Rufus is one of the go-to tools for creating bootable USB drives. Measuring just 1 MB, it allows you to format flash drives and burn ISO images of operating systems like Windows or Linux extremely quickly and easily. Below you'll find an in-depth look at what Rufus is, step-by-step instructions for using it, and a list of recommended alternatives.
Table of Contents
1. What is Rufus?
Rufus is a free and open-source software (GPL v3) designed to format and create bootable USB drives. It was officially released on December 14, 2011, to replace the older HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool, offering a lightweight, portable interface with no installation required.
Main uses of Rufus:
- Create installation media for Windows (from XP to Windows 11) and Linux distributions.
- Generate a “Windows To Go” USB to run the system from the drive.
- Format pen drives in FAT32, NTFS, exFAT, and other file systems.
- Install low-level utilities (firmware update, BIOS) from DOS.
2. How Rufus Works: Step-by-Step Guide
- Download and run
- Go to the official Rufus website and download the standard or portable version (no installation required).
- Run the file
.exewith administrator permissions.
- Select the USB drive
- Connect the pendrive (recommended ≥ 8 GB) and choose the device from the drop-down menu Device.
- Load the ISO image
- En Boot Selection, Mark Disc or ISO image and press TO SELECT to search for your image
.isoon the local disk.
- En Boot Selection, Mark Disc or ISO image and press TO SELECT to search for your image
- Configure the partition scheme
- Choose GPT for UEFI systems or MBR for legacy BIOS. Rufus automatically detects compatibility.
- File and label system
- By default, FAT32 (UEFI compatible) or NTFS (for files > 4 GB) is used. Adjust the volume label if desired.
- Advanced Options (Optional)
- Compression level, clusters, alternative boot modes (DD vs ISO).
- start the process
- Click on START. Rufus will format the USB and burn the image. When the green bar fills up, you'll have a bootable USB drive ready.
3. Requirements and licenses
- Operating system: Windows 7 (32/64 bit) or higher.
- USB flash drive with sufficient space (≥ 4 GB for most ISOs).
- License: GNU GPL v3, code available on GitHub.
4. Advanced features
- Creating Windows To Go environments.
- Image validation and integrity check option.
- Support for Linux ISOs that require DD mode.
- Automatic detection and partitioning for UEFI and BIOS.
- Changelog for each version to fix bugs and add drivers (exFAT, NTFS, UEFI:NTFS).
5. Windows 11 Bypass: Local Account and Requirement Bypass
Rufus versions 3.19 and higher include the ability to patch Windows 11 ISOs to:
- Remove the requirement to create a Microsoft account during installation.
- Automatically create a local account (no initial password) that the user must update after the first boot.
- Bypass hardware requirements like TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and 4GB of RAM.
Although effective, this practice is not recommended for production environments or corporate computers, as it may limit the receipt of security updates and official support in the future.
6. Main alternatives to Rufus
Although Rufus stands out for its speed and compatibility, there are other tools that also perform the function of creating bootable USBs:
| Tools | Digital Platforms | Pros | Cons | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| balenaetcher | Windows, MacOS, Linux | Graphical interface, image validation | Sometimes it doesn't detect Windows ISOs | |
| UNetbootin | Windows, MacOS, Linux | Automatic download of ISOs, portable | Limited to Linux distros | |
| Universal USB Installer | Windows | Compatible with Windows and Linux, fast | No UEFI support: Native NTFS | |
| windy | Windows, Linux | Multi-boot without reformatting, supports > 940 ISOs | Basic interface | |
| RMPrepUSB | Windows | Advanced options, multiple partitions | Higher usage curve | |
| Etcher (pre-Balena) | Windows, MacOS, Linux | Cross-platform, easy to use | Heavy vs. Rufus |
- balenaEtcher stands out for its simplicity and pre-flash validation, ideal for novice users.
- UNetbootin is recommended if you need to burn Linux ISOs from any operating system, without having to deal with advanced partitioning.
- Universal USB Installer offers a guided wizard for Windows and Linux, although it does not automatically detect advanced UEFI:NTFS schemes.
- Ventoy greatly simplifies multibooting, allowing you to copy multiple ISOs to a single USB without formatting between uses.
7 conclusion
Rufus remains the gold standard for creating bootable USB drives due to its lightweight design, speed, and compatibility with all versions of Windows and most Linux distributions. If you're looking for more graphical, cross-platform, or specialized multi-boot alternatives, tools like balenaEtcher, UNetbootin, or Ventoy will provide additional features.
Remember that bypassing Windows 11 requirements or avoiding a Microsoft account can affect the stability and support of your system, so it should only be used for testing or on non-critical personal computers.