Insert the USB
Connect the prepared USB while the computer is fully powered off.
Guide
How to boot from your USB
The exact key varies by computer brand and model, but the process is the same everywhere. Nothing installs and your hard drive stays untouched until you choose to install.
Before you start
Two things to check first
Plug the USB into a direct port on the computer, not a hub or dock if you can help it — some hubs aren't recognised at boot time.
Then shut the computer down fully. A restart isn't the same thing on some machines; a full shutdown followed by powering back on gives the boot menu the best chance of appearing.
The steps
Four steps, start to finish
Open the boot menu
Turn the computer on and immediately tap the boot-menu key repeatedly — commonly F12, Esc, F9 or F10. Tapping once is usually too slow; keep tapping until a menu appears.
Select the USB
Use the arrow keys to choose the drive — it may be labelled with the USB brand name or as "UEFI USB" — then press Enter.
Choose the live/try option
Look around. Nothing installs automatically and your hard drive isn't touched. Shut down and remove the USB whenever you're done.
Universal Boot Troubleshooting
A simple, step‑by‑step guide to help you boot from a USB on almost any computer.
Common boot menu keys by brand
Dell – F12. HP – ESC or F9. Lenovo – F12 or NOVO button. Acer – F12. ASUS – ESC or F8. Toshiba – F12. Samsung – F12. Sony – F11.
Timing the key press correctly
Start tapping the key repeatedly as soon as the computer powers on. Don't hold it — tap it.
USB not detected: try a different USB port
Some computers won't boot from USB‑C or USB 3.0 ports. Try a USB 2.0 port if available.
USB not detected: check if the USB shows in BIOS/UEFI
If the USB appears in BIOS but not the boot menu, Secure Boot or UEFI settings may be blocking it.
Secure Boot may block some Linux distros
Some distros require Secure Boot to be turned off. See the Secure Boot guide for full steps.
"Verification failed" or "Image not authorised" errors
These messages almost always mean Secure Boot is interfering.
Black screen or freezing: try "Safe Graphics Mode"
Many distros include a safe graphics option for systems with GPU issues.
Integrated vs dedicated graphics
Laptops with NVIDIA/AMD GPUs may need special boot parameters or the NVIDIA version of a distro.
Boot loops back to Windows/macOS: boot order not saved
You may need to manually select the USB from the boot menu instead of relying on boot order.
Fast Boot enabled (Windows)
Fast Boot can block USB booting. Disable it in Windows power settings.
UEFI vs Legacy mode
Most modern systems require UEFI mode. Legacy mode is mainly for older hardware. Most modern distros expect UEFI.
Switching modes may hide your USB
If the USB disappears after changing modes, switch back.
Special notes for Mac users: Intel Macs only
Most Linux distros do not boot on Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3).
Special notes for Mac users: Hold Option (⌥) at startup
This opens the Mac boot picker where the USB should appear.
Still stuck? Get in touch and mention your computer's brand and model — that's usually enough to figure out what's different about it.