How to Create a Bootable Windows 11 USB Drive on Linux

To create a bootable Windows 11 USB on Linux, install Ventoy on a USB drive and copy Microsoft’s Windows 11 ISO to it. Ventoy displays the ISO in a boot menu, so you do not have to manually split the installer across FAT32 and NTFS partitions. The Ventoy install erases the selected USB drive; back up its contents and confirm the device name before you proceed.

What you need first

• A USB drive with enough room for the Windows 11 ISO. Installing Ventoy deletes the drive’s existing files.
• A Linux computer with an internet connection and permission to run commands with sudo.
• The target PC’s processor architecture and hardware details. Check Microsoft’s Windows 11 specifications for the full hardware requirements, including TPM 2.0 and UEFI Secure Boot capability.

Create the USB with Ventoy

1. Download the Windows 11 ISO and Ventoy for Linux

Open Microsoft’s Windows 11 download page. In the disk image section, select the ISO that matches the target PC’s architecture, choose the installation language, and download the file. Use Microsoft’s download page rather than a third-party ISO mirror.

Next, download the current Linux archive from Ventoy’s official download page. If the page provides a SHA-256 value for the archive, compare it with the result of sha256sum before extracting the package: sha256sum ventoy-<version>-linux.tar.gz.

2. Identify the USB drive and install Ventoy

Plug in the USB drive, then open a terminal and list connected disks:

lsblk -o NAME,SIZE,MODEL,TRAN,MOUNTPOINTS

Match the removable drive by its capacity, model, and USB connection. If you are unsure which device it is, unplug it, run the command again, and compare the list. Close any file-manager windows using the drive before installation.

Extract the Ventoy archive and open a terminal in its extracted folder. Replace /dev/sdX below with the USB drive’s whole-device name, such as /dev/sdb. Do not use a partition name such as /dev/sdb1.

tar -xzf ventoy-<version>-linux.tar.gz
cd ventoy-<version>
sudo sh Ventoy2Disk.sh -i /dev/sdX

Read the device name shown by Ventoy before confirming its erase prompt. The -i option installs Ventoy to the selected disk; its documentation warns that all data on that disk will be lost. The command-line installer has an optional -s switch for Ventoy Secure Boot support. To enable it, use sudo sh Ventoy2Disk.sh -i -s /dev/sdX with the same verified device path. Secure Boot may show a first-boot key-enrollment screen, and Ventoy documents limitations in its Secure Boot policy. Review its Secure Boot guide before enabling that option.

3. Copy the ISO to Ventoy’s large data partition

When installation finishes, Linux should show the USB’s large Ventoy data partition. Ventoy formats this partition as exFAT by default. Open it in the file manager and copy the Windows 11 .iso file to it. Do not copy the ISO to the small VTOYEFI partition, and do not extract the ISO’s contents.

Wait for the full file copy to finish, then safely eject the USB drive. Ventoy searches the data partition for ISO files and lists them in its boot menu; you can keep the Windows ISO in the top level or place it in a folder.

4. Boot the target PC from the USB

Connect the prepared USB to the PC where you want to run Windows Setup and restart it. Open the one-time boot menu using the key shown by the PC manufacturer; common keys include F12, F11, Esc, or Del. Choose the USB’s UEFI entry when available.

At the Ventoy menu, highlight the Windows 11 ISO and press Enter. Ventoy should start Windows Setup. If Secure Boot blocks Ventoy or requests key enrollment, follow the instructions for your firmware and Ventoy version in the official guide. Ventoy’s tested Windows ISO list includes Windows 11, though firmware compatibility can vary.

Reaching Windows Setup does not install Windows by itself. If you continue, review the disk and partition choices carefully, especially if the PC currently runs Linux; back up important files before changing partitions.

Fix common boot problems

• The USB is missing from the boot menu: Try another USB port, reconnect the drive, and check the PC maker’s boot-menu instructions. If Secure Boot is enabled, consult Ventoy’s guide for the supported setup on that PC.
• The Ventoy menu does not list Windows: Confirm the ISO finished copying to the large Ventoy partition, not VTOYEFI. If needed, download the ISO again from Microsoft and copy it after the download completes.
• Ventoy reports a disk or permission issue: Recheck the whole-device path with lsblk, make sure you did not select the Linux system disk, and run the installer with sudo. Never guess the device name.
• Windows Setup says the PC is unsupported: Review Microsoft’s hardware requirements and the PC manufacturer’s firmware settings. Creating installation media does not make unsupported hardware meet the requirements.

For Ventoy’s Linux commands and partition details, see its official getting-started guide.