How to Install Windows 11 Pro on a New PC: Bootable USB Guide

Whether you’re building a new PC or doing a clean install on an old one, turning your Windows 11 Pro key into working install media only takes a few steps. Here’s exactly how to do it, start to finish.

What You’ll Need

• A working PC with a stable internet connection
• A blank USB flash drive, 8GB or larger
• Your Windows 11 Pro key from checkout

Step 1: Grab the Media Creation Tool

From a working PC, open Microsoft’s official Windows 11 download page and download the Media Creation Tool. It’s a small program that handles the download and USB setup for you.

Step 2: Plug in a USB Flash Drive (8GB or More)

Use a spare drive – everything currently on it will be erased during this process, so move any files you want to keep somewhere else first.

Step 3: Run the Tool and Accept the Prompts

Launch the downloaded .exe, accept the license terms, then choose “Create installation media for another PC” and pick your language and edition (Windows 11, matching your key).

Step 4: Select “USB Flash Drive” as the Media Type

The tool will download the Windows 11 files and write them to your drive automatically. This can take anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour depending on your connection.

Step 5: Boot the Target PC from the USB

Restart the computer you want to install Windows on with the drive plugged in, and enter its boot menu (commonly F12, F2, Esc or Del right at startup) to boot from the USB instead of the hard drive.

Step 6: Enter Your Key When Setup Asks for It

During installation you’ll be prompted for a product key – enter the one from your order confirmation email to activate Windows 11 Pro.

Before You Start

Back up anything important before a clean install – it wipes the target drive. If your PC came with Windows 11 already, its key is often stored in the firmware and gets picked up automatically, so you may not even need to type one in.

For the full official walkthrough with screenshots, see Microsoft’s complete guide.