How to boot your PC from a USB flash drive on Windows 11

• You can boot from a USB drive to access setup, recovery tools, or troubleshoot startup problems.
• The boot menu method is the fastest and works on most PCs using keys like F12, Esc, or F11.
• Windows 11 allows USB boot directly from Advanced startup settings without entering the firmware.
• Changing the UEFI boot order forces the system to prioritize USB devices during startup.

On Windows 11 or on a PC running any supported version of Windows, you can boot from a USB flash drive to access the clean installation setup or advanced tools through the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to troubleshoot various issues when your computer won’t start.

Before you can perform this task, you’ll need a bootable USB flash drive created with tools like Rufus, Ventoy, or Media Creation Tool, and more importantly, your computer must support USB boot (almost all modern systems do).

If you’re unable to start your computer from a bootable USB flash drive, you’ll need to change the UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) settings.

In this guide, I’ll outline the easy steps to boot your laptop or desktop computer from a USB flash drive on Windows 11.

• Boot from USB using the PC’s boot menu
• Boot from USB using Settings on Windows 11
• Boot from USB using UEFI boot order option

Boot from USB using the PC’s boot menu

This is your core method (no BIOS deep dive). Here’s how:

1. Turn off the computer.

2. Insert the bootable USB drive.

3. Turn on the computer. 

4. Upon starting, press Esc, Delete, or one of the function keys shown on the screen to enter the boot menu.

   

   Quick tip: Usually, the screen will show the key to access the firmware and the key to access the boot menu. However, the specific key will depend on the device’s brand. Common keys include: F12 (Dell, Lenovo), Esc (HP), F9 (HP alternative), F8 (ASUS), and F11 (MSI).

5. Select the USB flash drive from the list and press Enter.

   

   Quick note: Sometimes the option won’t explicitly name the USB. Instead, you’ll see it’s “Removable Devices,” or something similar.

Once you complete the steps, the flash drive will be properly created, and the system will load the environment from the USB instead of Windows 11.

You may need to check your manufacturer’s support page for more specific details on how to access this menu, if supported.

Boot from USB using Settings on Windows 11

This avoids accessing the PC’s firmware, but it’s only available if you have access to the Windows desktop:

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on System.

3. Click the Recovery page.

4. Click the Restart now button in the “Advanced startup” setting under the “Recovery options” section.

   

5. Click the Restart now button one more time.

6. Click on Use a device.

   

7. Choose the USB drive to start the device.

After you complete the steps, the computer will start and boot from the USB drive.

Boot from USB using UEFI boot order option

To change the UEFI (BIOS) boot order to start the PC from USB, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on System.

3. Click the Recovery tab.

4. Click the Restart now button in the “Advanced startup” setting under the “Recovery options” section.

   

5. Click the Restart now button again.

6. Click on Troubleshoot.

7. Click on Advanced options.

8. Click the “UEFI Firmware Settings” option.

   

9. Click the Restart button.

10. Open the boot options page from the UEFI (BIOS) interface.

    

    Quick note: The BIOS interface can be different, depending on the manufacturer and even between computer models. As a result, you’ll have to explore the settings until you land in the corresponding settings. However, the easiest way to find the boot settings is to check the manufacturer’s support website.

11. Select the USB port as the primary boot device. You can also specify drive, network, or another media.

    

12. Save the changes.

Once you complete the steps, the computer will start in sequence, beginning with the specified device, such as the USB bootable media. If no bootable information is found on the device, the system will check the remaining options for boot information.

Other details and troubleshooting

Usually, you will have to change the boot order to start the device from a USB flash drive to install Windows 11. However, since this process can delay the startup, it’s recommended that the changes be reverted to the drive that stores the operating system files. 

Usually, after booting from USB, you’ll see a different interface depending on the tool you’re using. It could be a recovery menu, Linux desktop, or utility environment. Also, when accessing your computer with an external tool, your internal files aren’t modified unless you intentionally do so.

If the USB flash drive isn’t showing up, it’s likely that it’s not bootable, so you may have to recreate it. If it’s bootable, then try a different USB port. It could also be an issue with Fast Startup. In this case, you may need to disable the feature. 

You may also want to try a different flash drive, and also make sure that Secure Boot isn’t blocking the tool.

It’s important to note that booting from USB is a temporary override, not a permanent system change. Once you restart without the USB, the computer returns to normal.