How to create a Live USB with Tails OS: a complete and straightforward guide

If you're concerned about your digital footprint and want an environment that leaves no trace on your computer, a Live USB with Tails OS is a fantastic solution for browsing and working discreetly. Tails runs in "live" mode from a USB driveIt does not need to be installed on the computer's hard drive and is geared towards privacy and anonymity from beginning to end.

In addition to browsing through Tor, it includes encryption tools and everyday utilities. It's perfect for managing sensitive data. (banking, crypto, audits, or security testing) in an isolated environment. If you'd like, you can also watch an explanatory video on YouTube to see the process with more visual context, although here you'll find everything clearly broken down step by step.

What is Tails OS and why boot it from a USB drive?

Tails is a Debian-based distribution focused on extreme privacy: All traffic goes through the Tor networkIt incorporates encryption tools for files, emails and messaging, and offers basic applications such as a browser, email client, multimedia players and office utilities.

Its philosophy is simple: it runs in memory and when you turn it off, what you've done is erased. By default, it doesn't save your changes.This minimizes traces on the host computer. This makes it a great option for high-risk, one-off sessions or when you want to completely separate your activity from your regular computer.

Booting it from a USB drive has another key advantage: total portability of the environmentYou carry your system in your pocket and load it on almost any compatible PC or laptop, ideal for moving between computers without leaving breadcrumbs along the way.

However, this portability comes with a consequence: it does not act as a traditional “installation system”The idea is not to touch the computer's hard drive. If you need to save certain data later, you can study the storage persistent from Tails, but by default the behavior is ephemeral.

Requirements and recommended tools

For a simple and reliable process from WindowsThere's a combo that usually goes great. These are the essentials things you should have on hand before you start:

• Operating System: Windows 10 (will be used as the environment to create the USB).
• Recording software: Rufus (preferably the portable version to avoid installation).
• USB drive: minimum 4 GB, USB 3.0 recommended for higher speed.
• Linux distribution: any updated version; in this article we are working with Tails.

If you want to have other Linux options for a general-purpose Live USB, you can take a look at these distributions: Xubuntu, Lubuntu, Linux Mint and, of course, Tails. For privacy and anonymity, Tails is the benchmark.But the others work very well as "pocket" systems.

A practical note: if you prefer not to install anything on your Windows, Rufus portable saves you trouble. Downloads The executable, you open it and that's it; it's fast and gets straight to the point.

And regarding the USB memory, it's best to go for quality and speed. A reliable USB 3.0 drive It reduces write and read times, which is appreciated when starting up and using the live system.

Download and verify the Tails image

Before recording anything, it's a good idea to check the image you're downloading. This confirms that the download is authentic. and that no one has tampered with it. You'll find the download link and verification instructions on the official Tails website.

A very convenient way to validate the image is with the official browser extension. You can install “Tails Verification” from Chrome. and use it to verify the ISO or IMG file you've downloaded. The typical workflow is: install the extension, grant permissions, open the verification tool, and select the file.

In some guides you will see screenshots with texts such as Install the Tails Verification extension, Add extension and Verify Tails 3.8. Names may vary depending on the versionBut the idea is identical: you choose the local image and the tool tells you if it is properly signed.

When the verification is complete, you will see the result: if everything is correct, You have free rein to proceed with creating the USB drive.If it fails, download it again or check that you have followed the steps on the official website.

Additional security tip: save the file in an easy-to-find folder, avoiding confusing names or older versions in the same directory, so you don't make a mistake when selecting it in Rufus.

Create a Tails Live USB on Windows with Rufus

With the image verified, it's time to save it to the USB drive. Rufus is fast and very reliable for this type of task, and the portable version allows you to run it without installation.

Connect the USB drive and open Rufus. Under Device, select your USB drive; then click Select to choose the Tails file (ISO or IMG). Rufus will automatically detect the format and will propose the appropriate parameters according to the partitioning scheme and the objective of Boot.

Typical fields to review are Partition Scheme (MBR or GPT) and Target System (BIOS/UEFI). Don't obsess over it: Rufus usually chooses well by default. For Tails images. If your computer is modern, GPT/UEFI is usually the right combination; if it's older, MBR/BIOS might be a better fit.

Press Start and accept the warning that the data on the USB drive will be erased. The process will take a few minutes; Do not disconnect the unit until you see “Ready”When finished, safely close Rufus and eject the USB drive from Windows.

At this point you could restart your PC to boot from the USB and use Tails in live mode. Remember that live mode does not save changes. between sessions by default, which is exactly what we want to maintain privacy.

Boot and clone from Tails with the integrated installer

There's a very practical workflow that Tails proposes, which you'll see in many guides: create a first “intermediate” USBBoot from it and, once inside Tails, clone it to a second USB drive using the Tails installer. This leaves the final drive fully prepared by Tails' own tools.

To boot, enter the computer's BIOS/UEFI and set the USB as the first boot option, or use the boot menu at startup (the key varies depending on the manufacturer). Select the USB drive with Tails and wait for the system startup menu.

When the Tails menu appears, select the Tails entry. On the initial screen, you can adjust the language (you'll see an option called Language), and then press Start Tails. In just a few moments you'll have your desktop up and running. and ready to work.

Now connect a second USB drive, which will be the "final" one. Open Applications > Tails > Tails Installer and you'll see that it allows two options: use a local image or clone the running Tails installation. Select the option to clone the current Tails, choose the destination memory and press Install.

The installer will ask for confirmation and begin copying. Once finished, it will display a success message, and you'll have a Tails USB drive ready for any computer. This method is very clean and minimizes errorsbecause it is Tails himself who structures the unit.

Historical alternatives: Unetbootin and GParted

In older materials about Tails you will see references to tools like Unetbootin and previous formatting steps with GParted. They remain useful in certain scenarios.However, nowadays Rufus and the Tails installer greatly simplify the process.

The classic guide suggested forma tear USB according to architecture: FAT16 for 32-bit systems and FAT32 for 64 bitNext, open Unetbootin, choose Disk Image, select the Tails ISO, choose the USB drive and accept to start the installation.

When finished, Unetbootin might ask if you wanted to reboot. The usual recommendation was not to do so immediately. Close programs and shut down manually Then turn on the computer and select to boot from USB. That's how you start using Tails.

A guide for Tails 1.1.1 that followed this scheme with Unetbootin and GParted even became popular. Although it might sound a bit vintage todayRemembering this is useful if you have a very old PC or need a quick shortcut without Rufus.

If you decide to go this route, also verify the image and make a copy of what you have on the USB drive. because the process overwrites the unitSecurity begins with preventing data loss.

macOS: USB not showing up in Finder after burning Tails

A very common case among users of Mac: You record Tails from the terminal On macOS, everything seems to be working fine, but when reconnecting the memory It does not appear in Finder.In Disk Utility, however, you do see it sometimes with a different name and about 1,5 GB occupied.

Don't worry: it's normal for Finder not to show the Linux partitions that creates Tails. The USB drive is reorganized into several partitions. (including one that's not visible in macOS), which is why Finder "doesn't understand" it and hides it. Disk Utility does detect the physical device, and that usage of ~1,5 GB matches the burned image.

This is not a bug, it's expected behavior. Do not format the drive or "fix" it from macOS Or you'll mess up the installation. Leave it as is, restart your Mac, and try booting while holding down the Option/Alt key to select the USB drive as the boot disk.

If you have a recent Mac, you may need to adjust the external boot policy in the system's security manager. Allow booting from external media This is usually enough for the Mac to let you boot from the USB drive.

In summary: it's normal that it doesn't show up in Finder, and seeing 1,5 GB used in Disk Utility is also normal. The definitive test is to try booting from the USB. on the Mac itself or on another compatible computer and verify that it accesses the Tails menu.

Usage tips, safety, and common problems

Remember that Tails is designed to leave no trace. By default, it does not save documents or changes. After restarting, it's perfect for sensitive sessions. If you need to retain data, look into Tails' persistent storage, which adds a layer of encryption and fine-grained control over what gets saved.

To improve boot compatibility: disable Secure Boot if it causes problems, use rear USB ports on desktop PCs, and prioritize USB 3.0. Updating the BIOS/UEFI may resolve incompatibilities that prevent the USB drive from appearing in the boot menu.

If Rufus doesn't detect the image correctly, check that you have downloaded the correct version from the Tails website and, if in doubt, download it again. A failed verification is a clear sign that something doesn't add up and you shouldn't continue with that ISO/IMG.

When the system starts but doesn't reach the desktop, try a different USB port or a different memory stick. Some units have finicky firmware that don't work well with certain boot modes. Changing the USB drive sometimes works wonders.

If your main goal is anonymity, don't install additional software on Tails or change settings without knowing what you're doing. The more you deviate from the standard profileIt becomes easier to distinguish your traffic from that of other Tails users on the Tor network.

For auditing or pentesting tasks, remember that Tails prioritizes privacy over persistence or performance. It can be used for specific testsBut you might be interested in a specialized distro if your focus is 100% auditing with heavy-duty tools.

If you prefer a "zero installation" method of creating Windows, the portable version of Rufus is your ally. When finished, always safely eject the USB drive. to minimize the risk of data corruption on the drive.

And if you ever have doubts about an on-screen message when starting Tails (for example, the language selection or the start option), choose Spanish in Language and then Start Tails. It is the standard input flow to the desktop before opening the installer and cloning to another USB drive if desired.

Once you complete the recording and restart to boot from the USB drive, you should see the Tails menu after a few seconds. If it doesn't appear, check the boot order. in the BIOS/UEFI or use the quick boot menu to force USB.

Those who come from older guides may remember Tails 1.1.1, Unetbootin and the prior formatting with GParted (FAT16/32). Those routes remain valid in specific contextsBut today, the combination of verification + Rufus + Tails Installer offers a very direct and replicable path.

With all of the above, you should now have a clear understanding of the process: what Tails is, how to verify the image, how to create the USB drive with Windows 10 and Rufus, how to boot from it, and how to clone from the system itself to a second drive. Even if you use a Mac and don't see the USB drive in FinderNow you know what's normal and how to handle it. Enjoy a portable, anonymous environment designed to leave no trace, ideal for when your privacy is paramount.