Install and Create a Live USB with Ventoy on Linux [Step-by-Step Guide]

Creating a bootable USB drive used to be a hassle—format, copy ISO, pray it boots. Ventoy changes all that. With Ventoy, you just drag and drop ISO files onto your USB drive. You can have multiple ISOs on a single stick. No more reformatting every time.

This guide will walk you through installing Ventoy on Linux and creating a live USB step by step.

What is Ventoy?

Ventoy is a free, open-source tool that lets you boot from multiple ISO files on a single USB drive. No need to burn ISOs or reformat—just copy files. It supports Windows, Linux, and other operating systems.

What You’ll Need

• A USB drive (at least 8GB recommended)
• A computer running Linux
• ISO files you want to use (Ubuntu, Fedora, Windows, etc.)

Step 1: Download Ventoy

Head to the Ventoy GitHub Releases page.

• Download the latest .tar.gz package for Linux.
• For example: ventoy-x.x.xx-linux.tar.gz (x.x.xx = version number).

Step 2: Extract the Archive

Open your terminal and navigate to the download folder. Extract the Ventoy archive:

tar -xzvf ventoy-x.x.xx-linux.tar.gz
cd ventoy-x.x.xx

Step 3: Identify Your USB Drive

Plug in your USB drive. Find the device name:

lsblk

Look for your USB’s size to spot it (e.g., /dev/sdb). Double-check this. If you use the wrong drive, you could erase important data.

Step 4: Install Ventoy to the USB Drive

Warning: This step will erase the USB drive. Back up your files.

Run the install command as root (replace /dev/sdX with your USB device):

sudo ./Ventoy2Disk.sh -i /dev/sdX

• Example: sudo ./Ventoy2Disk.sh -i /dev/sdb
• Confirm when prompted.

Ventoy will set up the USB and create a new partition labeled Ventoy.

Step 5: Copy ISO Files

Once installation is complete, eject and re-insert your USB drive if needed. You’ll see a new partition.

• Open the USB drive.
• Drag and drop your ISO files onto the drive. You can add as many as space allows.

Step 6: Boot from the USB Drive

• Reboot your computer.
• Enter your BIOS/UEFI boot menu (usually F12, F10, or Esc right after powering on).
• Select your Ventoy USB drive.
• Ventoy’s menu will appear. Pick any ISO to boot from.

Tips and Notes

• Adding/Removing ISOs: Just delete or add files. No need to reinstall Ventoy.
• Persistence: Some Linux ISOs support persistence with Ventoy. Check the Ventoy documentation.
• Updating Ventoy: Download the new version, run the update script with -u.

Wrapping Up

Ventoy makes creating and managing bootable USBs on Linux ridiculously easy. No more single-use sticks or complicated tools. Just install once, copy ISOs, and boot.

Got questions or tips? Drop a comment below!

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!