How to Create a Bootable USB (and Restore It to Normal) on Any PC

Introduction

Creating a bootable USB is one of the easiest ways to install or repair an operating system (Like Windows or Linux).
In this guide, you'll learn how to create a bootable USB using Rufus and other tools,
And how to restore it to normal afterwards, so you can use it as regular storage.

If you prefer watching instead of reading, here's the full video guide: Watch the video on YouTube

Requirements

• A USB flash drive (recommend 8GB or larger)
• Rufus (or another tool)
• ISO file for Windows/Linux
• A PC running Windows

Step 1 - Download Rufus

Go to the Rufus' official page, scroll down to the downloads page, and download the latest version of Rufus.

Portable VS Installer

Installation Requirements

Configuration and Usage

Ideal Use Cases

Step 2 – USB and ISO setup

Now insert the correct USB drive into your PC (recommended minimum size: 8GB), so Rufus will detect it automatically, and choose the correct device for Bootable USB.

Now add the Windows or Linux ISO file under the Boot selection option, then configure the following settings:

• Partition Scheme (MBR or GPT)
• Target System (BIOS or UEFI),
• Bootable USB's volume label (e.g., MX Linux Installer or WinPE Recovery),
• File System (FAT32 or NTFS)

Step 3 - Create the Bootable USB

Click the START button and wait for a few minutes (depending on ISO size and USB file transfer speed).

Once the Progress bar says "READY", eject the USB from the PC. Now you've successfully created a Bootable USB!

Restoring the USB to Normal

After using your USB as a bootable drive, you may notice that its storage capacity appears smaller than before. For example, an 8 GB USB might suddenly show only 2 GB.

This happens because bootable tools (like Rufus, Ventoy, or manual ISO writers) often repartition the USB to fit system files or add special boot sectors.

The good news is it isn't damaged — You just need to remove the bootable partitions and reformat the drive to use its full storage again.

Below are three simple methods you can use to restore your USB to normal size (reusable USB drive):

Method 1: Using Diskpart (Command Prompt)

Open the run command by pressing the following keys:

And type cmd.

Type diskpart and hit Enter ⏎, and then click on Yes if the UAC prompt appears.

Now run the following commands in DiskPart:

list disk
select disk 1 :: Replace "1" with the number of your USB drive
clean
create partition primary
format fs=fat32 label=USB quick
exit

Method 2: Using File Explorer (Quick Format)

Right-click the USB drive and select Format. Then do the following:

• Choose the File System (NTFS or FAT32, but FAT32 is recommended)
• Type the label (e.g.: USB Drive)
• Check the "Quick Format Option"

Click Start to format the bootable USB.

Method 3: Using Rufus

Insert the bootable USB, set the Boot selection to Non bootable, then configure:

• Choose the File System (NTFS or FAT32, but FAT32 is recommended)
• Type the label (e.g.: USB Drive)

Then click the START button.

Once the Progress bar says "READY", eject the USB from the PC. Now you've successfully converted the Bootable USB back to normal!

Alternatives to Rufus

Each of these tools has its pros and cons:

• Balena Etcher — simple and cross-platform.
• Ventoy — supports multiple ISOs on a single USB.
• dd (Linux command) — fast but requires care to avoid overwriting drives.

Conclusion

Creating a bootable USB is one of the simplest ways to install or repair your operating system — and restoring it afterwards ensures your USB stays usable for years. Always double-check your disk before formatting!

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