Install Windows 10 on USB stick - how it works

Preparations: Install Windows 10 on a USB stick

ISO: To install Windows 10 on a USB stick, you first need an ISO file from Windows 10. In the CHIP download area you will find both Windows 10 (32-bit) and Windows 10 (64-bit).
USB stick: In order for Windows 10 to run smoothly and usably, you need a USB stick with the standard USB 3.0. A 32-bit system is recommended for USB sticks because it runs faster and requires around 16 GB of memory. The 64-bit system requires a USB stick with 32 GB of memory.
Software: Download the free software WinToUSB for installation. The tool unpacks the ISO file onto the USB stick so that Windows can be started directly.

Start WinToUSB and click on the button with the folder and the magnifying glass in the top right corner.
Select the downloaded ISO file here and choose between the Home and Pro versions.
Click on the "Next" button at the bottom right and select the USB stick.
Activate both the boot and the system partition and click "Next" again.
Windows 10 will now be installed on your USB stick. This process can take several minutes to hours.
Then restart your computer if Windows 10 starts from the USB stick. All other information can be found in the next paragraph.

BIOS: Windows is usually booted automatically from the hard disk and not from the USB stick. To do this, you must first enter the BIOS or UEFI. Newer computers with Windows 8 and 10 use the UEFI, older ones use the BIOS.
Boot order: If you have reached the BIOS or UEFI, you have to change the boot order here. Simply place the USB stick at the top.
Note: The first time it is started on a computer, the boot process takes a little longer. Windows may restart several times. Windows 10 must first recognize the hardware on the computer, but this is only necessary the first time it is used on a computer.

On the next page we show how to install multiple operating systems on one USB stick.