Learn how to create a bootable Windows USB on Ubuntu or Linux Mint using a free application called ‘WoeUSB’ — all detailed in this guide.
I don’t use Windows as my main OS but I do, from time-to-time, need to test something in it for this blog (like WSL). When I need to create a bootable Windows 10 USB I want to do it from my main OS —and that is Ubuntu.
There are a number of ways to write Windows to a USB on Linux distributions like Ubuntu but I’ve lost so many hours making a Windows USB in Ubuntu that fail to boot.
So the method I cover in this guide is the one I use as it’s not only an easy way to create a bootable Windows USB but also created one you can boot and install from!
Let’s get into the details.
How to Create Bootable Windows USB on Ubuntu
WoeUSB is the app to use to make a bootable Windows 10 (or Windows 11) USB stick on Ubuntu.
WoeUSB is free, open-source software that is available as both a graphical (GUI) tool and as a command-line (CLI) client you can run from any terminal emulator.
In this tutorial I use the WoeUSB GUI app.
You can use WoeUSB to make a bootable USB installer for various Windows releases, including Windows 7, Window 8.1, Windows 10, and the latest Windows 11 release.
All languages and all variants of Windows, including Pro, Home, N, 32-bit, and more, are supported. The tool works with both ‘legacy’ and ‘UEFI’ boot-modes.
Advanced installations will require you to dive into the WoeUSB CLI. This provides access to an array of flags, arguments, and options that enable you to create custom install images.
For most of us, the regular desktop WoeUSB app is fine.
To create a bootable Windows 10 USB on Ubuntu you need:
- WoeUSB installed
- Windows ISO file
- USB flash drive
- 4 GB minimum for Windows 10
- 8 GB minimum Windows 11
You can download Windows disc images from the Microsoft website. If you don’t already have one you should go there and get one.
You will need a valid Windows license to activate and use Windows fully. However, you don’t need a license to create a Windows USB installer, download an image file, or install the OS.
1. Install WoeUSB on Ubuntu
First the drawback: WoeUSB is no longer actively maintained.
However, the open-source community has stepped in to fork the app and continue development.
Better yet, we can add a personal package archive (PPA) to install WoebUSB on Ubuntu 20.04, 22.04, or 24.04 LTS (and those versions only, or Linux distributions based on them such as Linux Mint 21.x and 22.x series).
Run the following command in a Terminal to add the WoeUSB PPA to your system’s list of software sources:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tomtomtom/woeusb
Next, run this command to refresh the list of packages your system can see and install WoeUSB:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install woeusb-frontend-wxgtk
Let everything download, unpack, and compete before continuing.
2. Run WoeUSB
Now that you have installed WoeUSB in Ubuntu, open it from your desktop’s applications menu/grid (in Ubuntu with GNOME Shell press the Super key and type ‘WoeUSB’ to find it faster).
When the app opens first select your Windows ISO image using the file picker button in the ‘Sources’ section. Second, choose NTFS in the file system format section if you’re writing Windows 10 or 11 to a USB drive (for earlier Windows versions you can use FAT).
Finally, in the “Target device” section select on the USB drive you want to write the ISO to.
Don’t see your USB device listed in the ‘Target device’ section? Make sure it’s plugged in correctly then click the ‘refresh’ button to update the list of attached devices.
3. Create Windows 10 Bootable USB
The final step is to click “Install” — BUT before you do double-check you selected the correct drive. The install process will wipe/erase the contents of the selected drive and you will lose any data stored on it.
Other than that, the tool will do the rest on its own, without needing your input. Don’t be impatient; let it do its thing. If your USB drive is old, connected to a USB 2.0 port, or has poor sustained read/write speeds the flashing process can take a while.
Once write is complete, a notification appears.
After you see this close WoeUSB, safely eject the USB (don’t yank it out), and plug it in to a laptop/PC, and boot from it to install your chosen version of Windows.
Let me know how you get on down in the comments!