This page describes the basic and advanced techniques to start Tails from a USB stick on PC.

Starting from Windows 8 or 10

From Windows or the sign-in screen of Windows:

1. Make sure that you have installed Tails using either:

   • balenaEtcher from Windows
   • balenaEtcher from macOS
   • GNOME Disks from Linux
   • the Linux command line

2. Click on the Start button.

3. Press and hold the Shift key while you choose Power ▸ Restart.

4. In the Choose an option screen, choose Use a device.

   

   If the Choose an option screen or the Use a device option don't appear, refer to the instructions on starting Tails using the Boot Menu key.

5. In the Use a device screen, choose Boot Menu.

   Windows shuts down, the computer restarts, and a Boot Menu appears.

   Plug in your Tails USB stick shortly after choosing Boot Menu and while Windows is shutting down.

   If your Windows has no Boot Menu option available, make sure that your intermediary Tails USB stick is plugged in and choose your USB stick directly in the list of devices.

   In the future, we We recommend that you only plug in your Tails USB stick while Windows is shutting down. Otherwise, a virus in Windows could infect your Tails USB stick and break its security.

   Such an attack is possible in theory but very unlikely in practice. We don't know of any virus capable of infecting Tails. See our warning on plugging Tails in untrusted systems.

   The Boot Menu is a list of possible devices to start from. The following screenshot is an example of a Boot Menu:

   

6. In the Boot Menu, select your USB stick and press Enter.

7. If the computer starts on Tails, the Boot Loader appears and Tails starts automatically after 4 seconds.

   

   • The Troubleshooting Mode entry disables some features of the Linux kernel and might work better on some computers. You can try this option if you think you are experiencing hardware compatibility errors while starting Tails.

   • The External Hard Disk entry makes it possible to start from an external hard disk and some problematic USB sticks.

Starting with the Boot Menu key

Most computers do not start automatically on the Tails USB stick, but you can press a Boot Menu key to display a list of possible devices to start from.

The following screenshot is an example of a Boot Menu:

This animation summarizes how to use the Boot Menu key to start on the USB stick:

The following instructions explain in detail how to use the Boot Menu key to start on the USB stick:

1. Make sure that you have installed Tails using either:

   • balenaEtcher from Windows
   • balenaEtcher from macOS
   • GNOME Disks from Linux
   • the Linux command line

2. Shut down the computer while leaving the USB stick plugged in.

   Shut down the computer and plug in the Tails USB stick.

   Shut down the computer.

   Plug in the other Tails USB stick that you want to install upgrade from.

   Unplug your Tails USB stick while leaving the intermediary USB stick plugged in.

3. Identify the possible Boot Menu keys for the computer depending on the computer manufacturer in the following list:

   Manufacturer	Key
   Acer	F12, F9, F2, Esc
   Apple	Option
   Asus	Esc
   Clevo	F7
   Dell	F12
   Fujitsu	F12, Esc
   HP	F9
   Huawei	F12
   Intel	F10
   Lenovo	F12, Novo
   MSI	F11
   Samsung	Esc, F12, F2
   Sony	F11, Esc, F10
   Toshiba	F12
   Others…	F12, Esc

   On many computers, a message is displayed very briefly when switching on that also explains how to get to the Boot Menu or edit the BIOS settings.

4. Switch on the computer.

   Immediately press several times the first possible Boot Menu key identified in step 2.

5. If the computer starts on another operating system or returns an error message, shut down the computer again and repeat step 3 for all the possible Boot Menu keys identified in step 2.

   If a Boot Menu with a list of devices appears, select your USB stick and press Enter.

6. If the computer starts on Tails, the Boot Loader appears and Tails starts automatically after 4 seconds.

   

Troubleshooting Tails not starting at all

Use this section if the computer does not start from the USB stick and the Boot Loader does not display:

Verify your Tails USB stick

1. Wait 2–3 minutes and try again. Some USB sticks need some rest after installing.

2. Try all other USB ports on the computer. Some USB ports cannot be used to start from.

3. Make sure that you have installed Tails using either:

   • balenaEtcher from Windows
   • balenaEtcher from macOS
   • GNOME Disks from Linux
   • the Linux command line

4. Make sure that you have verified your download of Tails.

5. Make sure that you have verified your download.

6. Try to install again on the same USB stick.

   Try to install again on the same USB stick.

   Try to install again on the same USB stick.

   Try to install again on the same USB stick.

   Try to install again on the same USB stick.

   Try to install again on the same USB stick.

   Try to install again on the same USB stick.

   Try to install again on the same USB stick.

   Try to install again on the same USB stick.

   Try to install again on the same USB stick.

   Try to install again on the same USB stick.

   Try to install again on the same USB stick.

7. Try to install on a different USB stick.

8. Try to use the same USB stick to start on a different computer.

Check our list of known issues

Similar problems might have been reported already for your computer model in our list of known issues about Tails not starting at all.

Edit the BIOS or UEFI settings (advanced users)

To learn how to edit the BIOS or UEFI settings, search for the user manual of the computer on the support website of the manufacturer.

In the BIOS or UEFI settings, try to apply the following changes:

• Make sure that the Boot Menu key is enabled, in your BIOS or UEFI options. This option might be called Boot Device List or something similar, depending on the computer.

• Edit the Boot Order. You might see an entry for Removable devices or USB media. Move this entry to the top of the list to force the computer to start from the USB stick before starting from the internal hard disk.

• Disable Fast Boot.

• Enable CSM Boot.

• Enable Legacy Boot, in addition to UEFI. The computer might not start anymore on its regular operating system if you disable UEFI completely or if you only enable Legacy boot.

• Try to upgrade the BIOS or UEFI. To do so, refer to the support website of the computer manufacturer.

Troubleshooting Tails not starting after the Boot Loader

Use this section if the Boot Loader appears but not the Welcome Screen when you start Tails.

Verify your Tails USB stick

1. Wait 2–3 minutes and try again. Some USB sticks need some rest after installing.

2. Try all other USB ports on the computer. Some USB ports cannot be used to start from.

3. Make sure that you have installed Tails using either:

   • balenaEtcher from Windows
   • balenaEtcher from macOS
   • GNOME Disks from Linux
   • the Linux command line

4. Make sure that you have verified your download of Tails.

5. Make sure that you have verified your download.

6. Try to install again on the same USB stick.

   Try to install again on the same USB stick.

   Try to install again on the same USB stick.

   Try to install again on the same USB stick.

   Try to install again on the same USB stick.

   Try to install again on the same USB stick.

   Try to install again on the same USB stick.

   Try to install again on the same USB stick.

   Try to install again on the same USB stick.

   Try to install again on the same USB stick.

   Try to install again on the same USB stick.

   Try to install again on the same USB stick.

7. Try to install on a different USB stick.

8. Try to use the same USB stick to start on a different computer.

Try the Troubleshooting Mode entry

In the Boot Loader, choose the Troubleshooting Mode entry, which works better on some computers.

Try the External Hard Disk entry

In the Boot Loader, choose the External Hard Disk entry, if it is available. Some USB sticks need this entry in order to start Tails.

Check our list of known issues

• If the computer displays the error message Error starting GDM with your graphics card, refer to our list of known issues with graphics cards.

• Otherwise, refer to our list of known issues about Tails not starting entirely. It might contain workarounds for your computer model.