What is WoeUSB used for?

WoeUSB is used to create a bootable Windows USB installer on Linux. It takes a Windows ISO file or DVD, prepares a USB drive and copies the setup files, so you can install, reinstall or repair Windows on a PC without needing another Windows computer.

Is WoeUSB free to download?

Yes. WoeUSB is free, open-source software released under the GNU General Public License version 3. There are no paid editions, subscriptions or license keys. You can download the source archive, use it on any number of computers and study or modify the code.

How does WoeUSB work on Linux?

WoeUSB mounts the Windows ISO, wipes the selected USB drive, creates a FAT32 or NTFS partition, copies all Windows setup files and installs boot code. The result is a USB stick that compatible computers can boot from to launch Windows Setup.

What is the difference between WoeUSB and WoeUSB-ng?

The original WoeUSB is a Bash script used from the terminal. WoeUSB-ng is a rewrite in Python that adds a graphical interface while keeping a command-line mode. Both create bootable Windows USB drives; they differ mainly in interface and installation method.

How do I install WoeUSB on Ubuntu?

Install the dependencies with sudo apt install wimtools parted dosfstools ntfs-3g grub-pc-bin, extract the WoeUSB archive and copy sbin/woeusb into /usr/local/bin. For the graphical version, add the WoeUSB-ng dependencies and run sudo pip3 install WoeUSB-ng.

Can I use WoeUSB on Debian Linux?

Yes. Debian uses the same package names as Ubuntu, so the same apt command installs every dependency. After that, the WoeUSB script runs normally. WoeUSB-ng can also be installed on Debian through pip once the Python and wxPython packages are present.

Does WoeUSB support Windows 11?

WoeUSB can create Windows 11 USB installers from official ISO files in many cases. Because Windows 11 images often include an install.wim larger than 4 GB, install wimlib so WoeUSB can split it, or choose the NTFS target file system instead.

Can WoeUSB create a Windows 10 bootable USB?

Yes. Creating a Windows 10 installer is one of the most common uses of WoeUSB. Download the official Windows 10 ISO, run WoeUSB with the ISO as the source and your USB device as the target, then boot the PC from the finished drive.

Does WoeUSB support UEFI and Legacy BIOS?

Yes. WoeUSB installs GRUB for legacy BIOS booting and keeps the UEFI boot files on the drive. FAT32 gives the best UEFI compatibility. NTFS drives can also boot on UEFI systems, although Secure Boot may need to be disabled.

How much USB storage do I need for WoeUSB?

Use a USB drive of at least 8 GB for current Windows 10 and Windows 11 ISOs, because many of these images are larger than 4 GB. Older, smaller Windows images may fit on smaller drives. All data on the drive will be erased.

Can I use WoeUSB without a graphical interface?

Yes. The original WoeUSB is command-line only, and WoeUSB-ng also includes a terminal command. A typical command is sudo woeusb --device Windows.iso /dev/sdX, which makes WoeUSB well suited to minimal desktops, remote sessions and scripts.

Why is WoeUSB not detecting my USB drive?

Run lsblk to confirm the drive is visible and note its name. Use the whole device, such as /dev/sdb, unmount its partitions, then reconnect the drive or try another port. In WoeUSB-ng, refresh the target list after plugging it in.

How do I fix WoeUSB installation errors?

Installation errors usually mean a missing dependency. Install wimlib, parted, dosfstools, ntfs-3g and GRUB for your distribution. For WoeUSB-ng, also install pip, wxPython and 7-Zip. If pip reports an externally managed environment, use pipx or a distribution package.

Is WoeUSB safe to use?

WoeUSB is open-source, so anyone can review its code. The main risk is user error: it erases the selected drive, so choosing the wrong device can destroy data. Always double-check the device name, download from a trusted source and keep backups.

Does WoeUSB erase data from the USB drive?

Yes. WoeUSB wipes the target USB drive, creates a new partition table and formats it before copying the Windows files. Every file currently stored on the drive will be lost, so copy anything important to another location before you start.

Can I create a bootable Windows USB from an ISO file using WoeUSB?

Yes, that is exactly what WoeUSB is designed for. Pass the path to your Windows ISO with the --device option, or choose the disk image option in WoeUSB-ng, then select the USB drive. WoeUSB handles mounting, copying and boot setup.

Why is my WoeUSB bootable USB not working?

Check the computer's boot order or boot menu, try another USB port and disable Secure Boot if you used NTFS. Make sure the ISO is complete and unmodified. Recreating the drive with FAT32 often fixes UEFI boot problems on stubborn machines.

Can I use WoeUSB on Linux Mint?

Yes. Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu, so the same apt packages and installation steps apply. Install the dependencies, extract WoeUSB and run the script, or install WoeUSB-ng with pip if you prefer working in a graphical window.

What are the best alternatives to WoeUSB?

Popular alternatives include Ventoy, which boots many ISO files from one drive; balenaEtcher, a simple image writer best suited to Linux images; UNetbootin for live Linux USBs; and Fedora Media Writer for Fedora. For Windows installers, WoeUSB and Ventoy are the most practical.

Where can I download WoeUSB-ng?

WoeUSB-ng is distributed as a Python package on PyPI, so you install it with sudo pip3 install WoeUSB-ng after adding its dependencies. Arch Linux users can also use the AUR. The original WoeUSB script can be downloaded as a ZIP archive from this website.

WoeUSB – Create Windows Bootable USB on Linux

About

What Is WoeUSB?

WoeUSB is a lightweight Linux utility that creates a bootable Windows USB drive from a Windows ISO image or an installation DVD. Instead of writing the ISO byte for byte, it formats the USB stick, copies the Windows setup files and installs a bootloader, so the drive behaves like official installation media.

It is made for Linux users who need to install or reinstall Windows: dual-boot users, IT technicians, system administrators and anyone repairing a PC without access to a Windows machine.

The original WoeUSB is a Bash script for the terminal. WoeUSB-ng is a separate Python rewrite that adds a simple graphical window while keeping a command-line mode. For Linux users the benefit is clear: no virtual machine and no borrowed Windows computer — just your distribution and a USB drive.

Runs on Linux
Uses Windows ISO files
GPL v3 licensed

Features

Key Features of WoeUSB

A focused, reliable tool for creating Windows USB installers on Linux.

Create Bootable Windows USB Drives

Turn a standard Windows ISO into a USB installer that boots into Windows Setup, ready for a clean install, an upgrade or a system repair on a desktop or laptop.

Free and Open-Source Software

WoeUSB is released under the GNU GPL v3 license. You can use it at no cost, read every line of its source code and adapt it to your own needs.

Windows ISO File Support

Point WoeUSB at a Windows ISO image or a mounted installation DVD. It works with modern Windows media such as Windows 10 and Windows 11 and can split oversized install.wim files.

Command-Line and Graphical Interface

The original WoeUSB script runs in the terminal for full control, while WoeUSB-ng adds a simple point-and-click window for users who prefer not to type commands.

UEFI and Legacy BIOS Support

Drives can boot on traditional BIOS computers through GRUB and on UEFI firmware. FAT32 gives the widest UEFI compatibility, and NTFS is available for very large files.

Designed for Linux Systems

WoeUSB relies on standard Linux tools such as parted, wimlib and GRUB, so it fits naturally into Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch Linux and their derivatives.

How It Works

How Does WoeUSB Work?

WoeUSB does not simply copy an image file. It rebuilds Windows installation media on your USB drive in four clear stages.

Windows ISOWoeUSBUSB PreparationFile TransferBootable Windows USB

Reading the Windows ISO File

WoeUSB mounts the ISO image, or reads a mounted DVD, as a read-only source. It checks that Windows setup files are present and measures how much space they need.

Preparing the USB Drive

The selected device is unmounted, wiped and given a fresh partition table. WoeUSB then creates a FAT32 or NTFS partition, depending on the file system you choose.

Copying Windows Installation Files

All setup files are copied from the source to the new partition. If install.wim exceeds the 4 GB FAT32 file limit, WoeUSB can split it with wimlib.

Making the USB Drive Bootable

Finally, WoeUSB installs GRUB for legacy BIOS booting and keeps the UEFI boot files in place, adding a UEFI:NTFS helper for NTFS drives, so compatible PCs can start Windows Setup.

Download WoeUSB for Linux

Get the WoeUSB source archive and create bootable Windows USB drives on Linux.

Download WoeUSB

ZIP archive · Free · Open source

What You Get With WoeUSB

WoeUSB comes as a complete source archive from the project's master branch, packaged as a single ZIP file. It includes the woeusb command-line script, documentation and license files. Because WoeUSB is a Bash script, it runs right after extraction — no compiling or build step is needed.

Two editions exist. The original WoeUSB is a lightweight Bash script for the terminal, while WoeUSB-ng is a Python edition with a graphical interface that is installed with pip. Both create the same bootable Windows USB drives from Windows ISO files.

WoeUSB needs root privileges because it partitions and formats drives.
It erases the target USB drive — back up any files on the stick first.
Double-check the device name with lsblk before you start.

WoeUSB Download Information
Software	WoeUSB
Category	Bootable Windows USB creator
Platform	Linux
Package	ZIP source archive (master branch)
Interface	Command line (GUI available via WoeUSB-ng)
License	GNU GPL v3 — free and open source
Price	Free
Requirements	sudo access, wimlib, parted, dosfstools, ntfs-3g, GRUB

Installation

How to Install WoeUSB on Linux

Because WoeUSB is a script, installing it mostly means adding a few system tools and placing the script in your PATH. Pick your distribution below.

Install WoeUSB on Ubuntu

Install the required tools from the official repositories, extract the downloaded archive and copy the script into your PATH.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install wimtools parted dosfstools ntfs-3g grub-pc-bin unzip
unzip WoeUSB-master.zip
sudo install -m 755 WoeUSB-master/sbin/woeusb /usr/local/bin/woeusb

Install WoeUSB on Debian

Debian uses the same package names as Ubuntu. Run the commands as a user with sudo rights, then install the script the same way.

sudo apt install wimtools parted dosfstools ntfs-3g grub-pc-bin unzip

Install WoeUSB on Fedora

On Fedora, the wimlib tools and the GRUB BIOS modules use slightly different package names.

sudo dnf install wimlib-utils parted dosfstools ntfs-3g grub2-tools grub2-pc-modules unzip

Install WoeUSB on Arch Linux

Install the dependencies with pacman. Community packages for WoeUSB and WoeUSB-ng are also available in the AUR.

sudo pacman -S --needed wimlib parted dosfstools ntfs-3g grub unzip

Install WoeUSB-ng Using Python

WoeUSB-ng is installed from PyPI with pip. Add its system dependencies first (Ubuntu and Debian example shown); it provides the woeusbgui and woeusb commands.

sudo apt install git p7zip-full python3-pip python3-wxgtk4.0 grub2-common grub-pc-bin parted dosfstools ntfs-3g
sudo pip3 install WoeUSB-ng

On newer distributions, pip may refuse system-wide installs with an “externally-managed-environment” message. In that case, use pipx, a distribution or AUR package, or the original WoeUSB script. Full details are in our installation guide.

Tutorial

How to Create a Bootable Windows USB Using WoeUSB

Follow these seven steps to go from a Windows ISO file to a working USB installer.

Step 1 – Download a Windows ISO File

Get the official Windows 10 or Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft and save it somewhere easy to find, such as your Downloads folder.

Step 2 – Connect Your USB Drive

Plug in a USB drive of at least 8 GB. Run lsblk to find its device name, for example /dev/sdb — not a partition like /dev/sdb1.

Step 3 – Launch WoeUSB

Open a terminal for the command-line version, or start the WoeUSB-ng window with woeusbgui. Both need administrator rights.

Step 4 – Select the Windows ISO File

In the terminal, pass the ISO path after --device. In WoeUSB-ng, choose the disk image option and browse to your ISO.

Step 5 – Choose the Target USB Drive

Add the device path, such as /dev/sdb, or pick the stick from the target list. FAT32 is the default; NTFS is optional.

Step 6 – Start the USB Creation Process

Run the command or click Install. WoeUSB partitions the drive, copies files and installs boot code. Do not unplug the drive until it finishes.

Step 7 – Boot Your Computer From USB

Restart the target PC, open its boot menu (often F12, F10, F8 or Esc), select the USB drive and Windows Setup will start.

Example commands

# find your USB device
$ lsblk
# create the Windows USB (FAT32)
$ sudo woeusb --device \
  Win11.iso /dev/sdX
# optional: NTFS target
$ sudo woeusb --target-filesystem \
  NTFS --device Win11.iso /dev/sdX

Comparison

WoeUSB vs. WoeUSB-ng: What's the Difference?

The original WoeUSB started as a Linux Bash script and, in recent versions, focuses on a dependable command-line tool. It is distributed as source code and runs directly from the terminal with only standard system utilities.

WoeUSB-ng ("next generation") is a rewrite in Python. It keeps the command-line workflow and adds a graphical interface built with wxPython, which feels friendlier on the desktop. Both editions produce the same kind of bootable Windows USB drive.

Choose WoeUSB if…

you work in a terminal, want minimal dependencies or plan to script the process.

Choose WoeUSB-ng if…

you prefer a graphical window and are happy installing a Python package.

WoeUSBBash edition

WoeUSB-ngPython edition

Feature	WoeUSB	WoeUSB-ng
Language	Bash script	Python
Interface	Command line	Graphical window + command line
Installation	Download source, add dependencies	sudo pip3 install WoeUSB-ng
Commands	woeusb	woeusbgui, woeusb
Best for	Terminal users and scripts	Desktop users who want a GUI

Requirements

WoeUSB System Requirements

WoeUSB has modest needs. Any recent Linux computer can run it as long as the following conditions are met.

Supported Linux Distributions

Any modern distribution with Bash and the required tools, including Ubuntu, Debian, Linux Mint, Fedora, openSUSE and Arch Linux.

USB Storage Requirements

A USB flash drive of at least 8 GB is recommended for current Windows 10 and Windows 11 ISOs. All data on it will be erased.

Windows ISO Requirements

An unmodified Windows installation ISO image or DVD. Corrupted or incomplete downloads are a common cause of failure.

Administrator Permissions

Root access through sudo, because WoeUSB must partition, format and mount the USB device.

Troubleshooting

Common WoeUSB Problems and How to Fix Them

Most WoeUSB issues come from a missing tool, the wrong device name or a boot setting on the target PC. These practical fixes solve the most frequent ones.

WoeUSB Not Detecting USB Drive

FixRe-plug the drive and run lsblk to confirm its name. Use the whole device (/dev/sdb), not a partition, and unmount it before starting.

WoeUSB Installation Failed

FixMost failures come from missing dependencies. Install wimlib, parted, dosfstools, ntfs-3g and GRUB; for WoeUSB-ng, also check pip and wxPython.

Permission Denied Error

FixWoeUSB must run as root. Prefix the command with sudo and make the script executable with chmod +x.

WoeUSB USB Not Booting

FixCheck the boot menu and boot order, try another port and disable Secure Boot if you used NTFS. Recreating the drive with FAT32 often helps.

Windows ISO File Not Working

FixDownload the ISO again and verify its checksum. Modified, partial or non-Windows ISOs are not supported.

WoeUSB Stuck During USB Creation

FixCopying large files to slow USB 2.0 sticks takes time. Wait, avoid unplugging, and try a faster drive or port if progress stops completely.

Full Troubleshooting Guide

Alternatives

Best WoeUSB Alternatives for Linux

WoeUSB is not the only USB creator on Linux. These tools are popular, but each has a different focus and its own limitations.

Ventoy

Multi-ISO boot drive

Installs once, then boots any ISO you copy to the drive, so one stick can hold several images. Some systems with Secure Boot need an extra enrolment step.

balenaEtcher

Raw image writer

A simple cross-platform image writer with a clean interface. It is great for Linux images, but Windows ISOs written with it often do not boot.

UNetbootin

Live Linux USBs

A long-standing tool for creating live USB drives, mainly for Linux distributions. Windows installation ISOs are not its focus.

Fedora Media Writer

Fedora images

The official tool for writing Fedora images. Easy to use, but designed around Fedora media rather than Windows installers.

WoeUSB USB drive on a glowing platform beside a Windows and Linux emblem

Why Choose WoeUSB for Windows USB Creation?

WoeUSB solves one specific problem very well: making Windows installation media without leaving Linux. Its practical advantages include:

No Windows computer required — everything happens on your Linux system.
Free and open-source under the GPL, with no ads, accounts or license keys.
Works with supported Windows ISO files, including recent Windows 10 and Windows 11 images.
Offers both a command-line script and the WoeUSB-ng graphical interface.
Useful for preparing Windows installation media for clean installs, dual-boot setups and repairs.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About WoeUSB

Answers to common questions about using WoeUSB on Linux.

WoeUSB – Create Bootable Windows USB Drives on Linux