How Can I Install Windows 11 on External Hard Drive or SSD?

Make sure your external hard drive is properly partitioned and formatted before installing Windows 11. If your external drive is using the MBR (Master Boot Record) partition scheme, you might run into issues with Windows 11, which requires the GPT (GUID Partition Table) partition scheme. Use a tool like Disk Management in Windows to convert your external drive to GPT, but be aware that you might need to repartition and reformat it afterward.

To install Windows 11 on an external hard drive, you'll need to combine the knowledge and solutions I've outlined above. Here's a high-level overview of the steps you can take:

1. Prepare Your External Drive: Use tools like Disk Management or Rufus to prepare your external drive for Windows 11 installation.
2. Install Windows 11: Use the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) or a similar tool to deploy Windows 11 on your external hard drive.
3. Configure Bootloader and Drivers: Use tools like Rufus or the Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) to configure the bootloader and install the necessary drivers.
4. Enable BitLocker and Encryption: Use the Microsoft BitLocker Configuration Tool to configure BitLocker and encryption on your external hard drive.
5. Activate and Manage Licenses: Use the Microsoft License Portal to manage your licenses and activation for your external hard drive.