Rufus icon

Rufus

  4.15
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3.3
/ 27 ratings

The one-stop application to create a bootable USB drive

Pete Batard |
updated on June 30, 2026
Download for Windows
Rufus is the premier application for creating bootable USB drives using any ISO file you want. Its primary purpose is to create USB drives that you can use for a Windows installation or any other software setup that requires an ISO image.

ISO files are usually utilized either to create backup drives or to provide software a distributor is sharing. Rufus helps create bootable drives that replace the physical media used previously in the form of CDs or DVDs.

The competitive edge Rufus has over its competitors is its incredibly compact package, which comes in at under 2 MB, and its fast speed when creating a bootable USB drive from an ISO file.

Preparing for system emergencies

As you know, CD and DVD drives are becoming more and more obsolete by the day. You need at least one bootable USB drive in case of an emergency. This emergency could be your operating system crashing because of a bug or virus.

For these situations, Rufus gives you the best and quickest solution to install any OS on your computer. It comes as a tiny package in the form of an .exe file that runs without you having to install it first. Using Rufus is an absolute breeze. It's just that easy. To create a bootable USB drive, here are the simple steps you need to follow:
  1. Plug in the USB drive.
  2. Download and open Rufus.
  3. Select the drive, or let Rufus automatically choose it for you.
  4. Select the ISO file that you want to use.
  5. Click Start and wait for the process to finish.
  6. Done.

Core features and reliable performance

The feature list of Rufus is as follows:
  • Creating bootable USB drives from ISO files.
  • Flashing a BIOS or any other firmware from DOS.
  • Working with various ISO files, including Windows, Linux, and UEFI images.
Rufus may be small in size, but it does everything it is supposed to do perfectly. Easy to use, lightweight, and incredibly helpful, the tool does its job efficiently.
Hamza Sadiq
Hamza Sadiq
App tester and reviewer
★★★★★
★★★★★
Editor's pick

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Perfect for creating bootable USB drives from ISO files
  • Completely free to use

Cons

  • Write speed can be limited by the speed of the USB drive used
LicenseGNU
Minimum requirements Windows 7 or later (32 or 64 bit)
Previous versions
4.14, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10,
view more...
Operating systemWindows
Supported languagesAvailable in multiple languages
DownloadsTotal: 6754
Last week: 32
Download for Windows