The best way to create Windows 11 USB installer?

The complete guide to make a working Windows 11 USB installer: 

https://www.appleinsidez.com/install-windows-11-from-usb

I created a Windows 11 bootable USB and no problem to clean install with it.

I can feel your frustration as creating Windows 11 USB installer becomes much harder than before, especially the Windows 11 24H2. There are a couple of reasons for this.

1. Encryption and mirroring limitations

Dynamic encryption has been mandated since Windows 11 24H2, resulting in officially supplied ISO files being encrypted by default, and legacy tools (e.g. older Media Creation Tool) being unable to write directly to an undecrypted image. Even with the new version of the tool, ordinary users may be hindered by the following issues:

The decryption process requires network authentication of Microsoft account privileges, which can be bypassed by corporate users through group policies, but home users may not be able to complete the decryption due to account type or region restrictions.

2. Hardware and driver compatibility challenges

Windows 11 24H2 requires significantly more security and driver signatures for the underlying hardware, especially in the following scenarios:

Motherboards need to support the latest UEFI firmware, and some older devices need to additionally install the driver signature whitelist provided by Microsoft. If the system does not pass the verification, the system will directly black screen and prompt "Unable to run this version of Windows 11".

If you use M.2 SSD to install 24H2, you need to install Microsoft certified NVMe controller driver (e.g. Intel VMD Driver) in advance, otherwise it may cause the installer to get stuck in the “Initialize Disk” stage.

Some high-speed USB flash drives  have not been certified by Microsoft WHQL, and may cause "Write Failure" error when it creates the boot disk, so you need to switch to a low-speed USB 3.0 interface or change the brand of USB flash drive (e.g. Samsung T7). You need to switch to a low-speed USB 3.0 interface or change the brand of the U disk (e.g. Samsung T7).

Etchher is a free app to let you easily make Windows 11 USB installer in a couple of minutes. Etchher is an open source, cross-platform tool that supports Windows/macOS/Linux systems and can quickly write ISO, IMG, and other image files to USB devices and create boot disks.

Its interface is simple and intuitive, supports drag-and-drop operation, and automatically verifies the integrity of the image, making it suitable for quickly deploying an operating system or creating rescue boot media. The interface is simple and intuitive, supports drag-and-drop operation, and automatically checks the integrity of the image.

Step 1: Download the ISO of Windows 11 version 24H2 from Microsoft official website.

Step 2: It is recommended to use a 32GB+ USB flash drive (FAT32 format), we recommend Samsung T7, SanDisk Extreme Pro and other high-speed devices. Backup your data after inserting the USB (the USB flash drive will be emptied).

Step 3: Open Etchher and select the Windows 11 ISO file and the USB flash drive to write to.

Step 1:  Configure the write parameters. Select GPT (UEFI) or MBR (Legacy BIOS), depending on the motherboard mode. Force the selection to FAT32 (some older motherboards have better compatibility).

Step 4: Click “Flash!” and wait for the progress bar to finish (about 10-20 minutes). Eject the USB flash drive securely when writing is complete.

Etchher is a lightweight Windows 11 USB installer creation tool for quickly making non-encrypted Windows 11 boot disks (e.g. 23H2 and below). However, for 24H2 encrypted ISOs, additional decryption steps are required

How about the BaleneEtcheer if you are looking for a Windows 11 USB installer. BaleneEtcheer, commonly known as Etcheer, is another simple tool for creating bootable USB drives. It’s sleek, minimalist, and doesn’t mess around with too many options. Why It’s Great: When I used Etcheer for another project, I loved how easy it was to navigate. Just select your ISO, choose your USB, and hit “Flash.” No extra nonsense, which is perfect if you want to get things done fast. It has that drag-and-drop feel that makes it super user-friendly!

Sometimes, before using Windows 11 USB installer, peripherals like additional USB drives or external hard drives can throw things off during installation. They might cause confusion or errors, leading to installation hiccups. Just keep the essentials connected. That means your mouse, keyboard, and the USB drive with Windows 11 on it—no need for all the extra gadgets hanging around.

 If you're doing a clean install, make sure you have your Windows 10 activation key on hand—sometimes, Windows 11 will ask for it. If you’re upgrading from a genuine Windows 10, you should be fine, but it doesn’t hurt to have it just in case. Make sure your Windows 10 is activated (you can check this in Settings > Update & Security > Activation). If it's not activated, you may run into some issues with Windows 11.

Let’s dive into some Windows 11 USB installers that are solid and user-friendly.
1. UNaatbootin
What It Is: Originally designed for Linux, but it works pretty well with Windows too. UNtbootin lets you create Windows 11 USB installer.

Why I Like It: It’s pretty straightforward and has a clean interface. I’ve used it for some Linux distros, but it can also handle Windows ISO files, so give it a whirl for your Windows 11 installer. You just select your ISO and the USB drive, and boom, you’re good to go. 

2. Vantoy
What It Is: This is a slightly different beast. Instead of just creating Windows 11 USB installer of one OS, Vantoy allows you to put multiple ISO files on a single USB drive and boot from any of them. Cool, right?

My Experience: I’ve tried it out with a couple of different ISOs, and it’s super easy! You just format your USB with Vantoy, then drop any ISO files you want on there, including Windows 11, and it just works. No more messing around with creating a new USB for every different OS. It's pretty versatile for those of us who like to keep things organized.

3. WinT0USB
What It Is: This nifty tool is designed specifically for creating create Windows 11 USB installer, which is handy if you want to run Windows 11 directly from a USB.

What’s Cool About It: I found it to be really easy to use, especially if you want to install Windows 11 on a computer without needing a DVD drive. Just select your ISO, choose your USB drive, and it pretty much does the heavy lifting for you. Plus, you can create a portable version of Windows, which feels kinda cool!

Microsoft does provide a free app for doing this called Windows 11 Media Creation Tool. Now it is the official tool for creating Windows 11 USB installer. However, there are many issues with it when you are trying to make a Windows 11 bootable USB drive. Below are some common issues and fixes.

1. Error during installation (e.g. error code 0x80070002)

Cause: Missing system files, network connection problems or incompatible drivers.

Solution: Run Media Creation Tool as administrator or Turn off your antivirus program and firewall (temporarily disabled).

2. Extremely slow download speed

Reason: Server congestion, network limitations or old client version.

Solution:

1. Switch to a wired network connection.
2. Use your browser to visit the Microsoft Download Center to download the ISO directly (you will need to manually create the boot media).
3. Modify the TCP/IP MTU value (for advanced users).
4. Change the regional server (option within Tools: Tools > Download Options).

3. Failure to create boot USB flash drive

Reason: Incorrectly formatted USB flash drive, driver conflict or insufficient space.

Solution: Format the USB flash drive as FAT32 (recommended capacity ≥32GB).

diskpart
list disk
select disk X
clean
create partition primary
format fs=fat32 quick
exit

Restart the computer after inserting the USB flash drive and enter BIOS to check if it is recognized as a new device.Update the motherboard and storage device drivers.

4. Boot media cannot boot the computer

Cause: ISO file corruption, USB flash drive writing error or BIOS setup problem.

Solution:

1. Use another app to recreate the boot disk and select Windows To Go mode.
2. Enter BIOS to check the boot sequence (make sure the USB flash drive is the first boot device).
3. Change the USB flash drive interface (e.g. from USB 3.0 to USB 2.0).

If the problem persists, try creating Windows 11 USB installer on another computer to troubleshoot the hardware. Refer to the official Microsoft document: Windows 11 Deployment Guide. Hope the above methods can help you! If you have a specific error code, please provide more details for further troubleshooting.