How to Install Windows 11 from a USB Drive Step by Step
updated 11 July 2026
Quick answer
The easiest way to install Windows 11 is to create a bootable USB drive with the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's website and boot your computer from it. First check that your hardware meets the requirements, mainly TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, because without them the installer will refuse. On a compatible computer, upgrading from a genuine Windows 10 is free.
Step by step
- 1
Check that your computer meets the requirements
Download Microsoft's PC Health Check app - it tells you right away whether your hardware can run Windows 11 and what's missing. The key requirements are TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, a 64-bit processor from the compatibility list, 4 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of storage. Processors from before roughly 2017-2018 often fall off the list.
- 2
Enable TPM and Secure Boot in the BIOS
Hardware often has TPM and Secure Boot, just disabled in the motherboard settings. Enter the BIOS/UEFI when the computer starts and look for these options - on Intel, TPM may be labeled PTT; on AMD, fTPM. The exact names and menu locations depend on the board manufacturer, so check its manual.
- 3
Back up your data
A clean install wipes the entire drive, and even an upgrade can fail. Copy your documents, photos, and passwords to an external drive or the cloud before you start. Also write down the license keys for programs you don't want to lose.
- 4
Prepare the USB drive with the Media Creation Tool
On Microsoft's Windows 11 download page, grab the Media Creation Tool and run it. Plug in a USB drive of at least 8 GB, because it will be wiped, and let the tool write the installation media. The same program can also download an ISO file if you prefer to prepare the drive another way.
- 5
Boot the computer from the USB drive
Leave the USB drive plugged in and switch the computer on, entering the boot selection menu. The key depends on the manufacturer - often it's F12, F9, F11, Esc, or Del - check it on the startup screen or in the manual. Pick the USB drive from the list so the installer starts instead of the old system.
- 6
Go through the installation
Choose your language, and when asked for a key you can click I don't have a product key and provide it later. For a from-scratch install, pick the Custom option and select the partition - this is where you decide whether to wipe the drive. From there, the installer runs on its own and restarts the computer several times.
- 7
Activate the system
An upgrade from a genuine Windows 10 activates itself, because the license is tied to the hardware. A fresh install on a computer that previously had an activated system usually also activates automatically once it connects to the internet. You only buy a new key when the computer has never had a Windows license.
Installing without a Microsoft account
During first-time setup, Windows 11 pushes hard for you to sign in with a Microsoft account and connect to the internet - in the Home edition, it's officially required. A local account can be created, but Microsoft keeps shutting down the workarounds one after another, so specific tricks quickly stop working and there's no point listing them here.
The safest route, which doesn't depend on short-lived tricks: finish setup with a Microsoft account, then after installation go to Settings → Accounts, add a local account, and switch over to it. The end result is the same, and you don't risk the installer getting stuck on a step that can't be skipped.
Windows 11 on an old computer
Support for Windows 10 ended in October 2025, so plenty of people with older hardware are looking for a path to Windows 11. If your computer lacks TPM 2.0 or a listed processor, workarounds for the requirements do exist, but steer clear of them - Microsoft warns that such a system may not receive updates, including security patches.
Instead of risking an unsupported install, consider buying extended security updates for Windows 10 as a stopgap, moving to a lighter operating system, or replacing the hardware if the computer is getting on in years. For browsing and documents, an older laptop will serve you well for a long time on a different system too.
Frequently asked questions
›How do I install Windows 11 from a USB drive?
Create the media with the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's website on a USB drive of at least 8 GB, then boot the computer from it via the boot selection menu. The key for that menu depends on the manufacturer - most often F12, F9, or Esc.
›Can I install Windows 11 without a Microsoft account?
In the Home edition, a Microsoft account is officially required, and Microsoft blocks the workarounds one by one. The most reliable approach is to finish setup with a Microsoft account, then create a local account in Settings and switch to it.
›Can I install Windows 11 on an old computer without TPM?
Workarounds technically exist, but skip them, because Microsoft doesn't guarantee updates then, including security patches. On hardware without TPM 2.0, it's safer to stay on a supported setup than to force the install.
›How much does upgrading to Windows 11 cost?
From a genuine Windows 10 on a compatible computer, the upgrade is free and activates on its own. You only buy a key when the computer has never had an activated Windows license.
›Does installing Windows 11 delete my files?
An in-place upgrade usually keeps your files, but a clean install from a USB drive via the Custom option wipes the selected partition. Always make a backup before you start, because installations can fail.