Create a Multi‑Boot USB with Multiple Linux Distros Using MultiBootUSB
Learn how to turn a single USB drive into a multi‑boot platform that can hold several Linux distributions, using the free, open‑source MultiBootUSB tool, with step‑by‑step instructions and tips for formatting, persistence, and managing installed ISOs.
I enjoy testing different Linux distributions from a USB drive because it lets me run Linux on real hardware, switch between Windows and Linux easily, and recover my system if something goes wrong.
Creating a single bootable live Linux USB is simple: download an ISO and write it to the drive. However, using multiple USB sticks or overwriting the same stick for each distro is inconvenient.
How to create a bootable USB with multiple Linux distributions
MultiBootUSB is a free, open‑source, cross‑platform application that lets you keep several Linux distributions on one USB drive and uninstall any of them to free space.
You need a USB drive with enough capacity; an 8 GB stick can hold three or four distributions.
Step 1
Download the .deb package of MultiBootUSB and install it by double‑clicking.
Step 2
Format the USB drive with the FAT32 file system before creating the multi‑boot USB.
Step 3
Download the ISO images of the Linux distributions you want to install.
Step 4
After completing the above steps, launch MultiBootUSB.
The main screen asks you to select the USB drive and the ISO files you intend to put on it.
MultiBootUSB supports persistence for Ubuntu, Fedora, and Debian, meaning changes made during a live session are saved on the USB.
You can adjust the persistence size with a slider under the MultiBootUSB tab.
Step 5
Click the "Install Distribution" button and wait for the installation to finish; a success message will appear.
After installation you will see the distribution listed; repeat the process for additional OSes. Below is the result after installing Ubuntu 16.10 and Fedora 24.
Step 6
When you boot from the USB next time, you can choose any of the installed distributions.
You can add as many distributions as the USB capacity allows; to remove one, select it from the list and click "Uninstall Distribution".
Final Thoughts
MultiBootUSB makes installing multiple Linux distributions on a USB drive very convenient; with a few clicks I have a working drive containing my two favorite operating systems that can boot on any computer.
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