How to Create Bootable SD Card in Windows 10/11

A bootable SD card is a portable storage device containing the necessary files, boot sectors, and software to start a computer. Creating a Windows 10 bootable SD card can be a convenient and efficient way to install or troubleshoot the operating system on a computer.

This EaseUS guide will provide step-by-step instructions on creating a Windows 10 bootable SD card using a professional bootable disk creator, EaseUS OS2Go. By following these instructions, you can successfully create a bootable SD card and boot your computer from it conveniently.

Overview of Bootable SD Card & Why You Need to Boot From It

How do I boot Windows from a Micro SD card?
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A bootable SD card is actually the same as a bootable USB, which can be used as a boot media; users can run an operating system on it. However, a bootable SD card saves these boot sectors and files on a memory card, which is widely used in portable devices like digital cameras, music players, smartphones, tablets, game consoles, etc.

Creating a bootable SD card allows you to install Windows on another PC and use it as a backup of your operating system to restore your computer when it crashes or your hard drive fails. These are the reasons why users want to make a bootable SD card.

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How to Create a Windows 10/11 Bootable SD Card Easily

In this part, we'll provide detailed instructions on creating a Windows 10 bootable SD card, including the preparation work and steps.

Step 1. ✅Prepare an SD card

First, prepare a proper SD card to create bootable Windows. Generally speaking, a Windows 10 operating system takes about 15GB of space, so the SD card should be at least 16 GB to ensure there is enough space for the ISO file and any additional files.

Besides, using an SD card with a higher Speed Class rating, such as Class 10, is advisable to ensure faster read and write speeds. This can help in the smooth and efficient booting process of Windows 10 from the SD card.

You should also prepare a correct SD reader to create the bootable SD card. Before proceeding with the creation process, ensure that your computer recognizes the SD card and that it is in good working condition.

Step 2. ✅Choose and download a bootable SD card creator

This is also one of the most important steps in creating a bootable SD card. EaseUS OS2Go is a reliable Windows media creation tool that offers an easy and effective solution to create Windows installation media, such as a bootable SD card, USB, or other external device. Designed with an intuitive interface, you can easily create a bootable SD card without any hassle on Windows 11/10/8/7. Here are some of the reasons why you can choose it with confidence:

Download it on your Windows 10/11 computer and follow the steps below.

Step 3. ✅Create a Windows Bootable SD Card 

Now, you can follow the steps to create a bootable Windows SD card.

Step 1. Install EaseUS OS2Go on your Windows computer, it will display your system drive's used space. Plug in a USB drive that is larger than the system drive used space. Choose the target USB drive and click Next to continue.

Step 2. EaseUS OS2Go will notify you that the following operation would delete all data on your drive. Make sure that you have backed up all the important data. Click the Continue button to proceed.

Step 3. Adjust disk layout. The default disk layout on the target drive will be exactly the same as the resource drive. You could also edit the layout according to your needs. Tick the option there if you're using a Solid State Drive as the Windows bootable drive. Next, click Proceed.

Step 4. Then EaseUS OS2Go will start to create the portable USB drive. It usually takes a while depending on your OS and Network condition. When the progress reaches 100%, the USB drive should be bootable now.

Step 5. Insert the portable Windows USB and start your computer. Press the required key (F2, DEL, F10...) to access BIOS. Choose to boot from the USB disk.

Note: Please make sure that the boot mode (UEFI or Legacy) of the portable USB and your target computer are the same, otherwise you may not be able to boot.

Bonus: How to Boot From SD Card Successfully

After creating a bootable SD card, you should check if it can boot your computer successfully. To do this, you need to change the boot order of your computer in the BIOS and make the SD card the boot drive. Let's see how to do it.

1️⃣Inset your bootable SD card in your computer, restart it, and press the BIOS key(F2/F8/F12/Del) when you see the first screen to enter the BIOS settings.

2️⃣In the BIOS menu, select "Enter Setup" and move to the "Change Boot Order" option in the following window. Now, use the arrow keys to give the SD card the highest boot priority. Afterward, save the BIOS settings and reboot your system to boot from the SD card.

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Final Words

Creating a Windows 10 bootable SD card can be a valuable tool for installing or troubleshooting the operating system on various devices without the need for a DVD or USB drive. By following the outlined steps and using the right tools, such as EaseUS OS2Go, users can easily and successfully create a bootable SD card for Windows 10.

EaseUS OS2Go is a reliable and user-friendly tool that simplifies the process of creating a bootable SD card. With its intuitive interface and efficient performance, EaseUS OS2Go ensures a seamless and hassle-free experience in creating a Windows 10 bootable SD card. Users can rely on this tool to effectively boot up Windows 10 on different devices and easily address any installation or troubleshooting needs.

FAQs Related to Windows 10 Bootable SD Card

1. Can I use an SD card as a bootable drive?

Yes, of course. You can use an SD card as a bootable drive to start up a computer and install or troubleshoot an operating system. By creating a bootable SD card with the necessary files and software, you can conveniently boot up your device without needing a DVD or USB drive.

2. How to make an SD card bootable using cmd?

To make an SD card bootable using Command Prompt (cmd) in Windows, you can follow these steps:

• Insert the SD card into your computer's SD card reader.
• Open Command Prompt with administrator privileges. To do this, search for "cmd" in the Windows search bar, right-click on "Command Prompt," and select "Run as administrator."
• In Command Prompt, type "diskpart" and press Enter to open the DiskPart utility.
• Type "list disk" and press Enter to display a list of all the storage devices connected to your computer, including the SD card. Note the disk number assigned to your SD card.
• Type "select disk X" (replace X with the disk number of your SD card) and press Enter to select the SD card.
• Type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each command:

"clean" (This will erase all data on the SD card, so make sure to back up any important files before proceeding.)

"create partition primary"

"select partition 1"

"format fs=fat32 quick" (You can use "ntfs" instead of "fat32" if you prefer that file system.)

"active"

"exit" (to exit DiskPart)

• After exiting DiskPart, type "cd X:" (replace X with the drive letter assigned to your SD card) and press Enter to switch to the SD card drive.
• Finally, you can copy the bootable files to the SD card. This can include the boot files from a Windows installation ISO or any other bootable files you want to use.
• Once you have completed these steps, your SD card should be bootable and ready to use for installing or troubleshooting Windows or other operating systems.