To make a bootable USB drive, write the operating-system image to it with a suitable image-writing tool; copying an ISO file onto the drive is not enough. The right tool depends on both the operating system you want to install and the computer you are using to prepare the drive.
Back up the USB first. Writing an image erases the selected drive’s contents. Ubuntu’s current guide calls for an 8 GB or larger USB stick for Ubuntu media; that is an Ubuntu-specific minimum, not a universal requirement.
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Choose a method for your operating system and preparation computer
Use the method intended for the image you have downloaded. A bootable drive made for one operating system or computer is not automatically suitable for another.
| Preparation computer and media | Documented method | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu or another Linux desktop; Ubuntu image | Disks or Startup Disk Creator. KDE ISO Image Writer is also documented for Ubuntu/Kubuntu 26.04 LTS and later. | Startup Disk Creator is intended for Ubuntu-based images. Use dd only if you are comfortable identifying the correct device; a wrong target can destroy data on the running system. |
| Windows computer; Ubuntu image | Rufus: select the USB drive and downloaded image, then write it. | Leave defaults unless a boot problem calls for a change. Ubuntu notes GPT with UEFI (non-CSM) can help on modern systems that have legacy compatibility disabled. |
| Mac; Ubuntu image | balenaEtcher or command-line dd. |
Ubuntu says this USB works on Windows PCs and older Intel Macs. Apple Silicon support is a separate community project, and hardware support varies. |
| Mac; macOS installer | Apple’s version-specific createinstallmedia command. |
Use the command for the macOS version and installer you have. Boot selection differs between Apple silicon and other Macs; some T2-equipped Macs may require external-media startup to be enabled. |
| Windows 11 installation media | Microsoft’s Windows 11 download page provides an ISO for creating bootable media. | Microsoft advises using an empty USB because its contents are erased. The reviewed page does not clearly state a minimum USB capacity; check current instructions and confirm the target PC meets Windows 11 requirements. |
These methods are documented in the Ubuntu bootable USB guide, Apple’s macOS installer guide, and Microsoft’s Windows 11 download page.
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What to prepare before writing the USB
- The correct image: Decide which operating system you need and download its image from the publisher’s official source to the preparation computer. Wait until the download finishes before starting the writer.
- A drive you can erase: Back up files you want to keep. For Ubuntu media, Canonical’s current guide specifies an 8 GB or larger USB stick. Other operating systems and images may have different requirements.
- A verified target device: Check the USB drive’s name or capacity in the writing tool before confirming. Disconnecting unrelated USB storage can make it easier to select the right device, but verify the selection regardless.
- A suitable writer: Match the application to the preparation computer and image. Ubuntu Disks can write images for other operating systems; Startup Disk Creator is for Ubuntu-based images.
Write the image to the drive
- Open the appropriate image-writing tool. For Ubuntu media, Ubuntu documents Disks or Startup Disk Creator on Ubuntu, Rufus on Windows, and balenaEtcher or
ddon macOS. For macOS installer media, use Apple’s dedicated procedure rather than a generic image-writing workflow. - Select the downloaded image and USB device. Check the image name and the target drive’s identity or capacity. Do not proceed if you are unsure which device is selected.
- Review the erase prompt, then start writing. The operation overwrites the selected USB. With a command-line tool, confirm the output device path carefully: Ubuntu warns that a mistaken
ddtarget can destroy the running system. - Wait for completion and eject safely. Do not remove the drive while the writer is still working. When it finishes, eject the USB before connecting it to the computer you want to boot.
For macOS installer media, Apple’s createinstallmedia procedure uses a version-specific installer app and asks you to confirm before erasing the named volume. Apple’s support page, published on 2026-09-14, lists commands for Tahoe 26, Sequoia 15, Sonoma 14, Ventura 13, and older releases; use the command currently shown for your version at Apple’s instructions.
Start the computer from the USB
- Connect the completed USB to the target computer and restart it.
- If it starts its usual operating system instead, open the startup or boot menu during startup and choose the USB drive.
- Use the key and instructions for that computer model. Ubuntu gives F12 as a common example, but the key varies by device.
If the USB is missing from the menu, consult the computer maker’s instructions. Firmware settings and compatibility requirements differ; Ubuntu notes that modern Windows PCs configured for UEFI may require a compatible partitioning scheme. Microsoft also directs users to firmware boot settings and manufacturer guidance.
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Fix common bootable USB problems
The computer starts its existing operating system
Open the startup menu and select the USB drive. The menu key is device-specific; F12 is one common example in Ubuntu’s guide.
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Check the manufacturer’s startup and firmware instructions. On some modern UEFI systems, boot compatibility depends on the media’s partitioning scheme. If you used Rufus for Ubuntu, Ubuntu notes that GPT with UEFI (non-CSM) can help on modern computers with legacy compatibility disabled.
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The writer says the drive is too small, or writing fails
Use a drive at least as large as the image and follow the operating-system publisher’s stated requirement. Ubuntu warns that using an undersized drive with dd can cause image writing to fail silently. Its current 8 GB minimum applies to Ubuntu media, not every operating system.
A macOS installer command fails
Check that you are using the full command for the macOS version, that the installer app is in Applications with the expected name, and that the volume named in the command is the one you intend to erase. Apple documents an erase confirmation and recommends repairing the startup disk or erasing the volume with Disk Utility in specified failure cases; follow the relevant steps in Apple’s current guide.
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You want to boot Ubuntu on an Apple Silicon Mac
Ubuntu’s standard USB instructions do not describe ordinary Ubuntu booting on Apple Silicon. They point to Ubuntu Asahi, a separate community project that Canonical does not support, and hardware support varies. Do not assume a USB made using the standard Mac procedure will work on every Apple Silicon model.
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