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Windows · System & Disk Utilities

Ventoy for Windows

Open-source tool that turns a USB drive into a multi-boot launcher — copy multiple ISO files onto it and pick which to boot each time.

Updated August 9, 2026 · Reviewed by SoftNexi Editorial Team, Software research and documentation

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Overview

Ventoy solves a specific annoyance: instead of re-flashing a USB drive every time you want to boot a different ISO, you install Ventoy to the drive once, then simply copy as many ISO files onto it as space allows. At boot time, a menu lets you pick which ISO to run.

This is a fundamentally different workflow from Rufus, which writes one ISO to a drive at a time, erasing whatever was there before. Ventoy is the better fit for anyone who keeps a toolkit of several Linux installers, rescue disks, or diagnostic ISOs on one drive; Rufus is simpler when you just need to make one specific Windows installer USB.

Ventoy supports a very wide range of Linux distributions and Windows installation media, along with many rescue and diagnostic ISOs, though compatibility for any single, unusual ISO isn't guaranteed — the project maintains a compatibility list you can check.

Because it partitions and writes boot code to the drive, installing Ventoy is a destructive first step for that drive (existing data is wiped), but afterward you manage ISOs as ordinary drag-and-drop files rather than needing to reflash for every change.

Key features

  • Install once, then drag-and-drop any number of ISO files onto the drive
  • Boot menu at startup to choose which ISO to run
  • Wide compatibility with Linux distributions, Windows installers, and rescue/diagnostic ISOs
  • Supports both UEFI and legacy BIOS boot
  • Persistence and plugin options for advanced use cases
  • Open-source codebase available for review

System requirements

Operating system
Windows 11 and Windows 10 for the installer tool; boots on UEFI and legacy BIOS systems
Target drive
USB flash drive; installing Ventoy erases existing data on it
Permissions
Administrator rights required to write boot code and partitions to the drive

How to install Ventoy

  1. 1. Download Ventoy

    Get the Windows ZIP package from ventoy.net/en/download.html and extract it.

  2. 2. Run Ventoy2Disk.exe

    Insert the target USB drive, launch the tool, select the correct drive, and click Install. This erases existing data on the drive.

  3. 3. Copy ISO files onto the drive

    Once Ventoy is installed, open the drive in Explorer like any USB stick and copy one or more ISO files onto it directly.

How to use it

  1. 1. Boot from the drive

    Restart the target computer, enter its boot menu, and select the Ventoy USB drive to see the ISO selection menu.

  2. 2. Choose an ISO to run

    Use the boot menu that appears on the drive to pick which ISO to boot for that session.

  3. 3. Add or remove ISOs anytime

    Manage the drive's contents like normal files — add a new ISO or delete an old one without reinstalling Ventoy.

  4. 4. Update Ventoy itself

    Use the same installer tool's update function periodically to pick up new compatibility fixes, without needing to re-copy your ISOs.

Safety and privacy

  • Download only from ventoy.net or the project's official GitHub releases page.
  • Installing Ventoy to a drive erases existing data on it — back up anything important first.
Bundled software
The official download does not bundle third-party offers.
Privacy
Runs entirely locally with no account or network requirement.

Known risks

  • Not every ISO is guaranteed to boot correctly through Ventoy; check the project's compatibility list for anything unusual before relying on it.
  • Because it writes boot code and repartitions the drive, selecting the wrong target drive during installation would erase the wrong device — double-check drive selection.

What's new

  • Current release series

    Ventoy is actively developed with periodic releases that expand ISO compatibility and boot options. Check the project's GitHub releases page for the current version and change log.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Manage multiple bootable ISOs on one drive without reflashing
  • Free and open source
  • Wide ISO compatibility across Linux, Windows, and rescue tools
  • Supports both UEFI and legacy BIOS

Cons

  • Installing Ventoy erases existing data on the target drive
  • Not every ISO is guaranteed to boot without issues
  • Less simple than Rufus if you only ever need one single-purpose boot drive

Verdict

If you maintain more than one bootable ISO — Linux installers, a Windows setup image, diagnostic tools — Ventoy removes the repeated reflashing that makes managing multiple boot USB drives tedious. For a single one-off Windows installer, Rufus remains the more direct tool.

Frequently asked questions

Does Ventoy erase my USB drive?

Yes, installing Ventoy to a drive wipes its existing contents. After that one-time setup, you manage ISO files on it like normal drag-and-drop files without reflashing.

How is Ventoy different from Rufus?

Rufus writes one ISO to a drive at a time and erases it on the next use. Ventoy is installed once, and you can then copy multiple ISOs onto the same drive and choose which to boot each time.

Will every ISO boot correctly with Ventoy?

Most mainstream Linux and Windows ISOs work well, but not every ISO is guaranteed compatible. Check the project's published compatibility list for anything unusual.

Is Ventoy free?

Yes, it's free and open source under the GNU GPLv3.