Rufus creates bootable USB media from an ISO. It is useful when you already have a Windows or Linux image and need to write a USB drive with a specific boot configuration. It does not choose the right Windows upgrade for your PC or make unsupported hardware supported. For an eligible PC that only needs a Windows upgrade, check Windows Update first.
Which Rufus download should you choose?
The current stable release checked on 2 October 2026 is 4.15, published on 30 June 2026. The official site lists Windows 8 or later as the host requirement. Choose the executable for the Windows computer on which you will run Rufus; the ISO must also match the computer you intend to install.
- Windows x64:
rufus-4.15.exe, or the portable-namerufus-4.15p.exe. - Windows x86:
rufus-4.15_x86.exe. - Windows Arm64:
rufus-4.15_arm64.exe. Microsoft provides Arm64 Windows images separately from its x64 Media Creation Tool.
The standard and portable x64 downloads were byte-identical in our file comparison. The publisher’s FAQ explains that the portable behavior depends on the executable name and a local rufus.ini. Portable does not mean that writing a drive can run without administrator permissions.
What we checked in the official files
We downloaded the four named executables from the official GitHub release. Each file’s byte count and SHA-256 matched the release asset metadata. Windows reported Valid / Authenticode with Akeo Consulting as the signer for all four. We did not launch Rufus, create a USB drive, install Windows or perform a malware scan.
- x64 standard and portable: 1,989,992 bytes each.
- x86: 1,933,672 bytes.
- Arm64: 5,491,048 bytes.
The file table above contains the measured hashes. Match the exact filename and architecture before comparing a download. A valid signature identifies the signing certificate and verifies the signature; it is not a guarantee that every use of a program is safe.
Get-FileHash -Algorithm SHA256 -LiteralPath .\rufus-4.15.exe
Get-AuthenticodeSignature -LiteralPath .\rufus-4.15.exeThese commands inspect a local file without running it. See our Windows signature checks and SHA-256 checker for interpreting the results.
Before you write a USB drive
- Obtain your ISO from the operating-system publisher. Microsoft’s current Windows 11 page supplies 26H2, so it is not a fixed download of 25H2.
- Copy anything you need from the target USB to another drive. Identify it by capacity and device name; disconnect unnecessary external drives before choosing the target.
- Match the image and boot target to the destination PC. Do not copy another PC’s partition or firmware settings without checking your own machine.
- Read the final device-erasure warning before starting. Rufus writing installation media can erase the target drive. A backup stored on that same USB is not protected.
- Decide separately whether Windows setup will run inside your current Windows session or boot from USB. That choice affects the upgrade and retention options; Rufus alone does not guarantee that files and apps will remain.
Windows requirements and alternatives
Rufus offers Windows setup customization options after START for appropriate images. Those options can change some setup checks, but cannot supply CPU instructions the processor lacks. The FAQ specifically identifies PopCnt and SSE4.2 as limits for Windows 11 24H2 and later. An unsupported installation remains outside Microsoft’s supported hardware requirements.
Use our Rufus, Flyoobe and Media Creation Tool comparison to choose a setup route. Read the unsupported-PC decision guide before changing installation checks, and the 24H2 support guide if your immediate need is a supported upgrade.
Price and licence
Rufus is free to download from rufus.ie and distributed under GPL version 3 or later. This price covers Rufus, not a Windows licence or a USB drive. The GPL terms matter if you redistribute or modify the software.
Editorial review: 2 October 2026 UTC. Official release, requirements, licence, links and the four named file signatures checked. No USB-writing, application or installation test was performed.
