- Ubuntu for desktops
- Complete
- Open source
- Secure
- Accessible
- Visually stunning, wherever it’s used
- Get Linux on the largest range of hardware
- Ubuntu Desktop for the enterprise
- Support and management tools
- Backed by Canonical
- Download and install
- Professional support
- Ubuntu flavours
- Create a bootable USB stick with Rufus on Windows
- 2. Requirements
- 3. USB selection
- 4. Select the Ubuntu ISO file
- 5. Write the ISO
- 6. Additional downloads
- 7. Write warnings
- 8. Writing the ISO
- 9. Installation complete
- Finding help
- Ubuntu downloads
- Ubuntu Server ›
- Ubuntu Cloud ›
- Ubuntu flavours ›
- Ubuntu for IoT ›
- Alternative downloads
- Professional support for Ubuntu
- Detailed documentation
- Helping hands
Ubuntu for desktops
The open source Ubuntu desktop operating system powers millions of PCs and laptops around the world.
Complete
Ubuntu comes with everything you need to run your organisation, school, home or enterprise. All the essential applications, like an office suite, browsers, email and media apps come pre-installed and thousands more games and applications are available in the Ubuntu Software Centre.
Open source
Ubuntu has always been free to download, use and share. We believe in the power of open source software; Ubuntu could not exist without its worldwide community of voluntary developers.
Secure
With a built-in firewall and virus protection software, Ubuntu is one of the most secure operating systems around. And the long-term support releases give you five years of security patches and updates.
Accessible
Computing is for everyone regardless of nationality, gender or disability. Ubuntu is fully translated into over 50 languages and includes essential assistive technologies.
Visually stunning, wherever it’s used
Ubuntu gets the most from your screen, with high definition, touchscreen support, fractional scaling and touchpad gestures. 22.04 refreshes its signature Yaru theme, with system-wide dark style preference support, accent colours and the largest selection of community wallpapers yet.
Get Linux on the largest range of hardware
Canonical works closely with Dell, Lenovo and HP to certify that Ubuntu works on a wide range of their laptops and workstations. It means that a seamless Ubuntu experience is available out of the box with more hardware choice than ever.
And Ubuntu isn’t just for the desktop, it is used in data centres around the world powering every kind of server imaginable and is by far, the most popular operating system in the cloud.
Ubuntu Desktop for the enterprise
Support and management tools
Ubuntu Pro Desktop is a comprehensive subscription delivering enterprise-grade security, management tooling, and extended support for developers and organisations. Ubuntu Pro Desktop is free for personal use on up to five machines.
Backed by Canonical
Canonical is a global software company and the number-one Ubuntu services provider. Companies can choose to receive expert training, support or consultancy for a fee that goes towards the continued development of Ubuntu.
Download and install
Download Ubuntu desktop and replace your current operating system. It’s easy to install on Windows or macOS, or run Ubuntu alongside it.
Professional support
Get professional support from Canonical to manage your Ubuntu desktop, cloud and server deployments.
Ubuntu flavours
Ubuntu flavours offer a unique way to experience Ubuntu with different choices of default applications and settings, backed by the full Ubuntu archive for packages and updates.
© 2023 Canonical Ltd. Ubuntu and Canonical are registered trademarks of Canonical Ltd.
Create a bootable USB stick with Rufus on Windows
This tutorial will show you how to create a bootable USB stick on Microsoft Windows using Rufus.
For most users we recommend balenaEtcher instead of Rufus which is simpler to use and also available on MacOS and Ubuntu. Instructions are now included in the primary Install Ubuntu Desktop tutorial.
Creating a bootable Ubuntu USB stick from Microsoft Windows is very simple and we’re going to cover the process in the next few steps.
Alternatively, we also have tutorials to help you create a bootable USB stick from both Ubuntu and Apple macOS.
2. Requirements
- A 4GB or larger USB stick/flash drive
- Microsoft Windows XP or later
- Rufus, a free and open source USB stick writing tool
- An Ubuntu ISO file. See Get Ubuntu for download links
Take note of where your browser saves downloads: this is normally a directory called ‘Downloads’ on your Windows PC. Don’t download the ISO image directly to the USB stick! If using Windows XP or Vista, download version 2.18 of Rufus.
3. USB selection
Perform the following to configure your USB device in Rufus:
- Launch Rufus
- Insert your USB stick
- Rufus will update to set the device within the Device field
- If the Device selected is incorrect (perhaps you have multiple USB storage devices), select the correct one from the device field’s drop-down menu
You can avoid the hassle of selecting from a list of USB devices by ensuring no other devices are connected.
4. Select the Ubuntu ISO file
To select the Ubuntu ISO file you downloaded previously, click the SELECT to the right of “Boot selection”. If this is the only ISO file present in the Downloads folder you will only see one file listed.
Select the appropriate ISO file and click on Open.
5. Write the ISO
The Volume label will be updated to reflect the ISO selected.
Leave all other parameters with their default values and click START to initiate the write process.
6. Additional downloads
You may be alerted that Rufus requires additional files to complete writing the ISO. If this dialog box appears, select Yes to continue.
7. Write warnings
You will then be alerted that Rufus has detected that the Ubuntu ISO is an ISOHybrid image. This means the same image file can be used as the source for both a DVD and a USB stick without requiring conversion.
Keep Write in ISO Image mode selected and click on OK to continue.
Rufus will also warn you that all data on your selected USB device is about to be destroyed. This is a good moment to double check you’ve selected the correct device before clicking OK when you’re confident you have.
If your USB stick contains multiple partitions Rufus will warn you in a separate pane that these will also be destroyed.
8. Writing the ISO
The ISO will now be written to your USB stick, and the progress bar in Rufus will give you some indication of where you are in the process. With a reasonably modern machine, this should take around 10 minutes. Total elapsed time is shown in the lower right corner of the Rufus window.
9. Installation complete
When Rufus has finished writing the USB device, the Status bar will be filled green and the word READY will appear in the center. Select CLOSE to complete the write process.
Congratulations! You now have Ubuntu on a USB stick, bootable and ready to go.
To use it you need to insert the stick into your target PC or laptop and reboot the device. It should recognise the installation media automatically during startup but you may need to hold down a specific key (usually F12) to bring up the boot menu and choose to boot from USB.
For a full walkthrough of installing Ubuntu, take a look at our install Ubuntu desktop tutorial.
Finding help
If you get stuck, help is always at hand:
Ubuntu downloads
Fast, free and full of new features. The latest release of Ubuntu Desktop delivers new tools and enhancements for developers, creators, gamers and administrators.
Download Ubuntu Desktop and replace your current operating system or run Ubuntu alongside it.
Do you want to upgrade? Follow our simple guide
Using Ubuntu in virtual machines? For a mini-cloud of instant Ubuntu VMs on Linux, Windows or macOS.
Try Multipass
Use the Ubuntu terminal and run Linux applications on Windows.
Enable Ubuntu on Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) ›
Ubuntu Server ›
Whether you want to configure a simple file server or build a fifty thousand-node cloud, you can rely on Ubuntu Server and its five years of free updates.
Ubuntu Cloud ›
Ubuntu is the reference OS for OpenStack. Try Canonical OpenStack on a single machine or start building a production cloud on a cluster — just add servers.
Ubuntu flavours ›
Ubuntu flavours offer a unique way to experience Ubuntu with different choices of default applications and settings, backed by the full Ubuntu archive for packages and updates.
Ubuntu for IoT ›
Are you a developer who wants to try snappy Ubuntu Core? The new, transactionally updated Ubuntu for clouds and devices.
Alternative downloads
There are several other ways to get Ubuntu including torrents, which can potentially mean a quicker download, our network installer for older systems and special configurations and links to our regional mirrors for our older (and newer) releases.
Professional support for Ubuntu
Get professional support for Ubuntu from Canonical. We help organisations around the world to manage their Ubuntu cloud, server and desktop deployments.
Detailed documentation
Helping hands
If you get stuck, help is always at hand.
© 2023 Canonical Ltd. Ubuntu and Canonical are registered trademarks of Canonical Ltd.