How to create bootable Windows 11 USB with Command Prompt

• You can create a bootable Windows 11 USB drive using Command Prompt and DiskPart without third-party apps.
• The process requires an 8GB USB flash drive and the Windows 11 ISO file.
• DiskPart is used to clean, partition, and format the USB drive before copying installation files.
• The guide also works on Windows 10 for creating Windows 11 installation media.

If you prefer not to use third-party tools, you can use Command Prompt and the DiskPart utility to create a bootable Windows 11 USB flash drive. In this guide, I’ll show you how to complete the process.

On Windows 11, there are several ways to create installation media, including the Media Creation Tool, Rufus, and Ventoy. However, you can also build a bootable USB drive manually using Command Prompt. This approach gives you more control over the process and can be useful when troubleshooting installation issues or working on systems where additional tools aren’t available.

To complete the process, you’ll need a USB flash drive with at least 8GB of storage, along with the Windows 11 ISO file.

In this guide, I’ll teach you the steps to create a USB flash drive to boot a computer to install Windows 11. You can also use these instructions on Windows 10.

• Create a Windows 11 bootable USB with Command Prompt
• Pureinfotech’s Take

Create a Windows 11 bootable USB with Command Prompt

To create a Windows 11 USB flash drive, follow these steps:

1. Open the Microsoft Support website.

   Quick note: If you already have the ISO file, you can skip to step 7.

2. Select the Windows 11 option under the “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices” section.

   

3. Click the Download button.

4. Select the installation language.

   

5. Click the Confirm button.

6. Click the 64-bit Download button to save the Windows 11 ISO file on the computer.

   

7. Open Start. 

8. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as Administrator option.

9. Type the following command to open Diskpart and press Enter:

   diskpart

10. Type the following command to determine the USB flash drive and press Enter:

    list disk

11. Type the following command to select the storage and press Enter:

    select disk 1

    Quick tip: The select disk 1 command as an example, but you have to replace 1 with the flash drive you want to use.

12. Type the following commands to delete everything from the USB flash drive and press Enter:

    clean

    

13. Type the following command to create a primary partition and press Enter:

    create partition primary

14. Type the following command to select the new partition and press Enter:

    select partition 1

15. Type the following command to make the USB flash drive bootable and press Enter:

    format FS=NTFS quick

16. Type the following command to assign a volume and a drive letter for the USB flash drive and press Enter:

    assign letter=X

    

    Change X for any available letter you want to use in the command.

17. Type the following command to quit the tool and press Enter:

    exit

18. Type the following command to mount the Windows 11 ISO file and press Enter:

    PowerShell Mount-DiskImage -ImagePath "C:\path\to\Windows11.iso"

    

    In the command, update the path with the location where you have stored the Windows 11 ISO file.

19. Type the following command to relaunch Diskpart and press Enter:

    diskpart

20. Type the following command to determine the drive letter for the mounted Windows 11 ISO file and press Enter:

    list volume

21. Type the following command to exit Diskpart and press Enter:

    exit

22. Type the following command to access the ISO file and press Enter:

    E:

23. Type the following command to open the “boot” folder and press Enter: 

    cd boot

24. Type the following command to update the volume boot code for the USB flash drive and press Enter:

    bootsect /nt60 X:

25. Type the following command to open the root of the mounted drive and press Enter:

    cd..

26. Type the following command to copy all the Windows 11 2024 Update installation files to the USB flash drive and press Enter:

    xcopy E:*.* X: /E /F /H

    

    In the command, change the “E” and “X” letters with the correct drive letters for the ISO image file and the USB flash drive, respectively.

Once you complete the steps, you can use the flash drive to start the computer and perform a fresh installation of Windows 11.

Pureinfotech’s Take

I still think Rufus and Ventoy are the easier options for most people, especially if you create bootable media often. However, knowing how to build a Windows 11 USB drive manually with Command Prompt is one of those skills that can save you when third-party tools stop working, get blocked by security policies, or simply aren’t available.

I’ve also found that using DiskPart gives you a better understanding of what’s actually happening during the process, rather than relying on a one-click app. Microsoft hasn’t changed this method much in years, and that consistency is part of the reason I still recommend knowing about it.

That said, this method is less forgiving. One wrong disk selection in DiskPart can wipe the wrong drive, so I would only recommend it if you’re comfortable working in Command Prompt and paying close attention to each step.

For anyone troubleshooting installation issues or working with multiple computers, though, this is still one of the most dependable ways to create installation media.

Update May 25, 2026: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.