A Windows 10 bootable USB drive can be used to install or reinstall Windows 10 and to access recovery tools on a PC that will not start normally. Microsoft still provides its Media Creation Tool for creating Windows 10 installation media, although ordinary Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025.
Before You Create the USB
You need a working Windows PC with a reliable internet connection and a blank USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of space. The creation process deletes the existing contents of the USB drive, so copy anything important from it first.
How to Create a Windows 10 Bootable USB
- On a working PC, open Microsoft’s official Windows 10 download page.
- Under the section for creating Windows 10 installation media, download the Media Creation Tool.
- Open the downloaded MediaCreationTool file and approve the User Account Control prompt if one appears.
- Accept Microsoft’s license terms.
- Choose the option to create installation media for another PC.
- Select the appropriate language, Windows edition, and architecture when the tool gives you those choices.
- Choose USB flash drive.
- Select the correct USB drive. Double-check the drive because its existing contents will be erased.
- Allow the tool to download Windows 10 and create the bootable installation drive.
- When the tool reports that the USB is ready, finish the wizard and safely remove the drive.
How to Use the Windows 10 USB
To reinstall or repair Windows on a PC that still starts, connect the USB and open setup.exe from the drive. If the computer cannot start normally, you can boot from the USB instead. The key or menu used to choose a boot device varies by PC manufacturer.
When you boot from Windows installation media, you can begin Windows Setup or choose the repair option to reach Windows Recovery Environment. A clean installation can remove personal files, apps, settings, and manufacturer customizations, so do not proceed with a clean install until you understand what will be erased.
Do You Need a Windows 10 Product Key?
A product key may be required, but many PCs activate with a digital license or a key stored in the device firmware. If you reinstall the same licensed Windows edition on the same hardware, Setup may apply the existing license automatically.
Windows 10 Support Has Ended
Microsoft ended ordinary Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025. A Windows 10 PC can still run, and Microsoft still provides Windows 10 installation-media instructions, but standard free security fixes and technical support are no longer provided. If the PC supports Windows 11, consider whether moving to a supported version of Windows is a better long-term choice.
Summary
Use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool and a blank 8 GB or larger USB drive to create Windows 10 installation media. Back up the USB first, use Microsoft’s official download, and remember that Windows 10 is now outside ordinary support.