Having a bootable USB drive isn't enough on its own — by default, most PCs boot straight from the internal drive and never even check the USB port. To run Windows Setup from USB, you need to tell the firmware to boot from it, either as a one-time override or by changing the boot order permanently.
Before You Start
- A bootable USB drive with Windows installation media already on it
- Knowledge of your PC manufacturer, to look up the correct boot-menu key if needed
- A few minutes before you need the PC — some boards require a couple of restarts to get the timing right
1.Plug in the USB drive first
Insert the bootable USB drive before powering on or restarting the PC — most firmware only scans for boot devices during the very first moments of startup.
2.Find your boot-menu key
As the PC starts, repeatedly tap the boot-menu key. Common ones by brand: Dell — F12, HP — F9 or Esc, Lenovo — F12 or Novo button, ASUS — F8 or Esc, Acer — F12, MSI — F11.
If your PC doesn't show a boot menu prompt, enter full BIOS/UEFI setup instead — usually Del or F2 — and look for the Boot tab there.
3.Select the USB drive
From the boot menu, choose the USB drive — it usually shows the manufacturer and model name (e.g. "SanDisk USB Device") rather than just "USB."
If you're in full BIOS/UEFI settings instead of a boot menu, find Boot Order or Boot Priority, move the USB entry to the top of the list, then save and exit (commonly F10).
4.Confirm Windows Setup loads
You may briefly see "Press any key to boot from USB or DVD" — press a key quickly if it appears, since it usually times out in a few seconds and falls back to the internal drive.
How to tell it worked
You'll land on the Windows Setup screen ("Windows Setup" with language/time/keyboard dropdowns) rather than your normal desktop or a "No bootable device" error — that confirms the PC booted from the USB drive successfully.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Boot-menu key does nothing | Timing is often very tight — some boards only accept the keypress for a fraction of a second right after the power button. | Start tapping the key immediately and repeatedly the instant you press power, rather than waiting for a logo to appear. Fast Boot in the BIOS can also skip the window entirely; disable it if this keeps happening. |
| USB drive doesn't appear in the boot menu at all | The drive isn't actually bootable, or it's plugged into a port the firmware doesn't scan (some boards ignore front-panel USB ports for booting). | Re-create the bootable USB with the Media Creation Tool, and try a rear USB port directly on the motherboard instead of a front-panel port or hub. |
| PC boots straight past the USB into Windows as normal | Secure Boot or a fixed boot order is preventing the override. | Enter full BIOS/UEFI settings and either temporarily disable Secure Boot or manually reorder the boot priority list to put USB first. |
