How to Create a Multiboot USB Drive with Ventoy

In today’s fast-paced tech world, having a versatile bootable USB drive is a game-changer for anyone who works with multiple operating systems or needs to troubleshoot devices. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, IT professional, or just someone who loves experimenting with Linux distributions, Windows installation, or recovery tools, a multiboot USB can save you time and hassle. Enter Ventoy, a free, open-source tool that simplifies creating a multiboot flash drive by allowing you to store and boot multiple ISO files from a single USB. No need to reformat your drive every time you want to try a new operating system!

In this detailed guide, we’ll walk you through the process of creating a multiboot USB drive using Ventoy, step by step. This method is beginner-friendly, works on Windows, Linux, and macOS, and supports both UEFI and legacy BIOS systems. Let’s dive in and create the ultimate bootable USB for all your needs!

Why Choose Ventoy for Your Multiboot USB?

Ventoy stands out as a top choice for creating a multiboot USB drive because of its simplicity and flexibility. Unlike traditional tools like Rufus or Balena Etcher, which require reformatting the USB for each new ISO, Ventoy lets you drag and drop ISO files onto the drive. It supports a wide range of file formats, including ISO, WIM, IMG, VHD, and EFI, making it perfect for Windows 11 installation, Linux distros like Ubuntu or Fedora, and even diagnostic tools like Hiren’s BootCD. Plus, it’s compatible with secure boot and can handle large ISO files, ensuring your multiboot pendrive is future-proof.

What You’ll Need

Before we start, gather these essentials:

• A USB flash drive (at least 16GB, but 32GB or 64GB is recommended for multiple ISOs).
• A computer running Windows, Linux, or macOS.
• The latest version of Ventoy (download from the official website or GitHub).
• ISO files for the operating systems or tools you want to include (e.g., Windows 10 ISO, Ubuntu ISO, or MemTest86+).
• A few minutes of your time!

Note: Back up any data on your USB drive, as Ventoy will format it during setup, erasing all existing files.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Multiboot USB with Ventoy

Follow these steps to create your multiboot USB drive and unlock a world of operating systems and tools on a single device.

Step 1: Download Ventoy

Visit the official Ventoy website or the Ventoy GitHub page to download the latest version of Ventoy for your operating system. For Windows users, look for the ventoy-x.x.xx-windows.zip file. Linux users can download the Linux tarball, and macOS users can use the Linux version with some tweaks or a virtual machine. Save the file to a folder on your computer.

Step 2: Extract the Ventoy Files

Once downloaded, extract the zip or tarball file to a folder. For Windows, right-click the zip file, select “Extract All,” and choose a destination. For Linux or macOS, use a terminal command like:

tar -xvzf ventoy-x.x.xx-linux.tar.gz

This will create a folder containing the Ventoy executable and supporting files.

Step 3: Prepare Your USB Drive

Plug your USB flash drive into your computer. Ensure it’s empty or you’ve backed up any important data, as the next steps will erase everything on the drive. For best results, use a USB 3.0 drive with high read/write speeds, like the Samsung BAR Plus or SanDisk Ultra, to ensure fast boot times.

Step 4: Install Ventoy on the USB Drive

• Windows: Navigate to the extracted Ventoy folder and run Ventoy2Disk.exe as an administrator (right-click and select “Run as administrator”). In the Ventoy window, select your USB drive from the dropdown menu. Double-check it’s the correct drive to avoid formatting the wrong device. Check the “Secure Boot Support” option if your system uses UEFI secure boot. Click “Install” and confirm the prompts to format the drive. Ventoy will create two partitions: a small FAT32 partition (VTOYEFI) for the bootloader and a larger exFAT partition for your ISO files.
• Linux: Open a terminal in the extracted Ventoy folder and run the Ventoy2Disk.sh script with sudo privileges:

sudo sh Ventoy2Disk.sh /dev/sdX

Replace /dev/sdX with your USB drive’s device name (find it using lsblk or fdisk -l). Follow the on-screen prompts to format and install Ventoy.

• macOS: The process is similar to Linux but may require additional tools like Homebrew to manage dependencies. Alternatively, use a virtual machine with Linux or Windows to set up the drive.

After installation, Ventoy will notify you of a successful setup. Your USB drive is now ready to become a multiboot powerhouse!

Step 5: Copy ISO Files to the USB Drive

Open your file explorer and locate the Ventoy partition (usually labeled “Ventoy”). Simply drag and drop your ISO files (e.g., Windows 11 ISO, Ubuntu 24.04 ISO, or Clonezilla Live) onto this partition. You can organize ISOs in folders like “Windows ISOs” or “Linux Distros” for better management—Ventoy will scan all directories automatically. No additional configuration is needed!

Step 6: Boot from Your Multiboot USB

To test your multiboot USB, restart your computer and enter the boot menu (typically by pressing F12, F8, F9, or Esc during startup—check your device’s manual). Select your USB drive as the boot device. Ventoy’s GRUB menu will appear, listing all the ISO files you copied. Use the arrow keys to select an ISO and press Enter to boot it.

Pro Tip: If you’re using UEFI secure boot, you may need to enroll Ventoy’s key in your BIOS. Boot into the MOK Management menu, select “Enroll key from disk,” choose VTOYEFI or EFI, and select ENROLL_THIS_KEY_IN_MOKMANAGER.cer. Confirm and reboot.

Step 7: Add or Remove ISOs Anytime

One of Ventoy’s best features is its flexibility. To add a new operating system ISO, simply copy it to the Ventoy partition. To remove an ISO, delete it from the drive. No reformatting or reinstallation is required, making it perfect for testing new Linux distributions or updating your Windows installation media.

Step 8: Update Ventoy (Optional)

To keep your multiboot USB up to date, download the latest Ventoy version and run the executable again. Select “Update” instead of “Install” to preserve your ISOs while upgrading the bootloader. This ensures compatibility with new systems and ISOs.

Troubleshooting Tips

• ISO Not Detected: Ensure the ISO file is not corrupted. Use Ventoy’s Checksum Verification plugin to confirm its integrity.
• Boot Failure: Some ISOs may require Memdisk mode (press F1 before selecting the ISO). This loads the entire ISO into RAM, which is more reliable but requires sufficient memory.
• Secure Boot Issues: If your system uses UEFI secure boot, ensure you’ve enrolled Ventoy’s key as described in Step 6.
• Large ISO Files: If you’re using ISOs larger than 4GB, the exFAT partition created by Ventoy ensures compatibility, unlike FAT32.

Bonus: Customize Your Multiboot USB

Ventoy offers advanced features to enhance your bootable USB experience:

• Persistent Storage: For Linux distros like Ubuntu or Kali, enable persistence to save changes across reboots. Check Ventoy’s documentation for setup instructions.
• Plugins: Use the VentoyPlugson tool to customize the boot menu or add auto-install scripts via a ventoy.json file.
• Recommended ISOs: Include Windows 10/11, Ubuntu Desktop, Manjaro, Hiren’s BootCD, and MemTest86+ for a versatile toolkit.

Conclusion

Creating a multiboot USB drive with Ventoy is a straightforward and powerful way to manage multiple operating systems and tools on a single flash drive. Whether you’re installing Windows 11, testing the latest Linux distro, or running diagnostics, Ventoy simplifies the process with its drag-and-drop functionality and broad compatibility. Follow this guide, and you’ll have a multiboot pendrive ready to tackle any tech challenge in no time!

Ready to get started? Download Ventoy, grab your USB drive, and build your ultimate bootable USB today. Share your favorite ISO combinations or troubleshooting tips in the comments below!