Windows To Go has been an enterprise feature since Windows 8. However, Microsoft announced on May 25, 2019 that this feature would no longer be available in future Windows versions. Below we will introduce how to use Hasleo WinToUSB (a third-party Windows To Go creation tool) and Windows Enterprise Edition to create Windows To Go, covering the following aspects:
To meet the different needs of customers, Windows provides multiple editions: Home, Professional, Education and Enterprise. Windows Enterprise Edition is designed to meet the business needs of medium to large companies and organizations, including all Windows Pro Edition features and adding enterprise-specific features, such as deploying and managing PCs, Windows To Go (available in Windows 10 prior to May 25, 2019, but not in Windows 11), virtualization, and advanced security. Here are the main differences between the Professional and Enterprise Editions:
| Features | Windows 11/10 Professional | Windows 11/10 Enterprise |
|---|---|---|
| Security | Windows Information Protection, BitLocker, BitLocker to Go, Windows Defender Antivirus, and automatic updates | Windows Information Protection, BitLocker, BitLocker to Go, Windows Defender Antivirus, Windows Defender Credential Guard, Windows Defender Application Control, Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection, and automatic updates |
| Feature | Windows Autopilot eases device deployment | Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) and Microsoft User Environment Virtualization centralize apps |
| Price | $199.99 per license | Varies based on the business size and the features you want |
We have mentioned above that Windows To Go is a feature of Windows Enterprise Edition. But what is Windows To Go? In simple terms, Windows To Go means installing a full Windows OS on a USB drive and booting directly from it, commonly known as portable Windows. Windows To Go was first introduced with Windows 8. Because USB drives are portable and allow users to maintain the same working environment across different computers, it is popular among Windows users, especially those who need to work in multiple locations.
Unfortunately, on May 25, 2019, Microsoft announced that the Windows To Go feature would no longer be available in Windows 10 and later Enterprise editions, so we can no longer create Windows To Go with the Microsoft's Windows To Go Creator Wizard in Windows 11/10 Enterprise.
If you are currently using a newer version of Windows 11/10 Enterprise Edition, the Windows To Go Creator Wizard will no longer be available in Control Panel. How can you create a Windows To Go in this case? To create a Windows To Go drive, use a third-party tool like Hasleo WinToUSB. This software allows you to install or clone Windows 11/10 Enterprise to a USB drive as a portable workspace. Below, we detail both methods.
Step 1. Connect the USB drive to your computer, then download, install, and run Hasleo WinToUSB. Click the "Windows To Go USB" option.
Step 2. Click "Select installation source" → "Browse image file". Then choose the Windows installation ISO file from the dialog box as your source. Alternatively, select a CD/DVD drive with Windows installation media.
Step 3. Hasleo WinToUSB scans for and lists installable operating systems. Select your target Windows edition.
Step 4. Click "Select destination drive", then choose the target drive from the pop-up list. If Hasleo WinToUSB fails to detect the drive, click the 
button to initiate drive recognition.
Step 5. Select your preferred partition scheme and installation mode. Optionally, you may specify additional drives or enable BitLocker encryption for the Windows To Go drive, then click "Proceed".
* Tips:
Step 6. After clicking "Proceed", a confirmation dialog will appear asking whether to continue formatting the drive. Click "Yes" if you accept the operation.
Step 7. After clicking "Yes", WinToUSB initiates Windows installation on the destination drive.
Step 8. The installation will take some time; please be patient. After installation, restart the computer and enter UEFI/BIOS settings to boot from the USB drive.
Step 9. A standard Windows 11/10 installation requires completing all setup steps during the first boot. Afterward, you can install applications and copy files, etc.
Step 1. Connect the USB drive to the computer. Run Hasleo WinToUSB and click the "Windows To Go USB" button.
Step 2. Click "Select installation source" and then select "Current Windows OS" from the pop-up list.
Step 3. Click "Select destination drive" and select the target drive from the pop-up menu.
Step 4. Select your preferred partition scheme and installation mode. Optionally, you may specify additional drives or enable BitLocker encryption for the Windows To Go drive, then click "Proceed".
* Tips:
Step 5. After clicking "Proceed", a confirmation dialog will appear asking whether to continue formatting the drive. Click "Yes" if you accept the operation.
Step 6. After clicking "Yes", WinToUSB initiates Windows cloning on the destination drive. Cloning time depends on the size of the data being cloned.
Step 7. Wait for the cloning process to finish. Upon successful completion, restart the computer and enter UEFI/BIOS settings to boot from the USB drive.
This tutorial details two methods to create Windows To Go with the Windows 11/10 Enterprise edition. Using Hasleo WinToUSB to install or clone Windows Enterprise Edition on a USB drive as Windows To Go.
In fact, Hasleo WinToUSB is the most professional Windows To Go creation tool on the market, enabling users to create portable Windows from any Windows 11/10 edition, including Windows Server Editions.
