How to Install Windows 10 From Flash Drive

Created On: 2020-09-15 Updated On: 2020-09-15

Overview

Use GPT partition table on flash drive.
Create one FAT32 partition, mark it as bootable. This will be used as UEFI fallback boot partition, when no EFI system partition (ESP) presents.

Copy some windows 10 installer files in order to boot the installer. Note that sources\install.wim is larger than 4GiB, which can not be stored on FAT32 file system.
Create one NTFS partition, to store all Windows 10 installer files, including sources\install.wim
Boot the computer from flash drive in UEFI mode, this will boot the installer on FAT32 partition, and it will look for sources\install.wim in NTFS partition later on.

Steps

Create GPT partition on the flash drive. If it comes with BIOS partition table, you may recreate partition table in GPT. Please backup your data to other devices before you modify partition table on your flash drive.

Create at least the following two partitions:
- FAT32, 3GiB or more
- NTFS, 6GiB for Win 10 2004. Must be big enough to store all files on windows 10 ISO
Mark the FAT32 partition as bootable/active. Other partitions can be created as you wish. I usually partition the rest disk space to exfat, since this format can be accessed on all major OS.
Copy installer files to FAT32 and NTFS partition. You can do this in existing Windows or Linux system. See How to Install Windows 10 From Hard Drive for copy instructions.
Boot the computer from flash drive in UEFI mode. Follow Windows 10 setup GUI.