How to create a bootable Windows 10 USB flash drive

Even with the rise of cloud storage, the USB flash drive is still vital for cases where the Internet won’t cut it, especially as CDs and DVDs die off. Not only are USB drives typically higher in capacity than disc media, they are faster for copying data such as setup files, and have much quicker access times as well. In short, installing software as large as Windows 10 from a USB drive is simply much faster than from a DVD (and of course the only viable option for PCs without an optical drive).

Unlike with previous Windows releases, Microsoft sells Windows 10 on USB drives. If you’d rather make your own, however, this guide will show you two different ways to create a USB flash drive that works just like a Windows 10 DVD.