How to Create a Portable Windows 11 USB

Windows erstwhile had a autochthonal "Windows to Go" feature, but it had circumstantial hardware requirements that made it a spot unpopular. Luckily, you tin inactive make a portable Windows installation with a third-party programme if you request one. Here's how.

What is simply a Portable oregon "Live" Installation?

If you've ever tried Linux, you've astir apt encountered the enactment to "choose earlier you install." In different words, you tin tally the operating strategy temporarily disconnected a USB thrust (either a flash thrust oregon SSD), earlier you perpetrate to installing it connected your PC.

Linux distros besides fto you make a "portable" installation, which is simply a permanent, existent installation of Linux that is located connected a portable device, similar an outer SSD oregon a flash drive.

Unfortunately, Windows doesn't connection a comparable diagnostic natively. You can't instal it to an outer thrust normally, and determination isn't immoderate mode to effort Windows earlier you instal it. However, with a small spot of work, it is possible.

Why Run Windows connected a USB?

Portable operating systems are useful for immoderate fig of reasons. I primitively created a portable windows installation due to the fact that I switched my laptop implicit to Linux. However, I inactive request regular, casual entree to Windows for work. I didn't privation to woody with the hoops you person to leap done to get dual booting moving smoothly, truthful installing Windows connected an outer NVMe SSD was an evident alternative.

Besides dual booting, having a portable Windows instal tin beryllium highly adjuvant if you ever request to troubleshoot a malfunctioning Windows PC.

What Do You Need?

There are a fewer things you'll request earlier you acceptable up your portable windows installation.

• A Windows ISO
• Rufus
• An outer USB device

You'll besides request a Windows PC with astatine slightest 1 disposable USB port.

USB Drive oregon External SSD?

You tin usage this method to instal Windows to a flash thrust if you want, but I wouldn't urge it. You should usage an outer oregon portable SSD instead, since flash drives thin to person worse work and constitute speeds.

If you can, usage an outer NMVe drive. NVMe drives are faster and present outgo astir the aforesaid per gigabyte of retention arsenic SATA SSDs (or their portable equivalents). I'd besides urge piecing unneurotic your ain outer SSD, since it is casual and cost-effective for the show you get.

The large limiting origin successful each of these scenarios is interface speed. USB 2.0 is simply excessively dilatory to tally a hard drive—it would beryllium similar utilizing a mechanical hard drive, but worse.

Ideally, you'd privation to usage USB 3.2 Gen 2, USB 4, oregon Thunderbolt 3 oregon 4, but thing arsenic accelerated oregon faster than the archetypal USB 3.2 Gen 1 (originally called USB 3.0 erstwhile it was released) volition work.

Creating a Windows Installation connected an External USB Device

The archetypal happening you request to bash is download your Windows 11 ISO and the programme Rufus, if you don't person it already. Rufus is utilized to make bootable media of each kinds.

Once you've got the bundle components you'll need, marque definite your USB instrumentality is attached to the fastest USB larboard you person connected your PC.

Open up Rufus, past click the “Select” fastener and prime your Windows 11 ISO. Make definite to tick the container that says “Show USB Hard Drives,” past prime your USB instrumentality from the list.

Select MBR partitioning scheme if you’re going to effort utilizing this thrust connected older PCs (10 years plus), different usage GPT.

Finally, prime "Windows to Go" from the Image Option drop-down menu.

Once that is done, sanction the thrust and click “Start.” I opted for Windows 11 Pro; I'd urge sticking to Pro oregon Home for astir cases.

I’d besides urge creating a section account, removing the online Microsoft Account requirement, and disabling information collection.

Once that is done, Windows is connected the drive, but you’ll inactive person to spell done the Windows Setup process the archetypal clip you footwear from the drive. I’d urge doing this connected whichever PC has the fastest USB ports and CPU. I tested the clip it took to tally the setup process connected my laptop (which is present a spot old) and my desktop PC, which is overmuch much powerful, and the desktop PC was noticeably faster.

To footwear from the drive, you request to change your footwear order. Restart your PC and pat the F2 oregon Delete cardinal to entree the BIOS oregon UEFI. Alternatively, shift-click “Restart” successful the Start Menu. Once you’re successful the UEFI, look for “Boot Options,” and prime your caller USB instrumentality arsenic the footwear device.

When you prevention and exit, your PC volition restart and locomotion you done mounting up Windows 11 connected the portable drive.

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Once Windows has been installed and acceptable up, you'll person a afloat functional Windows 11 installation moving disconnected a USB device. Just marque definite to encrypt it truthful that nary 1 tin bargain your data.