Rufus includes "cheat modes" to bypass specific locking issues:

Applications like Windows Explorer , antivirus scanners, or cloud backup services may be "holding" the drive. Close all open folders and temporarily disable active antivirus protection before clicking "Start" in Rufus.

If the USB has a corrupted partition table or is "write-protected," the built-in Windows DiskPart tool can reset it:

Open the , type cmd , right-click it, and select Run as Administrator . Type diskpart and press Enter.

Type list disk to find your USB drive number (e.g., Disk 1). Type select disk X (replace with your USB's number). Type clean . This will wipe all partition information. Close the window and try Rufus again. 2. Rufus Internal Shortcuts