. Click the link to download the latest version under the “Download” section.

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

4. Click the Select button.

5. Choose the Windows 11 24H2 ISO file.

6. Click the Open button.

7. Select the “Standard Windows 11 Installation” option under the “Image option” setting.

   

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

9. (Optional) Specify a name for the drive (for example, Windows 11 24H2 Setup) under the “Volume label” setting.

10. Click the Start button.

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

    

12. Clear the “Remove requirement for an online Microsoft account” option.

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

14. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the tool will begin creating a bootable media with the Windows 11 installation media.

Although I prefer using the Rufus tool since it allows you to customize the installation media, you can always use the Media Creation Tool, Ventoy, and even Command Prompt to create the bootable media.

3. Clean install Windows 11 24H2 from USB

To perform a clean install of Windows 11 24H2 from USB, use these steps:

1. Start the PC with the Windows 11 24H2 USB flash drive.

2. Press any key to continue.

3. Choose the installation language and format.

   

4. Click the Next button.

5. Choose the keyboard and input method.

   

6. Click the Next button.

7. Select the “Install Windows 11” option.

   

8. Check the “I agree everything” option to confirm this process will delete everything on the computer.

9. Click the “I don’t have a product key” option.

   

   Quick note: The computer will activate automatically after reinstallation. If this is a new computer, you must provide a product key. You can always provide the product key to activate later through the Settings app.

10. Select the edition of “Windows 11” your license key activates (if applicable).

    

11. Click the Next button.

12. Click the Accept button

13. Select each partition on the hard drive where you want to install Windows 11 24H2 and click the Delete button. (Usually, “Drive 0” is the drive that contains all the installation files.)

    

14. Select the hard drive (Drive 0 Unallocated Space) to install the operating system.

    

15. Click the Next button.

16. Click the Install button.

    

17. Choose your region setting on the first page of the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE) after the installation.

    

18. Click the Yes button.

19. Select your keyboard layout setting.

    

20. Click the Yes button.

21. Click the Skip button if you do not need to configure a second layout.

22. The computer will automatically connect to the network using an Ethernet connection. You must set up the connection manually on a wireless connection (a security key may be required).

23. (Optional) Confirm a name for the computer.

    

    Quick note: This is an optional step, but I recommended setting a name to make it easier to identify the device in the network, on your Microsoft account, and when restoring your computer from backup. Also, after completing this step, the setup will restart to apply the new name, but it’ll start where you left off to continue with the settings.

24. Click the Next button. (The device will restart automatically.)

25. Select the “Set up for personal use” option for Windows 11 Pro. This option is not available for the “Home” edition.

    

    Quick tip: Use the “Set up for work or school” option to skip the Microsoft account and create a local account.

26. Click the Next button.

27. Click the Sign in button.

28. Confirm your Microsoft account email to create a Windows 11 account.

    

29. Click the Next button.

30. Confirm your Microsoft account password.

31. Click the Next button.

32. Click the Create PIN button.

33. Create a new four-digit Windows Hello PIN.

    

34. Click the OK button.

35. Turn on or off the toggle switch for each privacy setting to confirm the one that best suits your situation.

36. Click the Next button.

37. Click the Next button again.

38. Click the Accept button.

    

39. Click the More options setting.

    

    Quick tip: You can also click the “Restore from this PC” button to restore your files, apps, settings, and credentials from the system backup available in your OneDrive account. You can learn more about the Windows Backup app in this guide.

40. Click the “Set up as a new PC” option.

    

41. Click the “Set up as a new PC” option again.

42. (Optional) On the “Let’s customize your experience” page, select one or more ways you plan to use the device to allow the operating system to suggest tools and service customization during this experience.

    

43. Click the Accept button to continue. Or click the Skip button to skip this part of the setup.

44. (Optional) Use the code to link your Android phone or click the Skip option.

45. (Optional) Use the code to download the OneDrive on your phone or click the Skip option.

46. Click the “Not now” button if you will be using a browser other than Microsoft Edge.

    

Once you complete the steps, Windows 11 24H2 will finish the clean installation on the computer.

Update October 10, 2024: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.