How to install Windows 10 from USB with UEFI support

Usually, when you have to install a clean copy of Windows 10, you'll need a USB bootable media to start your computer and continue with the setup wizard. However, if you're using a device with a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI), instead of the legacy Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), you have to make sure that the media will work with your firmware type.

If you're using a newer firmware type, you have various methods to create a media to install Windows 10 from USB. Although it's not advertised, you can use the Microsoft Media Creation Tool to download the installation files onto a removable drive with support for both, UEFI and legacy BIOS. Alternatively, you can also use Rufus, which is a third-party tool that makes it easy to create an installation boot media with support for UEFI.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to create a USB flash drive that includes UEFI support using the Microsoft Media Creation Tool and Rufus.

How to create a Windows 10 UEFI boot media using Media Creation Tool
How to create a Windows 10 UEFI boot media using Rufus tool

How to create a Windows 10 UEFI boot media using Media Creation Tool

If you have a newer system using UEFI, you can use the Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB media to perform an in-place upgrade or clean installation of Windows 10.

To create a bootable media, connect a USB flash drive of at least 8GB of space, and then use these steps:

Open Windows 10 download page.
Under the "Create Windows 10 installation media" section, click the Download tool now button to save the file on your device.
Double-click the MediaCreationToolxxxx.exe file to launch the tool.
Click the Accept button to agree to the Microsoft terms.
Select the Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC option.
Click the Next button.
Clear the Use the recommended options for this PC option (if applicable).
Select the correct language, architecture, and edition of Windows 10.

Quick tip: If you'll be installing Windows 10 on multiple devices running 32-bit or 64-bit architecture, then use the "Architecture" drop-down menu and select the Both option.
Click the Next button.
Select the USB flash drive option.
Click the Next button
Select the removable drive from the list. (If you don't see the drive, click the Refresh drive list option.)
Click the Next button.
Click the Finish button.

Once you complete the steps, the tool will download the required files and create a bootable USB flash drive with the Windows 10 installation files with support for UEFI and BIOS.

How to create a Windows 10 UEFI boot media using Rufus tool

If the Media Creation Tool isn't working, you can use the Rufus tool to either create an installation media with UEFI support.

Creating boot media with Windows 10 ISO

To create a bootable media using a Windows 10 ISO file that you already have, connect a USB flash drive of at least 8GB of space, and use these steps:

Open Rufus download page.
Under the "Download" section, click the latest release of the tool to save the file on your device.
Double-click the Rufus-x.x.exe file to launch the tool.
Under the "Device" section, select the USB flash drive with at least 8GB of space.
Under the "Boot selection" section, click the Select button on the right.
Select the Windows 10 ISO file from its folder location.
Click the Open button.
Use the "Image option" drop-down menu to select the Standard Windows installation option.
Use the "Partition scheme" drop-down menu to select the GPT option.
Use the "Target system" drop-down menu to select the UEFI (non CSM) option.
Under the "Show Advanced drive properties" section, leave the default settings.
Under the "Volume label" field, enter a descriptive name for the drive — for example, "win10_1903_usb."
Under the "File system" and "Cluster size" section, leave the default settings.
Click the Show advanced format options button.
Select the "Quick format" and "Create extended label and icon files" options.
Click the Start button.
Click the OK button to confirm.
Click the Close button.

After you complete the steps, Rufus will create a bootable USB flash drive to install Windows 10 with the image that you provided.

Creating boot media downloading Windows 10 ISO

If you don't have a Windows 10 ISO file, you can use Rufus to download the ISO and create the bootable USB flash media. Just connect a USB flash drive of at least 8GB of space, and use these steps:

Open Rufus download page.
Under the "Download" section, click the latest release of the tool to save the file on your device.
Double-click the Rufus-x.x.exe file to launch the tool.
Under the "Device" section, select the USB flash drive with at least 4GB of space.
Under the "Boot selection" section, click the arrow button next to the "Select" option on the right and click the Download button.
Click the Download button.
Use the "Version" drop-down menu and select Windows 10.
Click the Continue button.
Select the 19H1 (Build 18362.30 - 2019.05) option to download the Windows 10 May 2019 Update.
Click the Continue button.
Use the "Edition" drop-down menu and select the Windows 10 Home/Pro option.
Click the Continue button.
Use the "Language" drop-down menu and select your installation language.
Click the Continue button.
Use the "Architecture" drop-down menu and select the 32-bit or 64-bit (recommended).
Click the Download button.
Select a folder location to download the ISO file.
Click the Save button.
Use the "Image option" drop-down menu to select the Standard Windows installation option.
Use the "Partition scheme" drop-down menu to select the GPT option.
Use the "Target system" drop-down menu to select the UEFI (non CSM) option.
Under the "Show Advanced drive properties" section, leave the default settings.
Under the "Volume label" field, enter a descriptive name for the drive — for example, "win10_1903_usb."
Under the "File system" and "Cluster size" section, leave the default settings.
Click the Show advanced format options button.
Select the "Quick format" and "Create extended label and icon files" options.
Click the Start button.
Click the OK button to confirm.
Click the Close button.

Once you complete the steps, the tool will run the script to download the Windows 10 ISO file, and then, it'll use that file to create a bootable media, which you can then use to install Windows 10 on devices using UEFI.

Now that you have a USB bootable media with support for UEFI, you can start your computer to perform an in-place upgrade or clean installation of Windows 10.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

Mauro recommends all these affordable accessories

Hi, I'm Mauro Huculak, Windows Central's help and how-to guru. I wrote the post you're reading now, and I know the Windows OS inside and out. But I'm also a bit of a hardware geek. These are some of the affordable gadgets on my desk today.

Logitech MX Master Wireless Mouse ($72 at Amazon)

I know mice, and this is the one I use every day. The MX Master is a wireless high-precision mouse that's very comfortable to use and has many great features, including the ability to connect with multiple devices, an infinite scroll wheel, back and forward buttons, all of which you can customize.

Ktrio Extended Gaming Mouse Pad ($12 at Amazon)

If you spend a lot of time typing, your palms and mouse will leave tracks on your desk. My solution was to start using gaming mouse pads, which are big enough for you to use the keyboard and the mouse comfortably. This is the one I use and recommend.

Supernight LED light strip ($20 at Amazon)

You could just use a regular light bulb in your office, but if you want to add some ambient lighting with different colors, an RGB LED strip is the way to go. This one is Mauro-approved.

This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure policy for more details.