In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, the ability to boot from a USB drive has become an essential skill for many users. Whether it's for troubleshooting, installing a new operating system, or running a live environment, knowing how to boot from a USB can be incredibly useful. With Windows 11, there are several methods to achieve this, each with its own set of advantages and challenges.
Boot from a USB Drive using Windows 11 Settings
If you are uncomfortable entering the BIOS or UEFI menus, this is going to be the best option for you. There are a few steps, but this will allow you to boot directly from your USB without changing any settings at all:
- Plug in your bootable USB drive and open the Settings menu by pressing the Windows key + I.
- Choose System from the menu on the left.
- Scroll down and select the Recovery option.
- Find the Advanced startup option and select Restart now.
- A pop-up will show stating your device is about to restart. Click Restart now.
- Your PC will now restart and load to a blue screen with multiple options. Select Use a device.
- On the next screen, you will want to select UEFI/USB Removable Device.
Select your USB Boot Drive from Your Computer's Boot Menu
The preferred way to access a bootable USB is via the boot menu. There are a couple of ways to figure out how to access your boot menu:
- You can restart your PC, then when your splash screen loads, it normally says something like press F9 to access the boot menu. However, it could be another F-key as well, but generally, it will be F8, F9, F10, or F11. The issue with this is that the screen normally doesn’t linger long enough to see what key it is and also have the time to hit it the first time through, so you may need to start the process over again once you know what to do.
Steps to follow:
- Make sure your bootable USB is inserted into the computer.
- Restart your computer.
- When the splash screen loads (normally with the motherboard manufacturer’s logo), press F2 or DEL to enter the BIOS/UEFI.
- Find your boot options.
- Change boot priority or option 1 to your bootable USB drive.
- Save your changes and exit BIOS/UEFI.
Modifying Your BIOS/UEFI to Boot from USB
If all else fails, this will do the trick. This is the least favorable of all the options, and for good reason. While using this method is pretty much guaranteed to work, it will change your computer’s boot order. What this means is that when you direct the system to boot from USB, it will always try to boot from a USB if there is one present, which can cause delays and other issues. If you have to use this method, it is advised that once you are done you go back into the BIOS and change things back to how they originally were. Using this method also opens up the option to accidentally change BIOS options, which could result in your PC not functioning properly, so be careful!
Steps to follow:
- Make sure your bootable USB is inserted into the computer.
- Restart your computer.
- When the splash screen loads (normally with the motherboard manufacturer’s logo), press F2 or DEL to enter the BIOS/UEFI.
- Find your boot options.
- Change boot priority or option 1 to your bootable USB drive.
- Save your changes and exit BIOS/UEFI.
Navigating through these methods can seem daunting at first, but with a bit of practice, you'll find that booting from a USB drive using Windows 11 settings or modifying your BIOS/UEFI becomes second nature. Whether you're a tech novice or a seasoned professional, mastering these techniques will undoubtedly enhance your computing experience.
