How to Create a Windows 10 Recovery USB

A Windows recovery drive gives you a bootable copy of Windows Recovery Environment and, when you choose to include system files, can also help reinstall Windows on the PC it was created for.

It is useful when Windows will not start, but it is not a backup of your personal files. Back up documents, photos, and other personal data separately.

Windows 10 support note: Microsoft ended normal support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Microsoft still documents Recovery Drive for Windows 10 and recommends recreating recovery media periodically so it contains newer recovery files.

Create the recovery drive

1. Connect an empty USB drive. Everything already on that drive will be erased.
2. Open Start, search for Recovery Drive, and open it.
3. Approve the User Account Control prompt if it appears.
4. Leave Back up system files to the recovery drive selected if you want the drive to support reinstalling Windows.
5. Select Next.
6. Choose the USB drive you want to use.
7. Select Next > Create.
8. Wait for Windows to copy the required files, then select Finish.

The required USB capacity can vary, especially when system files are included. Use the size Windows asks for rather than relying on an old fixed-size recommendation.

What a recovery drive can do

If the PC cannot start, boot from the recovery USB to open Windows Recovery Environment. Depending on how the drive was created, you can use troubleshooting tools or choose Recover from a drive to reinstall Windows.

A recovery drive does not include your personal documents, photos, or other user files. Keep a separate file backup.

Official reference

Microsoft Recovery Drive: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/backup-recovery/recovery-drive