🪣 Rufus (Bootable USB Creation Tool)

Category: PCHF Verified Utilities

Author: jmarket (PCHF Founder)

Verified by: PCHF Staff • October 2025

Overview

Rufus is a lightweight and portable utility designed to create bootable USB drives from ISO images.
Renowned for its reliability and speed, Rufus supports both Windows and Linux installation media, UEFI and BIOS systems, and advanced configuration options for power users.
It is particularly useful for preparing installation media for Windows 11 and includes optional features to bypass TPM, Secure Boot, and Microsoft Account requirements for unsupported systems.

Rufus is developed by Pete Batard of Akeo Consulting and is officially signed and hosted on the developer’s website.
It remains entirely free and open for both personal and professional use.

Key Features

• Bootable Media Creation: Create USB installers for Windows, Linux, or WinPE environments.


• Advanced Partition Options: Supports both GPT/UEFI and MBR/BIOS layouts.


• Bypass Windows 11 Requirements: Optional functionality to remove TPM, Secure Boot, and online account checks.


• Fast and Reliable: Among the quickest utilities for creating bootable media.


• Portable: Runs directly as an executable — no installation required.


• Digital Signatures: All official releases are cryptographically signed by Akeo Consulting.

System Requirements

• Operating System: Windows 8 or later


• Architecture: x64 or ARM64


• USB drive (8 GB or larger)


• Administrator privileges for writing to devices

Usage

1. Download rufus.exe from the official Rufus website:
   
   https://rufus.ie/


2. Launch the executable (no installation required).


3. Insert a USB drive of 8 GB or more.


4. Select the desired ISO file and choose a partition scheme:




• GPT (UEFI) for modern systems.


• MBR (BIOS or Legacy Boot) for older systems.




5. Click Start to create the bootable USB media.

Command-Line Mode

Rufus supports a limited command-line interface for automated operations:

	
Code:
	
rufus.exe --quiet --iso "C:\ISOs\Win11_25H2.iso" --device \\.\PhysicalDrive1

Verification

Official SHA-256 hashes for each release are published on rufus.ie.
You can verify the integrity of your download using the built-in Windows command:

CertUtil -hashfile rufus-4.6.exe SHA256

Notes

• Always obtain Rufus directly from the official website — rufus.ie.


• Use only authentic ISOs from Microsoft or trusted vendors.


• Rufus automatically detects architecture and adjusts GPT/MBR settings accordingly.


• Bypass features for Windows 11 should only be used when necessary and in compliance with local IT policy.

Policy

PCHF lists only verified utilities that meet professional security and reliability standards.
All download links point directly to the official developer site.
Modified or repackaged versions of Rufus are strictly prohibited.

Download

Official Rufus Download Page

Technical Information

• Publisher: Pete Batard / Akeo Consulting


• Version: 4.6 (Supports Windows 11 25H2 ISOs)


• Release Date: October 2025


• License: Freeware (Digitally Signed)

Related Articles

• Windows 11 ISO (Official Microsoft Download)


• DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management Tool)


• Windows 11 Media Creation Tool (Official Microsoft Utility)


• Ventoy (Multi-ISO Boot Manager)

All content © 2025 PC Help Forum. Rufus is developed by Pete Batard (Akeo Consulting) and distributed exclusively through rufus.ie.
All releases are digitally signed for authenticity. Redistribution or modification is prohibited.