Download Rufus for PC, Windows 11 and Windows 10 (Free)

The official Rufus download for Windows 11 and Windows 10 is free from rufus.ie. Rufus 4.15 is a single 1.9 MB program that turns an ISO file into a bootable USB drive, with no installation needed.

Download the file, run it, pick your USB drive and your ISO, and start writing. The same tool is also free in the Microsoft Store, and separate builds cover 32-bit PCs and Windows on Arm laptops.

This guide covers the right file for your PC, making a bootable USB, the Store version, checking the signature, the options for Mac users and fixes for Rufus not opening.

Check the Rufus system requirements before you download

Rufus runs on any PC with Windows 8 or later, so every Windows 10 and Windows 11 machine qualifies. Use this table to check the build and source before you download.

You also need a USB flash drive and an ISO image of the system you want to install. Rufus erases the drive when it writes the image, so copy anything you want to keep first.

Which Rufus download do you need?

Rufus.ie offers four files for each release. Match your PC to a row, then download that file from the table on the official page.

To check your chip, open Settings > System > About and read System type. Pick the x64 file on any Intel or AMD PC that says 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor.

Get Rufus from the official download links

Rufus has one official website, rufus.ie, run by its developer Pete Batard. The Microsoft Store listing is published by his company, Akeo Consulting.

1. Rufus official website — 1.9 MB · Latest release table, changelog, FAQ link and source code
2. Rufus in the Microsoft Store — Free, published by Akeo Consulting, x86, x64 and ARM64
3. Rufus downloads archive — Every past release, including portable, x86 and ARM64 files

Download sites that repackage Rufus add nothing. The official file is already small, portable and signed, so a third-party copy only adds a chance of tampering.

How to download Rufus and make a bootable USB on Windows 11 and 10

Rufus needs no setup. The downloaded file is the whole program, so you run it straight from your Downloads folder.

1. Open rufus.ie and scroll to the Download section.
2. Select the file that matches your PC, usually rufus-4.15.exe for 64-bit Windows.
3. Plug in the USB flash drive you want to turn into a boot drive.
4. Double-click the Rufus file in your Downloads folder and select Yes if User Account Control asks for permission.
5. Choose your USB stick in the Device list.
6. Select SELECT next to Boot selection and open your ISO file.
7. Leave the partition and file system options at the values Rufus picks for that ISO.
8. Select START, confirm that the drive will be erased, and wait for the status bar to read READY.

Rufus fills in the partition scheme and file system from the ISO you load. Change them only when the target PC needs a specific setting, such as an older machine without UEFI.

Install Rufus from the Microsoft Store or with winget

The Store copy is the same free tool, published by Akeo Consulting, and Windows keeps it updated. It needs Windows 10 or Windows 11.

1. Open the Rufus listing in the Microsoft Store.
2. Check that the publisher reads Akeo Consulting, then select Get or Install.
3. Or open Terminal and run winget install 9PC3H3V7Q9CH –source msstore .
4. Open Start, type Rufus and launch it from the results.

The Store package covers x86, x64 and ARM64 PCs in one listing, so you do not pick a file yourself.

How to check that your Rufus download is genuine

Every official Rufus executable carries a digital signature. Current releases are signed by Akeo Consulting, and very old releases up to 1.2.0 by Pete Batard – Open Source Developer.

1. Right-click the downloaded Rufus file and select Properties.
2. Open the Digital Signatures tab.
3. Confirm that Name of signer reads Akeo Consulting.
4. Select the signature, then Details, and check that it says This digital signature is OK.
5. Delete the file if the tab is missing or names anyone else, and download it again from rufus.ie.

Is there a Rufus download for Mac?

Rufus runs on Windows only, and every file on rufus.ie is a Windows executable. On a Mac, use the tool that matches the drive you want to make.

Apple’s method erases the drive and formats it as Mac OS Extended (Journaled). A 32 GB flash drive holds any macOS installer, and 16 GB is enough for most earlier versions.

Is Rufus free?

Yes. Rufus is free and open source, with no paid edition or trial. Rufus is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 3 or later, so you can use, share and modify it at no cost. The Microsoft Store listing is also free. Any site that asks for payment, a licence key or a “Rufus Pro” upgrade is not the developer.

What Rufus can write to a USB drive

Rufus writes bootable USB drives from ISO images. The developer lists these systems as known to work.

Rufus needs an image file. To make an ISO from a physical disc, the developer points to a disc-burning program such as InfraRecorder or CDBurnerXP.

How to update Rufus or get an older version

A standalone copy stays at the version you downloaded until you replace the file. Check rufus.ie for the newest release and swap it in.

1. Open the Changelog section on rufus.ie to see the newest version and its fixes.
2. Download the matching file from the Download table.
3. Delete your old Rufus file so you do not run it by mistake.
4. If you installed from the Microsoft Store, open Microsoft Store > Library and select Get updates instead.
5. For an older release, open the downloads archive and pick the version by date.

The June 2026 release fixes the silent Windows installation option failing at 75% and a boot crash with UEFI:NTFS on Snapdragon X laptops, so replace any older copy.

Fix Rufus not opening or not installing on Windows 11 and 10

Rufus will not start on an old PC

Rufus needs Windows 8 or later, so it does not run on Windows 7 or earlier.

1. Open Settings > System > About and check your Windows version.
2. Run Rufus on a Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC to create the USB drive.
3. Boot the old PC from the finished drive to install a newer system.

Windows says the app cannot run on this PC

The file does not match your processor, such as the ARM64 build on an Intel PC.

1. Open Settings > System > About and read System type.
2. Download rufus-4.15.exe for x64, rufus-4.15_x86.exe for 32-bit or rufus-4.15_arm64.exe for Arm.
3. Or install the Microsoft Store version, which picks the right build automatically.

Microsoft Defender SmartScreen shows Windows protected your PC

SmartScreen flags files it has not seen often, even when they are signed.

1. Check the Digital Signatures tab reads Akeo Consulting, as described above.
2. Select More info in the SmartScreen window.
3. Confirm the publisher is Akeo Consulting, then select Run anyway.

Your USB drive does not appear in the Device list

Windows has not detected the drive.

1. Unplug the drive and connect it to a USB port directly on the PC, not a hub.
2. Open File Explorer and confirm the drive shows up.
3. Close and reopen Rufus so it scans the drives again.

How to uninstall Rufus

The standalone Rufus has no uninstaller because it never installs. Removing it takes one delete.

1. Open File Explorer and go to the folder where you saved Rufus, usually Downloads.
2. Right-click the Rufus file and select Delete.
3. For the Store version, open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
4. Find Rufus, select the three dots next to it and choose Uninstall.

Choose a Rufus alternative for your bootable USB

Pick an alternative only when Rufus does not fit your hardware or operating system.

For Windows 11 on an Intel or AMD PC, both Microsoft’s tool and Rufus work. Rufus also handles Linux, rescue disks and Arm PCs, so it covers more cases from one file.

Frequently asked questions

Is Rufus free to download?

Yes. Rufus is free and open source under the GNU General Public License version 3 or later. There is no paid version, and the Microsoft Store listing from Akeo Consulting is also free.

What is the official Rufus download site?

The official site is rufus.ie, run by developer Pete Batard. It lists the latest standard, portable, x86 and ARM64 files, the changelog and the source code. Rufus is also in the Microsoft Store.

Does Rufus work on Windows 11?

Yes. Rufus needs Windows 8 or later, so it runs on Windows 11 and Windows 10. Separate files cover Intel and AMD 64-bit PCs, 32-bit PCs and Windows on Arm laptops.

How big is the Rufus download?

The standard 64-bit file is 1.9 MB and the portable file is also 1.9 MB. The 32-bit x86 build is 1.8 MB, and the ARM64 build for Windows on Arm is 5.2 MB.

Does Rufus need to be installed?

No. Download the executable and run it. The file is the whole program, so it also works as an offline tool. Only the Microsoft Store version installs like a regular app.

Should I download Rufus 64-bit or the portable version?

Both run without installing. Pick the standard x64 file for normal use, or the portable file when you carry Rufus on a USB stick. Use the x86 file on 32-bit Windows and the ARM64 file on Arm laptops.

Is there a Rufus version for Mac?

No. Rufus runs on Windows only. To make a bootable macOS installer, use Apple’s createinstallmedia command in Terminal, which Apple documents on its support site.

Is the Rufus download safe?

Yes, when it comes from rufus.ie or the Microsoft Store. The executable is digitally signed by Akeo Consulting. Check the Digital Signatures tab in the file’s Properties before running a copy from anywhere else.

What is the latest version of Rufus?

Rufus 4.15, released on 30 June 2026, is the latest version. It adds RISC-V 64 support to UEFI:NTFS and fixes silent Windows installation failing at 75 percent.

Can Rufus make a Windows 11 bootable USB?

Yes. Load a Windows 11 ISO under Boot selection, choose your USB drive under Device and select START. Rufus lists Windows 11, Windows 10 and many Linux distributions as ISOs known to work.