How to Create Windows 10 Live USB and Run It Easily (3 Ways)

Creating Windows 10 live USB and run it can help you boot system successfully. And you don’t need to always bring your computer. Read on to get 3 effective Windows 10 live USB creators.

By @Clytze Last Updated September 24, 2024

User Case: Create Windows 10 Live USB

“Here's a question. I want to know how to create a Windows 10 live USB. I Would like to run Windows 10 on my computer so that I can use my system whenever and wherever I need it. Any help is appreciated!”

Creating a live USB allows users to carry their operating system with them. Therefore, the user can operate the system normally on this bootable USB drive and can make changes to the bootable operating system. This article will give you a detailed introduction about how to create a Windows 10 live USB and run it easily, please read on.

How to Create Live Windows 10 USB

This article will introduce you 3 ways to create Windows 10 live USB. You can choose to use the software WinToUSB, Rufus, or professional disk cloning software AOMEI Backupper.

Tools

How It Works

Difficulty

AOMEI Backupper

Copy the current system to your USB drive

⭐

WinToUSB

Create Windows 10 ISO file first, and then install the ISO file on your USB

⭐⭐⭐

Rufus

Create Windows 10 ISO file first, and then burn the ISO file to your USB

⭐⭐

Method 1. Create Windows 10 Live USB with AOMEI Backupper

The easiest way is to copy the current system to your USB drive. You can use AOMEI Backupper Professional. It is a reliable disk cloning software that helps you to clone a disk containing system files, installed software, stored data, drives and so on to an external USB hard drive. 

Therefore, you can use any software you want and access all the data at any time. After cloning, you can boot your system directly from the USB. During the process, you only need to use one software and the steps are very easy.

AOMEI Backupper
Windows 10 Live USB Creator
  • 3 cloning solutions: Except for System Clone, this software also supports Disk Clone and Partition Clone to satisfy your different needs.
  • Intelligent clone: Under the default situation, it will only clone the used sectors. So it allows you to clone a larger HDD to a smaller SSD easily.
  • Live clone: It allows the clone task to work in the background, so the cloning process won't interrupt running programs in the Windows Server and you can work normally while cloning.
Free Download Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7
100% Secure

Step 1. Download AOMEI Backupper Professional, install and launch it, click Clone > Disk Clone.

Step 2. Select the original hard disk as the source disk. Then, click Next.

Step 3. Choose the USB drive as the destination disk. Then, click Next.

Tips:

  • Make sure the target USB drive is big enough to hold all data from the source disk. If not, you may use the System Clone function to copy only boot related partitions.
  • If the USB drive contains any data you don’t want to lose, back it up before you proceed. The cloning process will overwrite the destination disk.

Step 4. Confirm your operations and click Start Clone.

Notes:

  • Edit Partitions can help you resize the disk, when the target disk is larger than the source disk.
  • SSD Alignment can make the drive faster to read and write. If you use the SSD, you can tick the box.
  • The feature Sector By Sector Clone will clone all sectors on your disk, whether it is used or not.

Method 2. Create Windows 10 Live USB with WinToUSB

You need to download a built-in tool - Media Creation Tool to create ISO files first, and then use WinToUSB to create a live USB. You can follow the tutorials below:

Notes: The free version of the program only supports Windows 10 and lower versions.

👉 Create Windows 10 ISO file

Step 1. Click the Download tool now button on the Download Windows 10 website page and then double-click the downloaded MediaCreationTool.exe file to install the program.

Step 2. Open the program, when you enter this page below, click the Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC and click Next.

Step 3. Set your preferred Language Architecture and Edition. Then click Next.

Note:

To make changes, clear the checkbox Use the recommended options for this PC. 

Step 4. On the Choose which media to use page, click ISO file. Then click Next.

Step 5. Choose a location to store the Windows.iso file and click Finish.

👉 Create Windows 10 Live USB

Step 1. Download the WinToUSB software, install and launch it.

Step 2. Connect a blank USB drive to your computer. Select the ISO file you created and the version of Windows 10. Then click Next.

Step 3. Select the USB drive from the drop-down menu. When you see a pop-up window, click "MBR for BIOS" and then click "Yes" to continue.

Step 4. Click the Legacy option. Then click Next and your Windows 10 USB drive will be created.

Step 5. Once it reaches 100%, you can unplug the USB.

Method 3. Create Windows 10 Live USB with Rufus

After you create Windows 10 ISO file with Media Creation Tool, you can also use Rufus to create Windows 10 live USB. Follow the instructions below:

Step 1. Download, install and run Rufus. It will select the USB drive connected to your computer automatically.

Step 2. Click the Select button to choose the Windows 10 ISO file on your computer.

Step 3. Choose Image option, Partition scheme and Target system based on your need.

Step 4. Name the bootable USB under Volume label. Finally, click Start to begin bootable media creation.

How to Run Windows 10 from USB

Once you have got a bootable USB, then you can follow the steps below to run Windows 10 from USB.

Step 1. Insert the bootable USB and ensure it can be organized by the computer.

Step 2. Press the key (F2, DEL, F10...) to enter BIOS Settings.

Step 3. Change the boot order and select USB drive as the first boot drive.

Step 4. After the computer restarts successfully, you can use the operating system from the USB as normal.

Further Reading

What Is Live USB?

A live USB is a bootable USB flash drive or external hard disk drive that contains a full operating system. They're the next evolutionary step after live CDs, but they have the extra benefit of writable storage, allowing changes to the booted operating system. Live USB can be used in embedded systems for system administration, data recovery, or test driving, and can persistently save settings and install software packages on the USB device.

Why Create Windows 10 Live USB?

Sometimes, Windows systems may stop working for various reasons. So the computer will fail to boot and the data will become inaccessible.

  • Convenient to carry: With a live USB, you can run your operating system whenever you want without carrying the computer all the time.
  • Use it anytime: If you have a live USB, you will be able to use your system with another computer normally.
  • Save disk space: Install large programs on a live USB so that they can save internal disc space.

Summary

I consider you have mastered how to create Windows 10 live USB and run it in three different ways. In fact, the third method is more useful and friendly for most users, because disk clone will clone everything including system, applications, data, etc. And it helps you to achieve a secure boot after cloning. Furthermore, it can clone all the partitions and adjust them by yourself.

In addition, it also supports clone different disk types. If your target disk is not the same as the source disk, you don't need to convert the partition style. For example, you can use it to clone MBR to GPT. Download it now and you can enjoy more features.

FAQ on Windows 10 Live USB

1. What are the benefits of using a Windows 10 Live USB?
 
Answer: Using a Windows 10 Live USB offers several advantages, including the ability to run Windows 10 on any compatible computer without installing it, testing new features or troubleshooting issues without affecting the existing operating system, and accessing your personalized Windows environment on different devices.
2. Can I install programs and save files on a Windows 10 Live USB?
 
Answer: Yes, you can install programs and save files on a Windows 10 Live USB just like you would on a regular Windows installation. However, keep in mind that any changes or files saved will be temporary unless you specifically configure the USB drive for persistence. Persistence allows you to save changes and data across sessions.
3. Is a Windows 10 Live USB secure to use?
 
Answer: Generally, using a Windows 10 Live USB is considered secure, as it doesn't modify the host computer's hard drive unless you explicitly choose to do so. However, since the operating system runs from a removable drive, it's essential to be cautious when using it on unfamiliar or potentially compromised computers to avoid exposing sensitive information or falling victim to malware. Regularly updating the Windows 10 Live USB and using security best practices can help mitigate risks.
4. Is live USB the same as bootable USB?
 
Answer: They're similar, but not exactly the same. A bootable USB can start up a computer, but a live USB goes further by running a full operating system, like Windows 10, directly from the USB drive. So, all live USBs are bootable, but not all bootable USBs are live USBs.