Creating a bootable USB drive has traditionally been a repetitive and time-consuming task. Every time you wanted to install a new Linux distribution, set up Windows, or use a recovery or troubleshooting tool, you had to format the USB drive and recreate it from scratch. This process not only wastes time but also increases the risk of errors and accidental data loss.
Ventoy completely changes how bootable USB drives work. Instead of formatting your USB drive for each operating system, Ventoy allows you to install it once and then simply copy multiple ISO files directly onto the USB stick. You can boot any of those ISO files without recreating the USB again. No repeated formatting, no special tools per operating system, and no unnecessary hassle.
Whether you are a system administrator, network engineer, student, or an enthusiast who frequently works with different operating systems, Ventoy makes creating a multi-boot USB simple and efficient. With a single USB drive, you can boot multiple Linux distributions, Windows installers, and recovery tools—saving time and making your workflow far more convenient.
Requirements:
- USB flash drive (16 GB or larger)
- ISO files (e.g., Windows 10/11, Ubuntu 24.04)
- Windows PC (10/11)
Note: Before proceeding, ensure that the ISO files you plan to use are tested and officially supported by Ventoy. Using supported ISOs helps avoid boot issues and ensures a smooth installation process. You can do this by visiting their Tested ISO section.
Warning: This process erases all data on the USB—back up important files first!
Table of Contents
- Step 01: Download Ventoy
- Step 02: Prepare Your USB Drive
- Step 03: Launch Ventoy Setup
- Step 04: Install Ventoy
- Step 05: Copy ISOs into The Ventoy Drive
- Step 06: Use Ventoy Bootable Drive
Step 01: Download Ventoy
Visit the official Ventoy website and download the Windows version of Ventoy. At the time of writing, the latest release is ventoy-1.1.10-windows.zip. Clicking the download link will redirect you to a SourceForge page. From there, click the green “Download” button to download the ZIP file to your computer.
After the download, it is recommended to verify the provided SHA-256 hash to ensure the file has not been corrupted or tampered with. Press Windows + R, type powershell, and press Enter to open PowerShell. Next, navigate to the Downloads folder using the following command (assuming the file was downloaded to the default Downloads directory):
cd $env:USERPROFILE\Downloads
Once you are in the correct directory, use the following command to calculate the SHA-256 hash of the downloaded file:
Get-FileHash .\ventoy-1.1.10-windows.zip -Algorithm SHA256
Compare the hash given in the output similar to following, against the hash given in the official Ventoy download page.
Step 02: Prepare Your USB Drive
Connect your USB drive into your Windows PC, and and make sure
- It's empty or backed up—everything will be wiped!
- Have enough capacity to hold multiple ISOs (At least 16GB+ for modern ISOs).
Note: It is also recommended to disconnect any other USB storage media before you start to avoid any mistakes and unintentional data loss.
Step 03: Launch Ventoy Setup
Extract the downloaded ZIP file, and launch Ventoy using Ventoy2Disk.exe. Click "yes" on the User Account Control prompt.
Step 04: Install Ventoy
Make sure you have selected the correct USB drive from the dropdown list in the Ventoy window.
Once confirmed, click the “Install” button.
You will be prompted twice to confirm your action, as this process will modify the selected USB drive.
Then wait until the installation process is complete, and close the window.
Step 05: Copy ISOs Into The USB
Identify the USB in the windows explorer named "Ventoy"
Then copy the supported OS ISO images you prepared into the Ventoy drive.
Step 06: Use The Ventoy Bootable Drive
Congratulations, you have finished making your Ventoy bootable drive. To use it, restart your PC and open the boot device selection menu by pressing F12 or ESC (the key may vary depending on your PC manufacturer). From the list of available boot devices, select the Ventoy bootable USB drive to boot from it. Then select the ISO of OS you want to boot into using the list provided by the Ventoy.
With Ventoy, creating a multi-ISO bootable USB on Windows becomes a simple, reusable process—no repeated formatting required. Was this guide on how to create a bootable drive with Ventoy on Windows helpful? Share your experience or leave feedback in the comments—I appreciate it!
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