- Rufus creates USB de Boot and allows you to customize the installer Windows 11.
- It is possible to omit TPM, Secure Boot and Online account to use local account.
- The ISO can be downloaded from Microsoft or using the Rufus wizard.
- Security recommendations: official source, digital signature, and backups.
If you are looking for the fastest and most flexible way to create an installation USB Windows 11, Rufus is the tool you need. It is free, open source and requires no installation., so in just a few minutes you can have a bootable media ready to install or reinstall the operating system, even on computers with high requirements. hardware adjusted.
In addition to generating the classic bootable USB, Rufus offers something that makes the difference: allows you to customize the Windows 11 installer to bypass limitations such as TPM 2.0, Secure Boot or the mandatory use of a Microsoft account, and even create a local account in advanceThis speeds up setup and makes it possible to install on older or unsupported machines.
What is Rufus and what does it allow you to do?
Rufus is a utility for forma tear and create bootable USB drives In a simple way. It is used to prepare bootable Windows ISOs (including Windows 11), Linux and other UEFI or DOS environments. It is also useful if you need work on a PC without an operating system, update a BIOS from DOS or run low-level utilities.
The tool is portable (downloads an .exe and that's it), open source licensed under GPLv3 y offers digital signature so you can verify its authenticity (you will see that the executable is signed by “Akeo Consulting”). Its interface is clear and to the point, so any user can use it without any hassle.
Regarding host system compatibility, the Rufus website indicates that it works on Windows 8 and later, and many guides have also used it with older equipment. The program size is minimal, and yet it includes everything you need to create the installation USB media.
Another plus point is the support for multiple languages., which allows you use the app in Spanish with total comfort and without getting lost in the options.
Requirements and preparations before creating the USB
Before you start, make sure you have an empty USB flash drive. with capacity at least 8 GB. All content on the flash drive will be erased during the process., so make a backup if there's anything you want to keep.
You'll need a Windows computer and a stable internet connection.. Weather Windows 11 ISO image download It depends on your bandwidth, so it can take from a few minutes to a little longer if your connection is limited.
Have your Windows product key handy (if applicable). Maybe You don't need it if your device already includes the license in the firmware. (in that case, the installer will automatically detect it as long as the edition and version match), but It is good practice to have it located.
If you're installing Windows 11 in a virtual machine, instead of a USB you can create an ISO file and mount it directly on the VM. Rufus serves you for both things: prepare a physical USB or help you download the official ISO.
Download the Windows 11 ISO from Rufus
If you don't have the Windows 11 ISO yet, Rufus integrates a download wizard. Click the arrow next to the "Select" button and choose "Download". The application will download a script which allows you to obtain official Windows images.
Choose Windows 11 from the drop-down menu & AFTER select the edition and language. When you confirm, Rufus will start downloading the ISO image with the chosen parameters. If you need it, the wizard also allows download previous versions of Windows (until Windows 7).
Save the ISO to an easy-to-locate folder (for example, Downloads). This will make it easier to select it in the next step when it's time to create the bootable USB.
Alternatively, you can get the ISO from the Microsoft software downloads page.. There you will find Instructions for creating installation media and, in the case of Windows 10, the tool MediaCreationTool.exe that guides the process. To Virtual machines, you can directly use the ISO without the need for USB.
Create the Windows 11 installation USB with Rufus
Connect the pendrive that you are going to use and open Rufus. Then, configure these basic sections:
Device: Choose the correct USB drive. Make sure you have at least 8GB and that there is no data you want to keep., because it will be completely formatted.
Boot Selection: press Select y points to the Windows 11 ISO that you downloaded. Rufus will analyze it in a few seconds.
Image options: for a conventional PC, use Standard Windows Installation. If you prefer carry Windows on the USB itself (bootable on different computers), choose Windows To GoIn this guide we continue with the standard installation.
The rest of the parameters (partition, file system, label, etc.) can be left at their default values., which are already suitable for most modern UEFI computers. If you feel comfortable, you can customize the volume label to recognize the pendrive at a glance.
When everything is ready, click "Start". Rufus will warn you that the contents of the drive will be erased; confirm and continue to open the dialog box. installer customization options.
Advanced Windows 11 Installer Settings in Rufus
This is the key moment if you want simplify installation and eliminate requirements. Rufus will display several boxes that you can check depending on what you need:
- Remove requirement for 4GB: disable Windows 11 minimum requirements related with TPM 2.0, Secure Boot and RAMThis option allows you to install on older or incompatible devices. Use it if your hardware doesn't meet these requirements.
- Remove requirement for an online Microsoft account: if you mark it, You can set up Windows 11 without signing in with a Microsoft account.. Very useful if you prefer start with a local account or you don't want to link the PC to your online account at first.
- Create a local account: here you can define the username and, if desired, the password for the local account that the system will create automatically. So you avoid steps during the OOBE (the initial configuration after the first boot).
- Set regional options: copy regional options (language, date/time format, keyboard) from your current session and applies them to the installation. Save time and avoid mistakes with your keyboard layout.
- Disable data collection: answers automatically "No" to all privacy requests from the assistant (telemetry, personalized ads, etc.). If privacy is your priority, It leaves your system cleaner from the start.
- You can select one, several or all options. depending on your case. When you confirm, Rufus will write the image to the USBThe process may take a few minutes depending on the speed of your flash drive and USB port.
Install Windows 11 without a Microsoft account and on unsupported computers
Once the bootable USB is created, you have to use it on the target computer. Enter the BIOS/UEFI, choose to boot from the pendrive and follow the steps in the installation wizard as you normally would.
If you have enabled the option to skip the Microsoft account, The installer will not force you to log in online, and if you also configured Create a local account, You will now have your local user ready without having to create it by hand. It's a perfect shortcut when You don't want to rely on the Internet during the first boot. or if you prefer to manage the account later.
For computers without TPM 2.0, without Secure Boot, or with less than 4 GB of RAM, check the box Remove requirement for 4GB allow install Windows 11 without the installer complaining about these requirements. Please note that disabling these checks has security implications. (e.g. you give up verified boot), so use it wisely.
The requirement to use a Microsoft account has arrived with force in Windows 11.Until not long ago, It was possible to create a local account officially during setup. With Rufus, you regain that flexibility and speed up setup, especially useful in environments without connectivity or when you prefer to separate functions.
Remember the legal part: for activate windows 11 you will need a valid license (or take advantage of the one your device already has in the firmware). Although you can skip hardware requirements and the online account, the activation follows the usual rules.
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