- Rufus has incorporated key improvements to prevent boot failures with Windows 11 25H2 and new UEFI and Secure Boot requirements.
- Many typical errors (EULA not found, USB not bootable) are due to incorrect configuration of advanced options or file system.
- The latest versions add security features, support for new compression methods, and adjustments to address Microsoft's changes to downloads.
If you often use Rufus for create installation USB If you're using Windows or Linux, you've probably already seen more than one strange message, boot failure, or problem downloading images. Although it's a super useful tool, there are a number of Mistakes to avoid in Rufus to create bootable USB drives without problems.
In this article we will review in detail the main mistakes to avoid in Rufushow to prevent them and what has changed in the latest versions, including topics such as compatibility with Windows 11 25H2Microsoft's blocking of downloads, errors with XP, USB formatting problems, and recent security and performance improvements.
Rufus and Windows 11 25H2: compatibility, UEFI and secure boot
With the arrival of the Windows 11 25H2 update, many users began to notice that their USB drives created with Rufus stopped booting correctlyDespite following the usual procedure, the problem originated in the new Secure Boot requirements and UEFI CA 2023 certifications, which caused certain media created with earlier versions of Rufus to fail to boot.
Microsoft had indicated that the update would be simple as long as the software was installed. cumulative package eKB5054156However, in practice, some systems did not recognize the USB drive as a valid installation medium. This resulted in systems ignoring the USB drive or displaying errors during the boot process, especially in configurations with strict UEFI and Secure Boot enabled.
The tool's developers analyzed the reports and stated that they were able to reproduce the error in your own test environmentsThis allowed them to pinpoint the problem with the new Secure Boot validations and add it to the list of Errors to Avoid in Rufus. While working on a permanent fix, they discussed a workaround using the Windows User Experience Assistant options.
Specifically, they indicated that the error could be avoided by choosing the first default option in the WUE (Windows User Experience) dialogThat window that appears when Rufus asks you what requirements or customizations you want to apply to the Windows 11 installation. This choice prevented a conflicting environment from being generated on some computers, especially those that did not meet all the latest security requirements.
Rufus 4.11 Update: Key Fixes and Improvements
To solve these problems, Rufus released version 4.11, focused on improving compatibility with Windows 11 25H2 and with the latest changes to UEFI and Secure Boot. This update specifically fixes bugs that prevented USB drives prepared for this version of the system from booting.
In addition to the main fix, the developers took the opportunity to thoroughly review the texts and options of the WUE assistantThe goal is for people to better understand what the different requirement bypass options (TPM, Secure Boot, Microsoft account, etc.) entail, and thus avoid configurations that could result in media incompatible with certain devices.
Another important improvement is the Updating Linux SBAT and Microsoft Secure Boot revocation valuesThis means that Rufus now creates USB drives that better respect the allowed and revoked binaries lists of modern Secure Boot implementations, reducing the typical "unauthorized image" messages or crashes when attempting to boot. boot Linux distributions or Windows installations on newer hardware.
Similarly, a problem that could cause unexpected shutdowns when the system detected damaged dynamic disksIf the computer had faulty drives or problematic partitions, Rufus could crash when trying to analyze them. With this fix, the application handles these scenarios better and prevents a bad disk from crashing the entire program.
As an added usability feature, a New keyboard shortcut (Ctrl + Alt + D) to quickly switch between light mode and dark modeIt's not a critical function for startup, but it is a convenient feature for those who spend a lot of time using Rufus or prefer a specific visual mode.
If you want to benefit from all these fixes and improvements, it is recommended that Always download the latest version of Rufus from its official website or from its repository on GitHub.Avoid older versions hosted on third-party sites (we could say that this is also one of the mistakes to avoid in Rufus), because they may lack these patches or even be manipulated.
New Rufus 4.7: security, compression, and advanced disk management
Another relevant version is the Rufus version 4.7, which focused primarily on security improvements and handling of compressed imagesAlthough it doesn't have the same focus in Windows 11 25H2 as 4.11, it incorporates important changes in the way the tool handles large image files.
One of the strengths of this version is the addition of support for ztsd compression in disk imagesThis type of compression allows you to work with lighter and more efficient images, so they can be stored and transferred more easily without sacrificing as much space, which is especially useful when dealing with multiple ISOs or virtual disks.
Related to the above, Rufus 4.7 also improves the Detection of compressed VHD images that do not fit on the destination diskPreviously, an image might appear to be the correct size, but once decompressed, it would turn out to be too large for the device where it was to be saved. With this improvement, the application now warns more accurately if the destination device does not have sufficient capacity.
In terms of security, this update fixes a Side-loading vulnerability (CVE-2025-26624) related to the cfgmgr32.dll fileSide-loading can allow malicious libraries to be loaded if the environment is not well protected, so this patch reduces the risk of potential attacks exploiting this behavior. In addition, minor memory leaks in the user interface have also been fixed.
Taken together, these improvements make Rufus even more recommendable for Create a Windows 10, Windows 11, and other operating system installation USB driveMaintaining a balance between performance, security, and ease of use. If you regularly work with compressed images, virtual disks, or multiple storage devices, it's worth ensuring you're using at least version 4.7 or higher.
Windows downloads blocked from Rufus: what happened with Microsoft
In recent times, another much-discussed topic has been the Block direct Windows downloads from this programOne of the mistakes to avoid in Rufus. Many users suddenly encountered error messages when trying to download Windows 8, 10, or 11 images directly from the tool, a very convenient feature that saved them from having to go through the browser and the official Microsoft website each time.
To clarify, Rufus is a program Free and open source software that allows you to create bootable USB drivesIt has earned a good reputation because it works wonderfully with Windows images, and many media outlets and tutorials use it as a reference tool to guide the installation of the operating system from a USB drive.
The application offers two ways to work with Windows ISOs: you can Use an image previously downloaded locally or download it from the Rufus interface itselfThis second option uses a script called Fido, which connects to Microsoft's official servers and obtains the images you choose, without resorting to alternative sources.
For a few days, this integrated download functionality stopped working, and the project confirmed that Microsoft had made a deliberate change to prevent downloads from any source other than its own website.In other words, automated requests that did not go directly through the official download pages were blocked.
One of the most controversial features is precisely the option for Avoid the forced use of Microsoft Accounts (MSA) during installation of recent versions of Windows 11. Rufus makes it easy maintain a local account if the user so desires, something that clashes with Microsoft's insistence that cloud credentials be used to link the system with its services and applications.
This same assistant also includes the possibility of Remove the requirement for TPM and Secure BootThis has sparked debate because it allows Windows 11 to be installed on computers that don't officially meet all the hardware requirements. For many users, this is an advantage, but for Microsoft, it complicates its support and security strategy.
From Redmond it has always been argued that Microsoft accounts offer advantages in synchronization and cloud services.While it's true that local accounts have their advantages, especially in giving users more autonomy, they haven't made any specific public statements regarding the download block that affected Rufus and the Fido script.
In any case, when it comes to mistakes to avoid in Rufus, you always have the alternative of Manually download the Windows ISOs from the official Microsoft portal Then select that file in Rufus to create the bootable USB drive. It's an extra step, but it ensures you're working with official images and reduces the impact of potential future changes to the download process.
Error making USB bootable: the role of the file system (FAT32 vs NTFS)
Another mistake to avoid in Rufus (this one is quite frustrating) is when Rufus fails to create a bootable USB drive without giving a clear reason.In some cases, even after booting into safe mode or changing the USB port, the problem persists and nothing seems to fix it.
A typical cause of this failure is in the file system with which the USB drive is formatted before using RufusSome users have reported that, while the USB drive was formatted as NTFS, the program always returned the same error when trying to make it bootable, without offering a simple solution.
The solution that has worked in more than one case was as simple as reformat the USB to FAT32 Using the system's default settings, and only after that, preparing the drive again with Rufus. After making this change, the bootable media creation process completed without incident.
On many older computers and BIOS/UEFI systems, the Booting from NTFS formatted drives is more problematic This is especially true when using FAT32 formatted devices, particularly when combined with certain types of ISOs or boot configurations. Therefore, if you're encountering frequent errors when writing to a USB drive, it's worth checking this before troubleshooting further.
When changing the USB file system to FAT32, users have observed that Rufus stops displaying the error and successfully completes the media creationThis allows the computer to boot from that USB drive without any problems. Although the exact technical reason isn't always known, experience shows that this adjustment solves many issues.
If the failure is repeated, it is advisable Try a different USB port, a different flash drive, and even a different ISO.In addition to ensuring you're using a recent version of Rufus, sometimes several factors (hardware, file system, and program version) combine to cause seemingly inexplicable errors.
When we talk about mistakes to avoid in Rufus, it's essential to review details such as the program version, the USB drive format, advanced disk mapping options, and restrictions imposed by MicrosoftBy following these precautions, the chances of encountering strange errors are greatly reduced, and you can better take advantage of the improvements that the latest versions of Rufus have incorporated.
Editor specialized in technology and internet issues with more than ten years of experience in different digital media. I have worked as an editor and content creator for e-commerce, communication, online marketing and advertising companies. I have also written on economics, finance and other sectors websites. My work is also my passion. Now, through my articles in Tecnobits, I try to explore all the news and new opportunities that the world of technology offers us every day to improve our lives.