- Ventoy allows multiple operating systems on a single USB
- Supports ISO, WIM, IMG, VHD(x), EFI and more formats
- No subsequent formatting or ISO extraction required
- Works on Windows, Linux and even Android with OTG adapter
Can you imagine being able to carry multiple operating systems on a single flash drive and choose which one to boot your computer with without having to format anything each time? The solution is Create a multiboot USB with Ventoy, a free and open source tool that has revolutionized the way we use bootable USB drives.
windy Turn your USB into a multiboot device where you can store installation images (ISO, WIM, IMG, etc.) of different operating systems and use them whenever you need. All this without complicated steps or unnecessary repetition. We'll explain below. how does it work.
What is Ventoy and why should you use it?
Ventoy is a portable tool that allows you to create a USB flash drive with multiple operating systems without having to format every time you want to try a new ISO. Once installed on the flash drive, simply copy the ISO, WIM, IMG, VHD(x), or EFI images to the device. Ventoy will then automatically recognize them and show you a boot menu so you can choose which one you want to boot from.
This utility is support more than 475 operating systems, From the most common versions of Windows (such as 7, 8, 10, 11 and Server) to a wide range of Linux distributions and Unix systems.
Ventoy stands out for its efficiency and simplicityYou don't need to decompress or modify the ISO images; they're simply copied as is, and the tool handles everything else. It supports MBR and GPT partition styles and allows installation to other media such as local drives, SSDs, or SD cards.
Main advantages of Ventoy
Creating a multiboot USB with Ventoy is a quick and convenient process. It also offers a number of Additional benefits compared to other traditional tools such as Rufus, YUMI or Xboot:
- Direct boot from ISO, WIM, IMG, VHD and EFI without prior extraction.
- Open source and completely free, ensuring transparency and community support.
- Compatible with ISO files larger than 4 GB and with file systems such as FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, UDF, XFS, EXT2/3/4.
- Compatible with over 90% of distributions listed on distrowatch.com.
- Works on Windows and GNU/Linux, and even has a version for Android.
- Allows you to save persistent data to maintain system files and settings.
How to install Ventoy step by step
Installing Ventoy is very simple, and you can do it from Windows or LinuxBelow, we explain both processes so you can choose the one that best suits you.
Installation on Windows
- Download Ventoy from your Official site or GitHub in .zip format.
- Extract the contents of the archive and run Ventoy2Disk.exeA window will appear with the necessary options to install it.
- Insert your USB flash drive and make sure you select the correct drive to avoid erasing important data.
- Click "Install"The program will warn you that all data on the device will be erased.
- When finished, simply open the USB in your browser and copy the ISO images you want to use.If you don't know how to do this, you can also check out how to create a Windows 10 boot disk.
Installation on Linux
- Download the latest version in .tar.gz format from the Ventoy website.
- Unzip it and access the extracted directory.
- Identify the name of your USB drive with “lsblk” or “lsusb”. It is important to avoid mistakes when choosing the device.
- Run the following command, replacing X with the corresponding letter of your USB:
sudo sh Ventoy2Disk.sh -i /dev/sdX - Once finished, copy the ISOs directly to the drive. No further additional configuration is required.
Systems compatible with Ventoy
One of the most interesting aspects of creating a multiboot USB with Ventoy is that has been successfully tested with over 700 ISO images, which guarantees extremely high compatibility. Here are some examples organized by category:
Linux distributions
Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, CentOS, Arch Linux, Manjaro, Linux Mint, Kali, Deepin, Mageia, Slackware, Proxmox VE and more. Also tools like CloneZilla and OpenMediaVault.
Unix Systems
FreeBSD, pfSense, DragonFly, GhostBSD, XigmaNAS, TrueNAS, HardenedBSD, OPNsense.
Windows systems
Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11, Windows Server (2012, 2016, 2019), WinPE.
Other systems
VMware ESXi, Citrix XenServer, Xen XCP-ng.
How to use Ventoy for persistence
Another point to value very positively when creating a multiboot USB with Ventoy is its persistent mode, which allows you to save changes between sessions when using a distribution in Live mode. This means you can save settings, files, and documents to continue working the next time you boot from the USB.
To do this, you must use the script CreatePersistentImg.sh, specifying the size you want to assign to that partition. If you don't specify anything, a persistent 1 GB file will be created. Then, you'll need to move the created file to the root of the USB drive with Ventoy.
Ventoy version for Android
Don't have a PC handy, but need to create a bootable USB? Good news: there's aunofficial version of Ventoy for Android which you can download from the Play Store. Thanks to it, you can set up your multiboot USB directly from your phone, as long as you have an OTG adapter.
Just select the ISO, choose the partition type (MBR or GPT), define whether you want Secure Boot, opt for persistence or not, and that's it! The interface is simple and intuitive. Once finished, you can use the flash drive directly to boot any compatible PC.
Tips and advanced options with Ventoy
From the "Options" menu in the Windows version you can configure MBR or GPT partition style, Activate support for secure boot (Secure Boot), and reserve disk space if you want to use part of the USB as conventional storage.
You can also customize the boot menu with themes, switch between list and tree views, and use plugins to add functionality like automatic Windows installation or runtime file injections.
Another interesting detail is that Ventoy updates do not require reformatting your USB., so keeping it up to date is very easy by simply using the update script with the option -u.
Ultimately, creating a multiboot USB with Ventoy is one of the best options, considering it's one of the most stable, compatible, and easy-to-use tools for those working with multiple operating systems or distributions.
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