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ParisaGul's avatar
ParisaGul
Iron Contributor
Jul 11, 2025

How can I create a bootable usb for Windows 11 25H2?

Read a couple of news about Windows 11 25H2  and could love to try it out on my HP laptop (running Windows 11 24H2). However, I didn't receive this update yet.

For now, how can I create a bootable USB for Windows 11 25H2? I need to test out some of the new features.

P.S. I don't want to enroll the Windows Insider Preview on my working machine.

Thanks

7 Replies

  • SergioMesing's avatar
    SergioMesing
    Iron Contributor

    Microsoft provides a free tool to help you create Windows 11 25H2 bootable USB.

  • From my personal experience, one thing you should pay attention to is to using a fast USB 3.0 drive as it is very important when creating Windows 11 25H2 bootable USB because it significantly reduces the time required to transfer installation files and complete the setup process. USB 3.0 offers data transfer speeds up to 10 times faster than USB 2.0, meaning the Windows 11 ISO can be written to the USB drive much more quickly. This is especially useful if you're using tools like Rufus or the Media Creation Tool, where the writing process is often the most time-consuming step. A slower USB 2.0 drive can bottleneck the process.

    Additionally, installation from a USB 3.0 drive is faster because the system can read the setup files more quickly during the installation phase. This results in a smoother and more efficient Windows 11 installation experience, especially on modern PCs that support USB 3.0 or 3.1 ports.

    On the other hand, using a slow or outdated USB 2.0 stick can prolong the overall installation time by several minutes or more and in some cases, cause issues like freezing or failed setups if the read speed can't keep up. Therefore, investing in a reliable USB 3.0 drive ensures both speed and stability

     

  • MercerLane's avatar
    MercerLane
    Iron Contributor

    After you made a Windows 11 25H2 bootable USB, the next step is to install it from the USB.

    1. Plug the bootable USB drive into the PC where you want to install Windows 11.
    2. Restart the PC and press the boot menu key (usually F12, Esc, F9, or Del depending on your motherboard).
    3. Choose your USB from the boot menu. The system should now load the Windows 11 installer.
    4. Select your language, time and currency format, and keyboard layout. Click Next, then Install Now.
    5. Choose the partition where you want to install Windows 11.
    6. Click Custom: Install Windows only (advanced) to perform a clean install.
    7. The installer will copy files and restart several times. Just let it finish.

    Once setup is done, you'll boot into a fresh copy of Windows 11 25H2. Be sure to install drivers and Windows updates afterward. If you're on unsupported hardware, and bypassed TPM/Secure Boot, some updates may not work unless patched.

  • Tawaom's avatar
    Tawaom
    Iron Contributor

    If you want to create bootable USB for Windows 11 25H2, you can do so manually using built-in Windows tools. Here's a step-by-step guide:

    1. Select Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) and choose your edition (e.g., Windows 11).
    Save the ISO file to your PC.

    2. Insert your USB drive.
    Open Disk Management: Press Win + X and select Disk Management.
    Find your USB drive, right-click on it, and choose Format.
    Select FAT32 or NTFS (NTFS is preferred for larger files).
    Make sure to check Quick Format and proceed.

    3. Right-click on the downloaded ISO file and select Mount.
    This will create a virtual drive with the ISO's contents.

    4. Open the mounted ISO drive in File Explorer.
    Open another File Explorer window and open your USB drive.
    Copy all files from the mounted ISO to the USB drive.

    5.The copying process should create USB bootable for Windows 11 25H2 since the ISO contains the bootloader.
    To ensure it's bootable, you can set the USB as active (DiskPart method).

    6.Use DiskPart to Mark the USB as Active
    Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Press Win + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin).
    Enter the following commands: diskpart / list disk
    Identify your USB drive number (e.g., Disk 1). select disk 1/ list partition
    Select the partition: select partition 1
    Mark it as active: active
    Exit DiskPart: exit

  • DaskSdaily's avatar
    DaskSdaily
    Iron Contributor

    Creating a bootable USB for Windows 11 25H2? I’ve been around the block with this stuff, so I’ll share some of my own noobie mistakes and tips to avoid messing things up.

    Common Errors to Dodge When creating Bootable USB for Windows 11 25H2

    1. Don’t just copy the ISO onto any old USB. Make sure it’s at least 8GB (preferably 16GB or more) and format it cleanly first. If you don’t, your boot process can fail, or Windows setup might freak out.
    2. Always download the latest ISO directly from Microsoft’s official site. Using old or corrupted images leads to errors during install or setup failures.
    3. After creating your bootable USB, double-check your BIOS/UEFI settings to prioritize booting from USB. I’ve seen people forget this step, and the PC just boots into Windows instead.
    4. Windows 11 needs UEFI and Secure Boot enabled. If these are off, your bootable USB might not work. Sometimes, I’ve had to disable Secure Boot temporarily just to get things rolling.
    5. Sometimes, having multiple drives plugged in confuses the boot process. I always disconnect extra drives to make sure I don’t accidentally boot into the wrong drive or mess up the installation.
    6. Keep track of which USB is which. Mixing up different bootable drives can lead to overwriting or installing the wrong OS.

     

    Take your time, use the right tools when you create bootable USB for Windows 11 25H2, double-check BIOS settings, and start with a fresh, verified ISO. That way, your Windows 11 USB boot drive will be smooth sailing, not a headache.

  • Federer's avatar
    Federer
    Iron Contributor

    To create bootable USB for Windows 11 25H2 without enrolling in the Windows Insider Program, you'll typically need the official ISO file for Windows 11 25H2 once it becomes publicly available or leaks online. 

    Official Source:
    1. Visit the Microsoft Windows Insider Preview Downloads page. Usually, Microsoft provides ISO files for the stable release and Insider builds.
    2. From Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool:
    Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool can be used to create installation media for the latest Windows 11 version, but it generally downloads the latest stable version.
    3. Leaked or Third-party Sources:
    Be cautious with unofficial sources. If you find a trusted leak or repository, ensure it's genuine to avoid malware.

    When creating bootable USB for Windows 11 25H2. If you don’t want to enroll in the Insider Program, avoid using the official Insider preview builds directly, as they are meant for testing and may be unstable. Keep an eye on official Microsoft channels for the official release of Windows 11 25H2.

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