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Is it possible to have a full install of Windows 11 on thumb drive?
(sh.itjust.works)
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this post was submitted on 02 Feb 2026
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Privacy
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I've done it. I use it maybe once a year to play Fortnite with my buddies when I LAN.
Windows To Go has been depricated and is no longer available for Windows 11. The normal installer won't let you install on a USB drive. The only option is to use DISM and deploy a Windows image (wim file) to your drive.
Rufus still lets you create Windows To Go installations on a USB drive. (unsupported by Microsoft as you mentioned)
I am curious about your DISM approach, are you just applying the Windows install image onto the USB? Or are you doing it the long way by imaging a normally installed Windows system first? I am very familiar with DISM but never tried applying an entire usable Windows install onto a USB drive that way.
As long as it's partitioned the right way, you can use DISM to apply an image to any kind of disk ;)