How to Boot a Computer from a USB Drive

For all sorts of reasons, you may need to force your computer to boot from a USB flash drive instead of starting normally. To achieve this, you have to change some settings in two or three seconds while booting up your computer. And it may have some differences in operating depending on different computer mainboard and brands. Following this article will set out the details of how to boot your computer from a USB drive.

2 ways to Boot your computer from a USB drive

Way 1: Boot your computer from a USB drive via Boot Menu.

Way 2: Set your computer to boot from a USB drive with UEFI BIOS Utility.

Way 1: Boot your computer from USB drive via Boot Menu.

Video Guide to boot from USB drive:

Step by step guide to boot your computer from USB drive:

Step 1: Insert a bootable USB flash/pen/key drive into your computer.

Step 2: Start or restart your computer. When the vendor logo appears, immediately and repeatedly press the Boot Menu key (mostly F12/ESC), until Boot Menu appears.

Note: You can find the Boot Menu Key by the vendor from the table at the end of the article.

Step 3: On the Boot Menu highlight the USB-HDD or other by ↓ or ↑ key. Hit Enter to confirm. Then your computer will boot from the USB drive.

Tips: The USB boot device name of your computer may be different from the one above.

Way 2: Set your computer to boot from a USB drive with UEFI BIOS Utility.

Similarly, you need to the first connect a bootable USB drive to your computer.

Then start or restart your computer and immediately press and hold the BIOS key until UEFI BIOS Utility displays.

Tips: The BIOS Keys vary for different computer vendors and brands. The most common is F12, DEL, F11, F1, F9 or other.

Click here to find BIOS Key for your computer.

1. Boot computer from USB drive in UEFI BIOS Utility - EZ Mode.

Step 1: Start your computer and immediately press and hold BIOS key (DEL/F2) until entering UEFI BIOS Utility. Generally, EZ Mode will be displayed on most mainboards, and then click Boot Menu or press F8 to open the Boot Menu as shown in the following picture.

Step 2: After that, a Boot Menu window will be displayed.

Step 3: Select a USB flash drive used to boot with your mouse or keyboard.

2. Boot computer from USB drive in UEFI BIOS Utility - Advanced Mode.

Step 1: In the interface of EZ Mode, click Advanced Mode or press F7 to open the Advanced Mode.

Step 2: After entering Advanced Mode, click Bootselect Boot menu.

Step 3: The Boot menu will be displayed after that.

Step 4: Select a USB flash drive used to boot with your mouse or keyboard.

Hot Keys for Boot Menu and BIOS Settings:

Computer Manufacturer	Type	Model	Boot Menu Key	BIOS Key
HP SERIES
HP	generic		Esc, F9	Esc, F10, F1
HP	desktop	Media Center, Pavilion 23 All In One, Pavilion g6 and g7	Esc	F10
HP	desktop	Pavilion HPE PC, h8-1287c, Pavilion PC, p6 2317c, Pavilion PC, p7 1297cb, TouchSmart 520 PC	Esc	Esc F10
HP	laptop	2000	Esc	Esc
HP	notebook	Pavilion	Esc	F10
HP	notebook	ENVY dv6 and dv7 PC	Esc	Esc
ACER SERIES
ACER	netbook	AspireOne, Aspire Timeline, Aspire v3, v5, v7	F12	F2
DELL SERIES
DELL	desktop	Dimension, Inspiron, Latitude,Inspiron One 2020, 2305, 2320, 2330 All-In-One	F12	F2
DELL	laptop	Inspiron, Precision	F12	F2
ASUS SERIES
ASUS	desktop		F8	F9
ASUS	laptop		Esc	F2, F9
ASUS	laptop	R503C	F8	F2, DEL
ASUS	netbook	Eee PC 1025c	Esc	F2
LENOVO SERIES
LENOVO	desktop		F12, F8, F10	F1, F2
LENOVO	laptop		F12	F1, F2
SAMSUNG SERIES
SAMSUNG			Esc	F2
SONY SERIES
SONY		VAIO, PCG, VGN	F11, ASSIST	F1, F2, F3
SONY		VGN Esc	F10, ASSIST	F2
TOSHIBA SERIES
TOSHIBA		Protege, Satellite, Tecra	F12	F1, Esc
TOSHIBA		Equium F12	F12	F12
MOTHERBOARDS
ASUS			F8	Del
GIGABYTE			F12	Del
MSI			F11	Del
INTEL			F10	F2
ASROCK			F11	F2, Del
OTHER MANUFACTURERS
XIAOMI	Notebook	MI Notebook Air	Fn +F2 (Choose Boot Menu)	Fn +F2 (Choose BIOS Setup)
PANASONIC		Toughbook	F2 (go to the exit and then choose boot order)	F2, Del
GATEWAY			F11, Esc, F10	F2, Del
HUAWEI		Matebook	F2	F12