How to create bootable Windows 11 22H2 USB install media

On a computer that meets the minimum requirements, you will need a bootable USB media to perform a clean installation of Windows 11 22H2 (2022 Update).

Although you can install version 22H2 using the Media Creation Tool or mounting the ISO file to File Explorer, starting a computer with a USB installation media is still the best approach. Also, it’s perhaps the only way to install Windows 11 22H2 on a new computer or a device with an empty hard drive.

If you have to create a bootable USB flash drive to install Windows 11 22H2, you can use the Media Creation Tool, Rufus, and Command Prompt.

This guide will teach you the different ways to create a USB bootable media to perform an in-place or clean install of the Windows 11 2022 Update.

Create Windows 11 22H2 bootable USB with Rufus
Create Windows 11 22H2 bootable USB with Command Prompt
Create Windows 11 22H2 bootable USB with Media Creation Tool

Create Windows 11 22H2 bootable USB with Rufus

To create a bootable USB to install Windows 11 22H2 using Rufus, use these steps:

Open Rufus website.
Click the link to download the latest version – for example, rufus-3.20.exe.
Double-click the executable to launch the tool.
Click the Settings button (third button from the left) a the bottom of the page.
Under the “Settings” section, use the “Check for updates” drop-down menu and select the Daily option.
Click the Close button.
Click the Close button again.
Open Rufus again.
(Optional) Under the “Device” section, use the drop-down menu and select the USB drive to create the installation media.
Under the “Boot selection” section, use the drop-down menu and select the Disk or ISO image option.
Click the down-arrow button (on the right side) and select the Download option.
Click the Download button.
Select the Windows 11 option.
Click the Continue button.
Under the “Release” section, select the Windows 11 22H2 ISO. For example, select the 22H2 (Build 226xx.xxx – 2022.xx) option to download the 22H2 ISO file.
Click the Continue button.
Select the Windows 11 22H2 Home/Pro/Edu option.
Click the Continue button.
Select the installation language for the Windows 11 2022 Update.
Click the Continue button.
Select the x64 option for the OS architecture.
Click the Download button.
Select the location to save the Windows 11 22H2 ISO file automatically.
(Optional) If you connected a USB flash drive to create a bootable media, continue with the default settings after the download.
(Optional) Under the “Volume label” setting, specify a name for the drive. For example, Windows 11 Setup.
Click the Start button.
Clear the “Remove requirement for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot and TPM 2.0” option.
(Optional) Check the “Set a local account using the same name as this user’s” option if you want an installation with a local account instead of a Microsoft account (not recommended).
Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the tool will begin creating a bootable media with the Windows 11 22H2 installation media.

Create Windows 11 22H2 bootable USB with Command Prompt

To create a Windows 11 22H2 USB flash drive from ISO with Command Prompt, use these steps:

Open Microsoft Support website.
Under the “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO)” section, select the Windows 11 option.
Click the Download button.
Select the installation language.
Click the Confirm button.
Click the Download button to save the Windows 11 22H2 ISO file on the computer.
Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as Administrator option.
Type the following command to open Diskpart and press Enter:
```
diskpart
```
Type the following command to determine the USB flash drive and press Enter:
```
list disk
```
Type the following command to select the storage and press Enter:
```
select disk 1
```
Quick tip: The select disk 1 command as an example, but you have to replace 1 with the flash drive you want to use.
Type the following commands to delete everything from the USB flash drive and press Enter:
```
clean
```
Type the following command to create a primary partition and press Enter:
```
create partition primary
```
Type the following command to select the new partition and press Enter:
```
select partition 1
```
Type the following command to make the USB flash drive bootable and press Enter:
```
format FS=FAT32 quick
```
Type the following command to assign a volume and a drive letter for the USB flash drive and press Enter:
```
assign letter=X
```
Change X for any available letter you want to use in the command.
Type the following command to quit the tool and press Enter:
```
exit
```
Type the following command to mount the Windows 11 22H2 ISO file and press Enter:
```
PowerShell Mount-DiskImage -ImagePath "C:\path\to\Windows11.iso"
```
In the command, update the path with the location where you have stored the Windows 11 22H2 ISO file.
Type the following command to relaunch Diskpart and press Enter:
```
diskpart
```
Type the following command to determine the drive letter for the mounted Windows 11 22H2 ISO file and press Enter:
```
list volume
```
Type the following command to exit Diskpart and press Enter:
```
exit
```
Type the following command to access the Windows 11 22H2 ISO file and press Enter:
```
E:
```
Type the following command to the boot folder and press Enter:
```
cd boot
```
Type the following command to update the volume boot code for the USB flash drive and press Enter:
```
bootsect /nt60 X:
```
Type the following command to copy all the Windows 11 22H2 installation files to the USB flash drive and press Enter:
```
xcopy E:*.* X: /E /F /H
```
In the command, change the E and X drive letters with the correct drive letters for the Windows 11 ISO image and the USB flash drive, respectively.

After you complete the steps, you can use the bootable flash drive to install Windows 11 22H2 on UEFI devices.

Create Windows 11 22H2 bootable USB with Media Creation Tool

To use the Media Creation Tool to create a bootable Windows 11 22H2 USB install media, use these steps:

Open Microsoft support website.
Under the “Create Windows 11 installation media” section, click the Download Now button.
Double-click the MediaCrationToolW11.exe file to launch the tool.
Click the Accept button.
Click the Next button.

Quick note: Clear the “Use the recommended options for this PC” option to select the correct language, architecture, and edition if you want to create a Windows 11 22H2 USB for another device.
Select the USB flash drive option.
Click the Next button.
Select the USB flash drive from the list, but make sure it does not have any important files, as this process will erase everything on it.
Click the Next button.
Click the Finish button.

Once you complete the steps, you can start the computer with the USB drive to install Windows 11 22H2.