What does Bootable write?
ISO, IMG, RAW, XZ, gzip, Zstandard, and bzip2 files. It also creates FAT32 Windows installer media. Open a local file or use the catalog.
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Frequently asked questions
Supported files, safety, verification, and limits.
Can it erase an internal disk?
Bootable rejects fixed, system, partition, read-only, and undersized targets. It accepts whole USB or removable drives. It checks the drive identity again before writing. Always confirm the physical drive yourself.
Why does writing require administrator access?
Raw disk writes require administrator access. Only the fixed write helper is elevated. The interface, downloads, catalog, and image parser are not.
What does “verified” mean?
- A publisher checksum confirms that the source matches the published hash.
- Raw read-back confirms that the written range matches the source.
- A Windows media check confirms required UEFI and installer files.
These checks do not guarantee that the drive will boot or installation will finish.
Can it create a Windows 11 USB on Linux or macOS?
Yes. Bootable creates GPT or MBR FAT32 media and splits oversized install.wim files. Linux needs wimtools. macOS needs wimlib. Only UEFI is supported.
Which Windows setup choices are available?
Hardware bypass, offline or local account, region, privacy, BitLocker, quality-of-life policies, CA 2023 boot files, SkuSiPolicy, and S Mode. The review shows every selected option.
What happens if I cancel a write?
Bootable stops and marks the drive incomplete. Rewrite the full image before using it.
Are the desktop and terminal apps equivalent?
Yes. The GUI and TUI have the same features, plans, progress, errors, and retry behavior.
Is Bootable a drop-in replacement for Rufus or Etcher?
Not fully. Bootable writes raw and compressed images and creates UEFI Windows media on Linux, Windows, and macOS. It does not support persistence, multiboot, DOS, Windows To Go, legacy BIOS, or general formatting. Bootable is not affiliated with Rufus, balena, or Etcher.
What is not implemented?
Legacy BIOS Windows media, persistence, Windows To Go, DOS, and multiboot. Windows RAW backup is also unavailable. See the roadmap.
Why does the operating system warn about Bootable?
The release is not code-signed, and the macOS build is not notarized. SHA-256 files and GitHub provenance verify the release but do not prevent system warnings.
How should I report a failed write?
Open an issue. Include the version, platform, interface, image, drive model and capacity, failed stage, and error. Remove serial numbers and private paths.