Rufus
Pete Batard / Akeo Consulting • Bootable Utility
Creating a bootable USB drive from an ISO image is a common requirement for system administrators and power users.
Rufus is a small, fast, and reliable utility designed to simplify this process for Windows operating systems. Despite its minimal interface, the application provides extensive configuration options for partition schemes, file systems, and boot types, supporting everything from Windows installation media to various Linux distributions and low-level utilities. This powerful tool is completely portable, meaning no installation is necessary to get Rufus running on your PC.
To get the best results, users should always ensure they select the correct partition scheme, such as GPT for modern UEFI systems or MBR for older BIOS setups. Plus, the software includes advanced features for bypassing Windows 11 system requirements, which is a huge benefit for those with older hardware.
In This Article
Rufus Quick Start
Enabling Dual-Boot Compatibility (Alt + E)
- Launch Rufus.
- Select your target Device and ISO Image.
- Press the Alt + E keyboard shortcut to enable the hidden Dual UEFI + Legacy BIOS mode.
- Set the Partition scheme to MBR and the Target system to BIOS or UEFI.
- Click START to begin the process.
Why: This combination creates a bootable drive compatible with both modern UEFI systems and older Legacy BIOS machines, which is not the default setting. This is crucial for maximum hardware compatibility.
Bypassing Windows 11 System Requirements
- Select a Windows 11 ISO file for the Boot selection.
- When the Windows User Experience dialog appears, check the box for Remove Requirement for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot, and TPM 2.0.
- Optionally, check Remove Requirement for an Online Microsoft Account to set up a local account.
- Click OK to apply the bypasses before writing the image.
Why: This allows users to create installation media that can successfully install Windows 11 on hardware that does not meet Microsoft’s strict minimum requirements for TPM and Secure Boot, extending the life of older PCs.
Software Specifications
| Software Name | Rufus |
|---|---|
| Version | 4.12 |
| License | GNU GPL 3+ |
| File Size | 1.85 MB |
| OS Support | Windows 8, 10, 11 (32-bit, 64-bit, ARM64) |
| Language | 38 languages (multi-language) |
| Developer | Pete Batard / Akeo Consulting |
| Homepage | rufus.ie |
| Changelogurl | https://github.com/pbatard/rufus/releases |
| Last Updated | January 2026 |
Core Features
- Create Bootable Media from ISOs: The utility can create bootable USB drives from a wide array of bootable ISO images, including Windows, various Linux distributions, and UEFI installation media. This core function is fast and highly reliable for system deployment and maintenance tasks.
- Windows To Go Drive Creation: Users can create Windows To Go drives, allowing a full, bootable version of Windows to run directly from the USB drive. This is ideal for traveling professionals or for running a secure, isolated environment.
- Flexible Partition and File System Support: It supports both MBR (Master Boot Record) and GPT (GUID Partition Table) partition schemes, ensuring compatibility with both older BIOS and modern UEFI systems. Also, it supports multiple file systems like FAT32, NTFS, exFAT, UDF, and ReFS.
- Bad Blocks Check: The software includes an option to perform bad blocks checks on the flash drive, which helps detect and isolate faulty sectors. This feature is particularly useful for identifying and avoiding fake flash drives that report a larger capacity than they actually possess.
- Checksum Computation: To verify the integrity of the selected image file, Rufus can compute MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512 checksums. This ensures the source ISO is not corrupted before the writing process begins.
- Portable and Small Footprint: The application is entirely portable and requires no installation, running directly from the executable file. Its small file size, typically under 2 MB, makes it easy to store and use from any portable storage device.
Questions & Answers
Is Rufus 4.12 a portable application?
Yes, Rufus is designed as a portable application. It does not require installation and can be run directly from the executable file, making it easy to carry on a USB drive.
What partition schemes does Rufus support?
Rufus supports both MBR (Master Boot Record) and GPT (GUID Partition Table) partition schemes. This allows users to create bootable media compatible with both older BIOS and modern UEFI systems.
Can Rufus bypass Windows 11 system requirements?
Yes, when selecting a Windows 11 ISO, Rufus presents an option to bypass the requirements for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot, and TPM 2.0. This is a key feature for installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware.
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