Developed by Pete Batard, Rufus (which stands for "Reliable USB Formatting Utility with Source") is a free, open-source application that formats and creates bootable USB flash drives. Whether you need to install Windows, Linux, or run a live CD environment, Rufus takes an ISO file and writes it to a USB drive in a fraction of the time it takes competitors like the Windows Media Creation Tool or UNetbootin.
Note: As of 2025, the developer still provides a 32-bit build. If you see a file simply named rufus.exe on the homepage, that is typically the 32-bit version. rufus 32 bits
If you are currently running a 32-bit version of Windows 7, 8, or 10, you must use the 32-bit executable of Rufus to create your bootable drives. Developed by Pete Batard, Rufus (which stands for