The Tool Desk
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What you need
Prepare the USB on a working computer, then use it on the computer where Ubuntu will run. The current Ubuntu Desktop documentation specifies an 8 GB USB drive or larger. Save the Ubuntu Desktop ISO file to a known folder before opening the writing tool.
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- An Ubuntu Desktop ISO downloaded from Ubuntu’s official download page.
- An 8 GB-or-larger USB flash drive.
- A working computer running Ubuntu or another Linux distribution, Windows, or macOS.
- A USB port on the target computer. Internet access is helpful during installation.
- A backup of files on the USB drive and, separately, a backup of data on the target computer that you intend to keep.
Ubuntu’s download page currently lists these minimum target requirements, although requirements can change with a release:
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| Requirement | Current minimum listed by Ubuntu |
|---|---|
| Processor | 2 GHz dual-core processor or better |
| System memory | 6 GB |
| Free disk space | 25 GB |
| Installation media | USB port or DVD drive |
These are minimum specifications, not a guarantee of a particular speed or experience. Check the current Ubuntu download page again when selecting a release.
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Understand what a bootable USB does
An ISO is a disk image, not an ordinary document. Dragging the ISO file onto a USB drive merely stores the file; it does not create the boot structures that a computer needs. A writing utility copies the image to the USB at the device level, creating installation media that firmware can start.
The writing operation overwrites the selected USB drive. Ubuntu’s documentation warns: “Back up your files on the USB stick. This process will overwrite and destroy all data stored there.” Copy anything you need from the drive before proceeding, and disconnect other removable drives if possible so you cannot select the wrong device.
Download and prepare the image
- On the working computer, download the Ubuntu Desktop ISO from the official Ubuntu download page.
- Save it in a location you can identify easily, such as your Downloads folder. Do not open it as if it were an application.
- Insert the USB drive and copy its important files elsewhere.
- Close file windows and applications that are using the USB drive. Eject it from the operating system if the imaging application asks you to do so, but leave it connected for selection.
- Check the drive’s capacity and name in the imaging tool before confirming any erase or write prompt.
Do not select your computer’s internal system disk. A mistake at this point can destroy the operating system and personal files on that disk.
Create the USB on Ubuntu or another Linux distribution
Use Disks
- Open Disks from the applications menu.
- In the left-hand list, select the USB drive by matching its capacity and model. Do not select the internal disk.
- Open the drive’s menu and choose Drive Options → Restore Disk Image.
- Choose the downloaded Ubuntu ISO.
- Review the destination drive one more time, then select Start Restoring.
- Authenticate if prompted and wait for the write to finish. Do not remove the USB while it is being written.
After completion, close Disks and use the operating system’s eject command before removing the drive.
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Use Startup Disk Creator
Startup Disk Creator is another graphical option on Ubuntu and Ubuntu-based distributions. Open it, select the Ubuntu image and the intended USB drive, and start the creation process. Ubuntu cautions that this utility is intended for Ubuntu images and may not work correctly when used with unrelated operating systems.
Advanced method: dd
The dd command can write an image directly from a terminal, but it is an advanced method. You must identify the whole USB device, not one of its partitions, and use the correct input and output paths. Selecting the wrong output device can overwrite the running system or another disk. Because the graphical tools provide a visible device selection and an erase confirmation, they are the safer default for most readers.
Create the USB on Windows with Rufus
- Insert the USB drive and open Rufus.
- In Device, confirm that the selected drive is the USB you intend to erase. Compare its capacity with the physical drive.
- Choose SELECT and open the downloaded Ubuntu ISO.
- Leave the ordinary options at their defaults unless you have a specific firmware requirement.
- Click START.
- If Rufus identifies the ISO as an ISOHybrid image, choose Write in ISO Image mode.
- Read the erase warning and confirm only after checking the device name and capacity again.
- Wait until Rufus reports completion, then use Windows’ safely-remove command before unplugging the drive.
If the finished USB will not boot on a modern computer that has legacy compatibility disabled, Ubuntu suggests recreating it with a GPT partition scheme and UEFI (non-CSM) target system in Rufus. Those settings are for current UEFI firmware; do not switch to them blindly on very old hardware.
Create the USB on macOS with balenaEtcher
- Download the balenaEtcher build appropriate for the Mac’s processor: Intel or Apple Silicon.
- Open Etcher and choose Flash from file.
- Select the Ubuntu ISO.
- Choose Select target, then select the USB drive by checking its capacity and name.
- Start the flash operation and approve macOS prompts if requested.
- Wait for verification to finish before ejecting the drive.
Ubuntu documents this media as working on PC hardware and older Intel Apple hardware. Apple Silicon Macs require different treatment: Ubuntu points readers toward the community Ubuntu Asahi project, which Canonical does not support, and notes that hardware support depends on the Mac model and may be limited. The standard PC installation path below should not be assumed to work on every Apple Silicon Mac.
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Boot the target computer from USB
- Insert the prepared USB into the target PC or laptop.
- Restart the computer. If it is powered off, turn it on with the USB already inserted.
- Open the one-time boot menu during startup. F12 is common on PCs; Escape, F2, and F10 are also used. The startup screen or the computer’s documentation identifies the correct key.
- Choose the entry representing the USB drive. On UEFI systems it may appear with a label such as the drive name or an EFI boot option.
- If the computer starts its existing operating system instead, restart and try the boot-menu key earlier and repeatedly. Confirm that the USB was written successfully and is connected directly rather than through a problematic hub.
On Apple hardware, hold Option/Alt immediately after powering on and select the USB or EFI Boot entry if it appears. Apple firmware and model support vary, so an absent entry can indicate compatibility or media-creation limits rather than an installation error.
Try Ubuntu before installing
When the USB starts, Ubuntu normally offers a choice to try Ubuntu or install it. Select the try option first if you want to inspect the desktop without making permanent changes to the target computer’s storage. This live session runs from the USB and lets you check basic hardware such as the display, keyboard, touchpad, Wi-Fi, sound, and available storage.
Performance from a USB is usually slower than an installed system because the operating system is reading from removable media. The session is also temporary: files and settings made there are not a substitute for a backup or a normal installation unless you deliberately create persistent media using a separate, advanced workflow.
Install Ubuntu from the live session
Back up documents, photographs, browser data, and any other files on the target computer before changing its storage. The installer can alter partitions, remove an existing operating system, or format a selected partition depending on the choices you make.
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- From the live desktop, open the Ubuntu installer.
- Choose the language and keyboard layout. Use the keyboard test field to verify special keys before continuing.
- Connect to a network if available. Internet access can help obtain updates and additional drivers, but the exact options depend on the Ubuntu release and hardware.
- Choose the installation type offered by the installer. Read every disk and partition description rather than accepting an erase option automatically.
- If you are replacing the existing system, verify that the displayed disk is the intended target and that your backup is complete.
- If you are keeping another operating system, select the option for installing alongside it only when the partition layout and available space match your plan. Advanced partitioning requires knowing which partitions contain the existing system and personal data.
- Create your user account and a strong password, set the time zone, and review the summary.
- Start the installation and leave the computer connected to power. Do not remove the USB while files are being copied.
- When the installer asks you to restart, remove the USB when instructed, then press Enter or allow the restart to continue.
After rebooting, the computer should start the installed Ubuntu system. If it repeatedly returns to the installer, remove the USB and restart. If it still does not find Ubuntu, check the firmware boot order and whether the installation was written to the intended internal disk.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose the right creation method
| Working computer | Recommended tool | Interface | Important limitation or warning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu or another Linux distribution | Disks | Graphical | Select the USB, not the system disk; restoring the image erases the selected drive. |
| Ubuntu or Ubuntu-based distribution | Startup Disk Creator | Graphical | Ubuntu warns it may not work correctly with unrelated operating-system images. |
| Windows | Rufus | Graphical | Confirm the device before accepting the erase warning; use ISO Image mode when prompted for an ISOHybrid image. |
| macOS | balenaEtcher | Graphical | Choose the Intel or Apple Silicon build for the Mac; Apple Silicon target support is model-dependent. |
| Linux terminal | dd |
Command line | Advanced users only: a wrong device path can destroy the running system or another disk. |
For most people, a graphical writer is preferable because it makes the source image and destination drive visible before the destructive step. The computer used to create the USB does not have to be the computer that will run Ubuntu.
Troubleshoot common failures
The USB appears as a normal storage drive
The ISO was probably copied as a file instead of written as an image. Recreate the media with Disks, Startup Disk Creator, Rufus, or balenaEtcher and select the ISO through the tool’s image option.
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- Restart with the USB inserted and use the correct boot-menu key for the manufacturer.
- Try a different USB port, preferably a port directly on the computer rather than a hub.
- Recreate the drive and verify the destination device before writing.
- On a UEFI PC, recreate it in Rufus with GPT and UEFI (non-CSM) if legacy compatibility is disabled.
- On an Apple Silicon Mac, check the model-specific guidance for the community Ubuntu Asahi project; the standard PC path is not universally supported.
The computer boots the old operating system
The boot menu selection may have timed out, or the USB may not have been selected. Open the one-time menu again and choose the USB explicitly. If it is absent, return to the media-creation checks above.
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The installer cannot find enough space
Ubuntu’s current listed minimum is 25 GB of free disk space. Freeing space in the existing system does not automatically create a safe partition layout; review the installer’s disk choices carefully and keep a backup before resizing or formatting anything.
The USB writing process fails
Confirm that the ISO download completed, the USB has at least 8 GB capacity, and no other application is using the drive. Try another USB port or a different drive, then repeat the process. Never continue with an uncertain or partially written image.
Safety checklist
- Back up files on the USB before writing it.
- Back up files on the target computer before installation.
- Match the writer’s selected device to the USB’s model and capacity.
- Keep the target computer connected to power during installation.
- Do not remove the USB while the image is being written or while the installer is copying files.
- Read every erase, format, and partition warning before confirming.
- Remove the USB after installation when the installer requests a restart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install Ubuntu from a USB stick?
Yes. Write the Ubuntu Desktop ISO to an 8 GB-or-larger USB drive, boot the target computer from it, and start the installer from the live desktop.
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Will making an Ubuntu USB erase my files?
Writing the image erases files on the selected USB drive. It does not erase the target computer merely because you boot from the USB; storage changes occur only when you choose installation options that modify the target disk.
Can I use the USB without installing Ubuntu?
Yes. Choose the try option when the USB starts. Ubuntu then runs a temporary live session so you can check the computer before installing.
What key opens the USB boot menu?
F12 is common on PCs, but Escape, F2, and F10 are also used. On Apple hardware, hold Option/Alt at startup and choose the USB or EFI Boot entry if it appears.
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