How To Create Windows 11 Installation Media: A Step-by-Step Guide

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5 min. read

Published on November 5, 2025

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Creating Windows 11 installation media is a crucial skill for anyone who wants to perform a clean install, repair a corrupted system, or upgrade multiple computers. This process involves downloading the necessary files from Microsoft and transferring them to a USB drive or DVD, transforming it into a bootable medium ready to install Windows 11.

This guide provides a clear, step-by-step approach to creating Windows 11 installation media. Whether you’re a seasoned tech enthusiast or a beginner, these instructions will help you create the bootable media you need to install or repair Windows 11 on your computer. Let’s get started!

Need Windows 11 Installation Media? Here’s How to Make It

What You’ll Need

A USB drive with at least 8 GB of free space, or a blank DVD and a DVD burner.
A stable internet connection.
A computer running Windows 7 or later.
About an hour of your time.

Download the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool

Go to the official Microsoft website. Search for “Download Windows 11” on your favorite search engine.
Scroll down to the “Create Windows 11 Installation Media” section.
Click the “Download Now” button.
Save the Media Creation Tool to your computer.

Run the Media Creation Tool

Locate the Media Creation Tool you just downloaded.
Double-click the file to run it.
Click “Yes” if prompted by User Account Control.
Read and accept the license terms by clicking “Accept”.

Choose Your Language and Edition

On the “What do you want to do?” screen, ensure “Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC” is selected.
Click “Next”.
Select the language, edition, and architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) for Windows 11. Most modern computers use 64-bit. If you’re unsure, leave the “Use the recommended options for this PC” box checked.
Click “Next”.

Select Your Media Type

Choose either “USB flash drive” or “ISO file”.

USB flash drive: This option will directly create a bootable USB drive.
ISO file: This option will download an ISO file that you can later burn to a DVD or use with a virtual machine.

Click “Next”.

Create the Installation Media

If you selected “USB flash drive”:

Select your USB drive from the list of removable drives. Warning: All data on the USB drive will be erased.
Click “Next”. The Media Creation Tool will now download the Windows 11 files and create the bootable USB drive.

If you selected “ISO file”:

Choose a location to save the ISO file.
Click “Save”. The Media Creation Tool will now download the Windows 11 files and create the ISO file.
Once the ISO file is downloaded, you can burn it to a DVD using a DVD burning program like ImgBurn (free) or the built-in Windows Disc Image Burner. Right-click the ISO and select “Burn disc image”.

Wait for the Process to Complete

The Media Creation Tool will display a progress bar. The download and creation process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours, depending on your internet speed and computer performance.
Once the process is complete, click “Finish”.

Tips

Ensure your computer remains connected to the internet throughout the entire process.
Do not interrupt the Media Creation Tool while it’s downloading or creating the installation media.
If you encounter errors, try running the Media Creation Tool as an administrator (right-click and select “Run as administrator”).
If you are still having issues, try downloading the ISO file instead of creating a USB drive directly.

Choosing the Right Media: USB vs. DVD

Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide which media type is best for you:

Feature	USB Flash Drive	DVD
Speed	Faster installation and boot times	Slower installation and boot times
Reliability	More durable and less prone to scratches	More susceptible to scratches and damage
Compatibility	Compatible with most modern computers	May not be compatible with newer computers without DVD drives
Reusability	Can be reused for other purposes after installation	Single-use
Capacity	Typically larger capacity available	Limited to 4.7 GB (single-layer) or 8.5 GB (dual-layer)

Windows 11 Installation Media Ready

Creating Windows 11 installation media empowers you to take control of your operating system. By following these steps, you’ve successfully prepared yourself for reinstalling, repairing, or upgrading to Windows 11.

FAQ

Can I use the same installation media for multiple computers? Yes, you can use the same installation media to install Windows 11 on multiple computers, provided you have valid licenses for each.

What do I do if the Media Creation Tool gets stuck? Try restarting your computer and running the Media Creation Tool as an administrator. Also, ensure you have a stable internet connection.

Can I create installation media for a different version of Windows 11? The Media Creation Tool typically creates installation media for the latest version of Windows 11 available at the time of download.

Will creating installation media erase my computer’s data? No, creating installation media does not erase your computer’s data. However, using the installation media to perform a clean install will erase your hard drive. Be sure to back up your data before proceeding with a clean install.

Do I need a product key to create installation media? No, you do not need a product key to create installation media. You will need a valid product key when you install Windows 11.