How to create a bootable multiboot USB drive with Ventoy

If you're one of those people who spend all day testing operating systems, formatting PCs, or tinkering with Linux distributions, you'll be familiar with the term "going" or "going to a computer." recording and deleting ISOs on the same USB drive over and over againIt's a real pain: every installation, a format; every new distro, another USB drive from scratch.

The good news is that there's a tool that simplifies this situation drastically: with just one USB drive you can put various operating systems, their installers, recovery tools and live environmentsand choose which one to launch from a very convenient menu. That tool is called Ventoy, and in this article you'll see, step by step and in great detail, how to use it to create a Bootable USB with multiple operating systems in the simplest way possible.

What is Ventoy and why is it so different from other tools

windy is a project of free software and open source Designed to create bootable USB drives from images in ISO, WIM, IMG, VHD, VHDX, and EFI formats. Its strength compared to other classic programs (like Rufus, YUMI, and others) is that You don't need to "burn" the ISO to the USB drive every time.Instead, you simply copy the file to the drive and that's it.

In practice this means that you can having dozens of operating system images and utilities on the same USB driveAnd when you boot up, you'll see a menu where you choose which ISO you want to run. No need to reformat your memory to add a new distro or have a USB drive for each system.

The trick is that, during the initial preparation, Ventoy Create two partitions on the USB drive: a tiny one (around 32 MB) where it installs its own boot system, and another with the rest of the space formatted normally (usually in exFAT) where you simply copy the ISO, WIM, IMG, VHD(x) or EFI images as if it were any other USB drive.

In addition to being open and free, Ventoy is cross-platform and highly compatible with both modern and older hardware: supports Legacy BIOS, various types of UEFI (including Secure Boot), partitions MBR and GPT, and can be installed on both Windows and GNU/Linux, and there are even third-party implementations for Android.

Main features and compatibility of Ventoy

One of the reasons Ventoy has become so popular is that it combines a lot of functions, normally spread across several programs, into a single tool. Among the most outstanding features are the following:

First of all, Ventoy is a tool 100% open source and completely freeBeing free software, its code can be audited, modified, and improved by the community, which builds trust and makes it easier to keep up with new technologies and systems.

Secondly, it is extremely easy to use: instead of having to "flash" each ISO to the USB (a process that usually requires formatting), simply prepare the USB drive once with Ventoy and, from then on, copy the ISO, WIM, IMG, VHD(x) or EFI files directly to the unit. There is no need to unzip or extract the content of the images.

Another important point is performance. The USB drive preparation process takes only a few seconds, and from then on, The speed depends solely on how fast you copy the filesThere are no extra steps to slow down the workflow, so it's ideal if you handle a lot of images.

At the level of storageVentoy allows installation in USB flash drives, external hard drives, SSDs, NVMe drives, and even SD cardsOnce installed, you can continue using the device as a normal storage unit, taking advantage of the space not occupied by the ISOs.

As for the start-up, the key is that it allows Direct boot from ISO, WIM, IMG, VHD(x) and EFI files without needing to extract them. Furthermore, it can work with files larger than 4 GB and It supports both MBR and GPT partitions.Therefore, it is suitable for both older computers with BIOS and modern PCs with UEFI.

In terms of firmware compatibility, Ventoy works with x86 Legacy BIOS, IA32 UEFI, x86_64 UEFI, ARM64 UEFI and MIPS64EL UEFI, including support for UEFI Secure Boot on IA32 and x86_64 architectures. This allows you to boot on almost any modern computer and much older hardware.

Another very interesting element is that Ventoy enables persistent mode for Linux distributionsso you can save changes, files, and settings between reboots, and it's also compatible with Automatic (unattended) installation of Windows and various Linux distributions such as RHEL, CentOS, SUSE or Ubuntu Server using specific response files.

Regarding file systems, the main partition can be formatted in FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, UDF, XFS or Ext2/3/4This gives you considerable flexibility depending on how you want to use the USB drive, both in Windows and Linux.

Ventoy also offers options for advanced security and customizationYou can password-protect the menu to prevent unauthorized changes, inject files into the runtime environment, dynamically modify boot configurations, and thoroughly customize the menu's theme and style, in both ListView and TreeView modes.

As far as operating system support is concerned, the list is enormous. They have been tested more than 700 ISOs officially, including virtually all major families: Linux distributions (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Manjaro, Linux Mint, Arch, Kali, openSUSE, Clonezilla, Proxmox VE, OpenMediaVault, etc.), BSD systems and derivatives (FreeBSD, DragonFly, pfSense, TrueNAS, OPNsense, among others), Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11 and Windows Server in several versions, as well as hypervisors such as VMware ESXi, Citrix XenServer or XCP-ng.

Thanks to all this, we can say without exaggeration that over 90% of the distributions listed on Distrowatch They start up correctly with Ventoy, which makes it a kind of Swiss Army knife for those who work with many different systems.

How to download Ventoy for free and on which systems it can be used

Ventoy is distributed completely free of charge and can be downloaded from two main sites: the official website of the project and repository on GitHubBoth points always offer a direct link to the latest stable version and also allow access to the source code.

On Windows, the package comes in a ZIP file of just about 7-8 MBIt doesn't require traditional installation. It's an application. portableSimply extract it to any folder and run the Ventoy2Disk.exe file with the USB drive connected to start working.

Regarding supported systems, the desktop version of Ventoy is compatible with Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 and 11, in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions, so it covers virtually the entire stock of equipment still in use today.

If you don't feel like wrestling with GitHub's interface to find the latest release, Ventoy's official website offers direct access to the latest download for each platform, along with the link to the project on GitHub in case you want to review the code or the change history.

Install Ventoy on Windows step by step

The process for preparing a Multiboot USB with Ventoy on Windows It's very affordable, although you should read each step carefully because it includes a destructive formatting of the drive the first time. Once done, you won't have to repeat it every time you want to add or change operating systems.

The first thing to do is Download the Ventoy ZIP file for Windows From the official website or from GitHub. Once on your computer, extract it to any folder where you have write permissions.

Inside the extracted folder, locate the executable file. Ventoy2Disk.exe and run it. Windows may display a security warning indicating that the program could be potentially malicious; if you trust the tool (and since it's open source you can verify it), click on "More information" and later “Run anyway”.

On the main interface, which is very simple, you'll see a list of connected removable drives at the top. Select the USB drive or external hard drive where you want to install VentoyIts unit letter, size, brand, and approximate speed will be displayed.

Before clicking the install button, it's a good idea to review the configuration options From the “Options” menu. There you will find important settings such as the partition style (MBR or GPT), Secure Boot support, and the configuration of additional partitions.

In the "Secure Boot" section, it is recommended activate the corresponding box If you are going to use the USB drive on computers that require this mode to be enabled, for example, modern computers with Windows 10 or 11 pre-installed.

In “Partition style” you can choose between MBR (Master Boot Record) y GPT (GUID Partition Table)MBR is the most compatible option with older hardware (Legacy BIOS, computers prior to 2010-2012) and is sufficient if the device does not exceed 2 TB. GPT, on the other hand, is the recommended option for modern computers with UEFI and necessary if the disk exceeds 2 TB or if you want full Secure Boot support in certain scenarios.

From the “Partition Configuration” section you can also define the data partition file system (NTFS, exFAT, etc.) and reserve a portion of the space for your own use, for example to store personal files, without mixing it all with the multiboot ISOs.

Once you're clear on the options, click on "Install"Ventoy will perform a double security check, warning that All data on the USB drive will be erased.Accept both windows if you are sure you have chosen the correct drive. The process only takes a few seconds.

When finished, the program will display a message indicating that Ventoy It has been successfully installed on the unitIn the File Explorer you will see the USB drive already named “Ventoy” (or similar) and ready to receive your disk images.

From that moment on, all you have to do is drag and drop the ISOs or copy and paste them to the USB drive. Each file you add will automatically appear as an option in the Ventoy boot menu when you start the computer from that drive.

Installing Ventoy on GNU/Linux

If you prefer to work from GNU/Linux, Ventoy also offers a very straightforward installation method using scripts, in addition to a web interface incorporated in recent versions for those who want something more visual.

The first step is to download the file tar.gz Download Ventoy for Linux from the project's official website. Once downloaded, extract the package to your chosen directory and access that folder from a terminal.

Before launching the script installation is fundamental correctly identify the USB device where Ventoy will be installed, since the process will format the drive. You can use tools like lsblk, fdisk -lo lsusb, looking at names like /dev/sdb, /dev/sdc, /dev/sdd, etc.

Once you know the device path (for example, /dev/sdX), run the script's main installation command, which usually has a syntax similar to sudo sh Ventoy2Disk.sh -i /dev/sdXIn some examples you will see the -I option in uppercase to force the installation if there is already data.

In that command you must Replace X with the letter corresponding to the actual USB drive.For example, /dev/sdd. It is very important not to confuse it with another disk because the script will create the necessary partitions and erase the current contents.

The script will display a text mode assistant where it asks for confirmation several times before continuing. Accept when you are sure and, in a matter of seconds, Ventoy will be installed on the USB drive indicating the file systems used (for example, a small partition in FAT and another in exFAT).

Once finished, the system will automatically mount the data partition of the USB drive, which will appear empty. From then on, usage is identical to that of Windows: You just need to copy the ISOs, WIM, IMG, VHD(x) or EFI files to the USB drive and then start from it to see the selection menu.

Since version 1.0.36, Ventoy also includes scripts like VentoyWeb.sh or VentoyWebDeepin.sh which allow you to manage the installation and configuration of the tool from a web interface accessible in the browser, making the task more convenient for those who do not want to deal so much with the terminal.

Prepare the USB drive and create a real multiboot USB drive

Beyond installing Ventoy on the drive, it's worth keeping a few details in mind to ensure the USB drive will work as intended. Stable and versatile USB multiboot on most devices where you use it.

Ideally, you should start with a device clean and without problematic partitionsIf it's a USB drive you've used for other experiments, it might be a good idea to delete all partitions and leave it completely empty using tools like your system's disk manager or utilities like gparted.

The Ventoy installation process creates the necessary partitions, but if your disk already has a very unusual partition scheme, you might need to clean it first. In any case, the goal is to get the drive properly configured. formatted, mounted and without important databecause they will be deleted.

Once Ventoy is installed and the USB drive is mounted, the next step is Download the ISOs of the operating systems or tools that you want to add: Linux distributions, Windows images, rescue discshypervisors, etc. The larger the USB drive, the more space you'll have to store files.

To make the most of the tool, it is recommended that the USB drive have at least 8 GB capacityAlthough technically you can use a 4GB drive if you're only going to store one or two lightweight ISOs. If you're going to mix several versions of Windows with several Linux distributions, a 32GB drive or larger will make your life much easier.

Daily use, however, is incredibly simple: You copy the images to the USB drive as if it were a normal memory stick. And that's it. To remove a system from the boot menu, simply delete its file from the drive. To add a new one, copy the ISO file and it will automatically appear among the options.

When you want to use the USB drive, you just have to Connect it to the computer, enter the BIOS/UEFI Or, in the quick boot menu, select the USB drive as the boot device. When Ventoy loads, a menu will appear allowing you to choose which operating system or tool to launch.

Persistent mode and change storage in Ventoy

One of the most interesting features of Ventoy for Linux users is the ability to configure persistenceThis allows a live distribution to save changes, documents, and settings between reboots, instead of losing everything every time you shut down.

To enable this feature, Ventoy offers a script called CreatePersistentImg.sh, which runs from the directory where you unzipped the project files (the same folder where the .sh installation scripts are located).

This script allows you to create a persistence file of a specified sizeFor example, 1 GB or more, which you will then need to copy to the USB drive along with the ISOs you want to use in persistent mode. If you don't specify a size, a 1 GB image is usually created by default.

Once the persistence file is on the USB drive and correctly associated with the ISO using Ventoy's configuration (via its plugin system and JSON configuration files), you will be able to Start the corresponding distro, work with it, and save changes. which will remain available in the next reboot.

This system is especially useful for having, for example, a A rescue Linux distro with your favorite tools and your settings, or a portable work environment that accompanies you from one computer to another without depending on the internal disk of each machine.

Update Ventoy without losing USB data

Another very powerful advantage of Ventoy is that its The update mechanism is non-destructive.In other words, you can update to a new version of the program without having to delete the ISOs or reformat the USB drive, which is especially welcome when your USB drive is already full of operating systems.

The process is simple: downloads la latest version of VentoyYou unzip the package and run the installation tool again, but this time choosing the option to update (-u) in the Linux script or the upgrade mode in the Windows interface.

The program itself detects that Ventoy is already installed on the unit and takes care of Replace only the necessary components keeping your data partitions intact and, of course, your ISO, WIM, IMG, or VHD(x) files. This also applies to any configurations and plugins you have set up on the USB drive.

In addition, Ventoy offers the possibility of making a non-destructive installation In some scenarios, this option applies to a drive containing data, although it doesn't always guarantee perfect performance. The usual and safest approach is to prepare the drive from scratch the first time and, from then on, update without erasing anything.

Ventoy for Android: Create a bootable USB drive from your mobile device

Although the official Ventoy project is focused on Windows and Linux, the community has gone a step further and developed a Android version which allows you to prepare a bootable USB using only your phone, something very practical if you don't have another computer on hand at that moment.

This standalone implementation can be found in the Google Play Store It works by connecting a USB drive to the phone using an OTG adapter. From the app, you can choose the partition type (MBR or GPT), enable or disable Secure Boot support, and decide whether you want to create a bootable USB drive. a persistent partition.

The workflow consists of Download the ISO, IMG or similar image file to your mobile device beforehand.Open the app, select the USB drive, and configure the options. From there, the tool will prepare the USB drive and transfer the necessary image so it's ready to boot a PC.

Once the process is complete, all you have to do is disconnect the phone's memory and connect it to the computer. which you want to boot from. The behavior will be similar to that of a USB drive prepared with Ventoy from the desktop, although it should be noted that this is an unofficial development, separate from the main project.

Real advantages of using Ventoy compared to other methods

Beyond theory, Ventoy's advantages are noticeable in everyday use. The first and most obvious is that It takes up hardly any space on the USB drive.The partition where the boot software is stored is around 32 MB, so practically all the rest of the capacity is dedicated to storing ISOs and other compatible formats.

In addition, Ventoy allows you Copy as many operating systems and utilities as you can fit. on the drive, without artificial limitations imposed by the tool itself. The only real limit is the size of the USB drive or disk, making it a very flexible solution for technicians, administrators, or simply distro enthusiasts.

Another curious advantage is that, in certain configurations, Ventoy is able to search for ISO images on the computer's own hard drive.without needing to have them copied to the USB drive. This opens the door to scenarios where you have the ISOs stored locally and the USB acts primarily as a boot manager.

Being free and openYou also avoid any kind of license fees, advertising, or annoying limitations. You can use Ventoy on as many USB drives and hard drives as you want, without restrictions, and take advantage of the constant improvements that the community adds.

In short, this is a tool especially recommended for those who They frequently test operating systems, provide support to other users, or always need a rescue kit on hand.The time you save by avoiding continuous formatting and flashing more than compensates for the few minutes of initial setup.

When assessing whether it's worth using Ventoy, it must be acknowledged that it's not the most trivial application in the world for very inexperienced users: It requires dedicating some time, doing tests, and understanding the process well.But once you get the hang of it, having a single USB drive capable of booting dozens of systems and tools becomes almost essential.

With everything Ventoy offers—massive system compatibility, multi-format support, non-destructive updates, persistent mode, and advanced configuration options—setting up a Bootable USB drive with multiple operating systems It goes from being a heavy and repetitive task to something fast, flexible and even entertaining, which you can adapt to your way of working and the type of equipment you usually work with.