WoeUSB is an open-source tool to create Windows USB bootable installation sticks from an ISO file or DVD on Linux systems. The program supports Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 ISO files and can be used via a graphical user interface or in a terminal. Yes, we can use its command-line utility called woeusb or the graphical version based on WxWidgets, a GUI wrapper for woeusb.
The boot types supported by this Linux bootable USB maker are:
- Legacy / MBR-style / IBM PC compatible boot mode
- Native UEFI booting on FAT32 on the stick
Here in this tutorial, will let you know the ways to install WoeUSB on Ubuntu 22.04/20.04, Linux Mint, Debian, and Elementary. There are two to install WoeUSB one is by adding its repository and the second one using SNAP packages. However, the snap method didn’t work after the installation of this Windows bootable USB maker, it wouldn’t open at all, and somehow it opened but didn’t recognize the attached USB drive.
Steps to install and use WoeUSB on Ubuntu Linux
#1st Way using PPA repository.
Add WoeUSB PPA repository
There is a PPA repository known as Tomtomtom that provides packages of WoeUSB to easily install on even Ubuntu 22.04. So, open your command terminal – the keyboard shortcut for that is Ctrl+Alt+T. After that run the given command:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tomtomtom/woeusb -y
Refresh APT Index Cache
Although it is not necessary because running the PPA command will also refresh the APT cache, however just to ensure our system is up to date, run the given command once.
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
Install the WoeUSB CLI + GUI on Ubuntu 22.04 | 20.04
Now, like any other open source software, we can install the WoeUSB with its graphical user interface and CLI on our Ubuntu Linux using APT and terminal. So, execute the given command and you are done.
sudo apt install woeusb woeusb-frontend-wxgtk -y
Check Version
To confirm this USB bootable maker is on our system and working fine, let’s first check its version:
woeusb --version
To see other options use:
woeusb --help
If you get the following error:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have
requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable
distribution that some required packages have not yet been created
or been moved out of Incoming.
The following information may help to resolve the situation:
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
woeusb : Depends: libwxgtk3.0-0v5 (>= 3.0.4+dfsg) but it is not installable
- Then, first, we have to install the libwxgtk3.0 manually. Here is the command to do that:
wget http://mirrors.kernel.org/ubuntu/pool/universe/w/wxwidgets3.0/libwxgtk3.0-0v5_3.0.4+dfsg-3_amd64.deb
- Now, install it:
sudo dpkg -i filename
Replace the filename with the package you downloaded above or simply run the below command:
sudo dpkg -i libwxgtk*_amd64.deb
- Again, run the update command:
sudo apt update
- Finally, install WoeUSB, this time you will not get any error at all.
sudo apt install woeusb woeusb-frontend-wxgtk -y
#2nd way using the bash script:
Install Command-line version
Another way to use the WoeUSB is via its bash script command tool. However, first, install some required dependencies.
sudo apt install git p7zip-full python3-pip python3-wxgtk4.0 grub2-common grub-pc-bin wimtools
Download WoeUSB Bash Script:
Go to GitHub, here is the Link and download the latest release:
Make the file executable
chmod +x woeusb-5.2.4.bash
Now, run it:
./woeusb-5.2.4.bash
Note: You will see the options that can be used via the above command-line tool.
Not interested in WoeUSB, check out the default Startup disk creator tool of Ubuntu.
Use WoeUSB to create a Windows bootable drive on Ubuntu
Once you have successfully installed the software, it’s time to run it. Go to Activities and in the applications search for WoeUSB, when its icon appears, click it to run the program.
- Run WoeUSB
- Click on the folder icon to open file explorer, and select the Windows ISO file that you want to use to create a bootable USB drive.
- Select the filesystem you would like to use FAT or NTFS.
- The WoeUSB will automatically detect and show the attached pen drives.
- Select the one you want to use.
- Finally, click on the INSTALL button.
In case you get an error when you hit the Install button. "Log: WoeUSB ============================== Error: Target device is currently busy, unmount all mounted partitions in target device then try again Target device is busy, please make sure you unmount all filesystems on the target device or shut down the computer before detaching it."
- Go to the File Manager of Ubuntu, on the left side panel you will see your attached pen drive. Right-click on that and click on the Format button.
- Now, select the For use with Windows (NTFS) file system and format your USB drive.
After that on WoeUSB, click on the Refresh button, select the Drive and again click on the Install button. This time it will be perfectly fine.
Uninstall WoeUSB From Ubuntu 22.0 | 20.04
Maybe due to some reason, WoeUSB would not be working or there are chances you won’t require it anymore on your system. If that is so, here is the command to remove WoeUSB completely from Ubuntu Linux.
sudo apt autoremove --purge woeusb*
it was really a big help
Thank you. It helped me a Lot!!
THANKS A LOT. IT HELPED ME. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM FOR VERY LONG BUT YOU SAVED ME.
thanks for guide. i search too much and help me
Helped a lot Thank you
sudo dpkg -i libwxgtk3.0-0v5_3.0.4+dfsg-3_amd64.deb
Selecting previously unselected package libwxgtk3.0-0v5:amd64.
(Reading database … 324577 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack libwxgtk3.0-0v5_3.0.4+dfsg-3_amd64.deb …
Unpacking libwxgtk3.0-0v5:amd64 (3.0.4+dfsg-3) …
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of libwxgtk3.0-0v5:amd64:
libwxgtk3.0-0v5:amd64 depends on libwxbase3.0-0v5 (>= 3.0.4+dfsg); however:
Package libwxbase3.0-0v5 is not installed.
dpkg: error processing package libwxgtk3.0-0v5:amd64 (–install):
dependency problems – leaving unconfigured
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.31-0ubuntu9) …
Errors were encountered while processing:
libwxgtk3.0-0v5:amd64
Thank you so much
My friend the link is broken
Thanks a lot. It worked
Without this description it is impossible to operate woeusb under linux. 1000 x thanks 🙂
If you have this error
“sudo dpkg -i libwxgtk3.0-0v5_3.0.4+dfsg-3_amd64.deb
Selecting previously unselected package libwxgtk3.0-0v5:amd64.”
use:
sudo apt-get install libwxbase3.0-0v5
sudo apt update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt install woeusb
Thanks man. I used this link in GH comment.
https://github.com/slacka/WoeUSB/issues/311#issuecomment-799449150
Having same problem as guy that posted his command lines or whatever.
Followed step by step but did not work. When I tried to install second time got error messages
$ sudo dpkg -i libwxgtk3.0-0v5_3.0.4+dfsg-3_amd64.deb.1
(Reading database … 183856 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack libwxgtk3.0-0v5_3.0.4+dfsg-3_amd64.deb.1 …
Unpacking libwxgtk3.0-0v5:amd64 (3.0.4+dfsg-3) over (3.0.4+dfsg-3) …
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of libwxgtk3.0-0v5:amd64:
libwxgtk3.0-0v5:amd64 depends on libwxbase3.0-0v5 (>= 3.0.4+dfsg); however:
Package libwxbase3.0-0v5 is not installed.
dpkg: error processing package libwxgtk3.0-0v5:amd64 (–install):
dependency problems – leaving unconfigured
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.31-0ubuntu9) …
Errors were encountered while processing:
libwxgtk3.0-0v5:amd64
$ sudo apt update
Hit:1 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:2 http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb stable InRelease
Hit:3 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates InRelease
Hit:4 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-security InRelease
Hit:5 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-backports InRelease
Hit:6 http://ppa.launchpad.net/gezakovacs/ppa/ubuntu focal InRelease
Hit:7 http://ppa.launchpad.net/nilarimogard/webupd8/ubuntu focal InRelease
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information… Done
All packages are up to date.
$ sudo apt install woeusb
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information… Done
You might want to run ‘apt –fix-broken install’ to correct these.
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
libwxgtk3.0-0v5 : Depends: libwxbase3.0-0v5 (>= 3.0.4+dfsg) but it is not going to be installed
woeusb : Depends: gettext
Depends: libwxbase3.0-0v5 (>= 3.0.4+dfsg) but it is not going to be installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try ‘apt –fix-broken install’ with no packages (or specify a solution).
Your explanation of the manual install after the error was so perfect and saved me. Thank you so much!
Thank you a lot, It worked for me by completing with Ric’s comment.
Thank you.
Thanks Man
Thanks, this works for me! 🙂
Thanks, work in 02/2021
same here it’s work
Thank You
Thank you, very much !!!
awesome tutorial bro
What a good explanation mate, but I encountered a problem.
After entering -> sudo apt install woesb
It shows an issue -> E: Unable to locate package woeusb
Is there a solution to this? Thanls.
Use these commands-
sudo apt install git p7zip-full python3-pip python3-wxgtk4.0
sudo pip3 install WoeUSB-ng
$ sudo apt install woeusb
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information… Done
Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have
requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable
distribution that some required packages have not yet been created
or been moved out of Incoming.
The following information may help to resolve the situation:
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
woeusb : Depends: libgcc-s1 but it is not installable
E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.
Question> How to fix this problem?
Use the updated method given at the beginning of the article or just use the below given two commands
sudo apt install git p7zip-full python3-pip python3-wxgtk4.0sudo pip3 install WoeUSB-ngthe installation goes into a loop during the grub installation. any clue why?
Thanks 🙂
I get this when I try using the updated method [email protected]:~$ sudo apt install git p7zip-full python3-pip python3-wxgtk4.0
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information… Done
Package python3-pip is not available, but is referred to by another package.
This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or
is only available from another source
Package p7zip-full is not available, but is referred to by another package.
This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or
is only available from another source
E: Package ‘p7zip-full’ has no installation candidate
E: Package ‘python3-pip’ has no installation candidate
E: Unable to locate package python3-wxgtk4.0
E: Couldn’t find any package by glob ‘python3-wxgtk4.0’
Run a system update command once- sudo apt update
Thanks also helped me after many attempts, but mine only appears FAT only NTFS has no option for me to choose between FAT
thankyou so so much it worked
Thanks, it works in popos 20.04. really great material
im running into this error
woeusb : Depends: libwxgtk3.0-0v5 (>= 3.0.4+dfsg) but it is not installable
E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.
The new version of Woeusb is not working
Thanks a lot! It’s very helpful.