Use the installer tool intended for the operating system image you want to put on the USB. Windows installation media is made with Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool; a macOS installer uses Apple’s version-specific createinstallmedia command; and Linux images can be written with a graphical image writer or, for experienced users, dd. In every case, check the selected drive carefully: creating installation media erases its contents.
Before you start: choose the method for your image
The computer you use to prepare the USB (the host) and the system you want to install (the target) are separate considerations. A method documented for Ubuntu images, for example, is not automatically suitable for every Linux distribution. Prefer the operating system vendor’s instructions or a writer that explicitly supports your image.
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- Back up files on the USB. The creation process may erase the selected drive or volume.
- Confirm which device is the USB before writing, especially when a tool lists multiple drives.
- Use a drive with enough capacity for the selected installer. Requirements differ by image.
- Making the USB is not the same as installing the operating system: you must later start the target computer from the media and follow its installer.
Make Windows installation media on Windows
Microsoft’s current instructions use the Media Creation Tool, downloaded from Microsoft’s official Windows download site. It can prepare media for a clean installation, a new installation, or a reinstallation.
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- Connect a blank USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of space. Microsoft recommends a blank drive because the tool deletes its existing contents.
- Run the tool and follow its prompts to create the USB installation media.
- When finished, safely eject the USB. To install Windows, connect it to the target PC and use that PC’s startup or boot menu to start from the USB.
Back up files on the target PC before installing or reinstalling Windows. Depending on the device and license, Windows setup may ask for a product key; a digital license or a key embedded in device firmware may mean you do not need to enter one manually. Microsoft ended Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025; after that date it no longer provides free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10, and recommends moving to Windows 11.
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Make a bootable macOS installer on a Mac
Apple says a bootable installer is not necessary for an ordinary macOS upgrade or reinstall. It can be useful when other installation methods fail or when you want to install macOS on multiple computers without downloading the installer each time. Apple also distinguishes an installer USB from external storage prepared for use as a startup disk. Follow Apple’s current, version-specific instructions; the command differs by macOS release.
Prepare the installer and USB
- Download the full macOS installer for a version compatible with the target Mac. Make sure the installer app is in the Applications folder.
- Connect a USB flash drive or other secondary volume. Apple says 32 GB is enough for any installer listed on its page; 16 GB is enough for most earlier versions.
- In Finder or Disk Utility, identify the volume you intend to erase and rename it
MyVolume, as Apple’s command examples expect.
Run Apple’s command for your macOS version
- Open Terminal and copy the exact
createinstallmediacommand shown by Apple for the version of macOS you downloaded. Do not substitute a command from a different version. - Run the command. It uses
sudo, so Terminal asks for an administrator password; it also asks you to confirm erasing the volume. - Wait for the process to finish before ejecting the installer volume.
The command erases the selected volume and formats it as Mac OS Extended (Journaled). If the command cannot find the installer, confirm the full installer is in Applications and has the expected name. If Apple’s installer is invalid, Apple advises deleting it and downloading it again. If erasing fails, erase the volume in Disk Utility using Mac OS Extended (Journaled), then retry.
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Start the target Mac from the installer
Shut down the Mac and connect the installer. On an Apple silicon Mac, hold the power button after shutdown to reach startup options. On other Macs, hold Option (Alt) during startup. The target Mac needs an internet connection during installation so the installer can obtain firmware and model-specific information. For a Mac with Apple’s T2 Security Chip, external boot may need to be enabled in Startup Security Utility.
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Write an Ubuntu USB from Windows, Linux, or macOS
Canonical’s Ubuntu 26.04 guide documents different tools depending on the computer used to prepare the USB. Use a drive large enough for the image; Canonical warns that an undersized drive may cause a silent failure.
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| Computer used to write the USB | Documented Ubuntu method | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Rufus | Check the selected USB device before writing. Canonical’s older Windows tutorial is superseded by its current guide. |
| Ubuntu | Startup Disk Creator | Intended for Ubuntu and Ubuntu-derived images; Canonical cautions it may not work correctly with other distributions or operating systems. |
| Ubuntu or supported Kubuntu environment | KDE ISO Image Writer | Availability depends on the environment. It can verify an image using downloaded checksum files. |
| macOS | balenaEtcher graphical workflow, or dd for advanced users |
With dd, a mistaken output device can destroy data. |
| Linux, including systems without a graphical desktop | dd |
Advanced users only; verify the device name and options before running it. |
Use a graphical writer when possible
Download the Ubuntu image and use the writer appropriate to your host system, following Canonical’s linked instructions. Before confirming the write, check that the selected destination is the USB drive, not another disk. On Ubuntu, Startup Disk Creator is a straightforward option for Ubuntu-family images. KDE ISO Image Writer is another documented option in supported environments and can check an image against downloaded checksum files.
Use dd only if you can identify the device confidently
Canonical warns that incorrect dd device names or options can destroy data, including the running system. Its macOS workflow uses diskutil list to identify the USB and unmounts it before writing. The image file is the input (if); the USB device is the output (of). A reversed or incorrect destination can overwrite the wrong disk. If you are uncertain which device is the USB, use a graphical writer instead.
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Boot from the finished USB
Creating the installer does not automatically start the target computer from it. Connect the USB to the target machine, open its startup or boot options, and select the installer. The key and procedure depend on the computer: F12 is a common example on some PCs, not a universal key. Check the computer manufacturer’s instructions. Macs use the Apple silicon or Intel startup steps described above.
A successfully written USB may still fail to appear or boot if the target’s firmware settings, hardware, or operating-system compatibility differ. For Ubuntu on Apple silicon, Canonical points users to Ubuntu Asahi, a community project that Canonical does not support; hardware support depends on the specific Mac. Ordinary PC Ubuntu media should not be assumed to work on every Mac.
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Fix common USB installer problems
The USB does not appear in the boot menu
Check the target computer’s startup instructions for the correct boot-menu key or sequence; do not assume F12 applies to every PC. Confirm the USB was written successfully and is connected before opening startup options.
The macOS command cannot find or use the installer
Confirm the full installer app is in Applications and that you used the command Apple lists for that macOS version. If the installer is invalid, delete it and download it again.
The macOS volume will not erase
Use Disk Utility to erase the intended volume as Mac OS Extended (Journaled), then retry Apple’s command. Recheck the volume name before running it.
The Ubuntu image write fails
Check that the USB has enough capacity for the image, close applications that may be accessing the drive, and verify the selected destination. If using dd, stop rather than guess at a device name.
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