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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteTo make a bootable Linux USB, write or “flash” the distribution’s ISO image to the USB drive with an image-writing tool. Do not copy the ISO onto the drive as an ordinary file. The process erases the selected USB, so back up anything on it and confirm the target drive before writing.
Before you begin
- Download the ISO from the Linux distribution’s official website.
- Use a USB drive with enough capacity for that ISO. Ubuntu’s guide warns that an undersized drive can cause a writer to fail silently; the needed size depends on the image. [Ubuntu’s USB creation guide]
- Back up files on the USB. Writing the image overwrites the selected drive.
- Choose a writer for the operating system on the computer you are using to create the USB. The computer that creates the drive does not have to be the one you install Linux on.
Create the USB on Linux
Graphical option
Ubuntu documents Disks, Startup Disk Creator, and KDE ISO Image Writer as graphical options. Which is available depends on your Linux distribution and desktop environment. Open the tool, choose the downloaded ISO and the USB target, then start writing. KDE ISO Image Writer can verify an Ubuntu image when the matching checksum files are available. [Ubuntu’s USB creation guide]
Command-line option with dd
Use dd only if you are comfortable identifying disks and working in a terminal. Choosing the wrong device can destroy data, including the running system. First identify the USB device with lsblk --scsi, then unmount any mounted filesystems on it. Confirm the whole-device name—not a partition name—before running the write command.
Warning: The command below erases the device named after of=. Replace /dev/sda with the verified USB device on your computer; Ubuntu’s device name is only an example.
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sudo dd if=Downloads/ubuntu-26.04-desktop-amd64.iso of=/dev/sda bs=4M conv=fsync status=progressHere, if= is the ISO file path and of= is the target device. Wait for the command to finish before removing the USB. [Ubuntu’s USB creation guide]
Create the USB on Windows
Ubuntu documents Rufus, a free, open-source USB image-writing tool for Windows. Connect the USB and open Rufus. Select the correct device, choose SELECT to browse to the downloaded ISO, and leave most settings at their defaults. If Rufus identifies the ISO as an ISOHybrid image, Ubuntu’s instructions say to confirm writing in ISO Image mode.
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Warning: Rufus will erase the selected USB. Recheck the device shown in the app before confirming its erase warning.
If the finished drive will not boot on a modern computer, Ubuntu suggests trying GPT partitioning and UEFI (non-CSM) in Rufus. [Ubuntu’s USB creation guide]
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Create the USB on macOS
Graphical option with balenaEtcher
Open Etcher, select the ISO, select the USB target, and start flashing. Check the target carefully before starting because the USB’s contents will be overwritten. [Ubuntu’s USB creation guide]
Command-line option with dd
Ubuntu’s command-line method uses diskutil list to identify the USB, unmounts it, then writes the image to the raw disk device. This is a destructive operation: verify the disk number and target before using dd. Because selecting the wrong disk can erase other data, use a graphical tool if you are unsure which device is the USB. [Ubuntu’s USB creation guide]
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Ubuntu says the resulting USB works on PC hardware and older Intel-based Apple hardware. For Apple Silicon, Canonical points to Ubuntu Asahi, which Canonical does not support; hardware support depends on the specific machine. [Ubuntu’s USB creation guide]
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check the image and handle common problems
Verify the ISO when checksum files are available
An image writer cannot make a damaged download bootable. Follow the Linux distribution’s own integrity-check instructions where available. Ubuntu’s guide describes KDE ISO Image Writer checking an Ubuntu ISO against the corresponding SHA256SUMS and SHA256SUMS.gpg files when they are alongside the ISO. [Ubuntu’s USB creation guide]
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The writer fails or the drive seems too small
Check that the USB has enough capacity for the specific ISO and that the correct target is selected. Ubuntu warns that an undersized drive may make the image writer fail silently. [Ubuntu’s USB creation guide]
The computer does not boot from the USB
Restart the target computer and open its startup boot menu; F12 is a common example, but the key varies by manufacturer and model. Select the USB entry. If using Rufus on a modern system, try GPT partitioning and UEFI (non-CSM) if the current settings do not boot. Bootability also depends on the target computer and its compatibility with the distribution and boot mode. [Ubuntu’s USB creation guide]
When you need several Linux images on one USB
For a single installer or live system, write one ISO with one of the methods above. For a multi-ISO drive, Ubuntu describes Ventoy: install Ventoy on the USB, copy image files onto its storage, then choose an image from its boot menu. Ubuntu’s guide notes a release-specific installation issue involving Ventoy 1.1.11, released in April 2026; check the current compatibility advice for the Linux release you plan to use rather than treating that note as universal. [Ubuntu’s USB creation guide]
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