Rufus software guide for creating bootable USB drives

Rufus is a free, lightweight software utility designed to create bootable USB drives from ISO images. It is widely used for installing or reinstalling operating systems such as Windows 10, Windows 11, and various Linux distributions. Additionally, the tool can be used for PC maintenance, running diagnostic tools, and preparing media compatible with both BIOS and UEFI systems.

The software is available for Windows and does not require a formal installation process. Users can choose between a standard version and a portable version; the portable version saves settings in a local configuration file, ensuring no traces are left in the Windows Registry. As of mid-2026, the stable version 4.15 is compatible with Windows 8 or later and is primarily distributed as a 64-bit application.