How to Install Ventoy on Debian 13

beginnerSoftware Install6 min

Independently tested and verified on Oct 21, 2026. Commands reproduced exactly as run.

Prerequisites

A computer running Debian 13
An external USB drive
Your password, which the Ventoy GUI asks for when it starts
Access to https://ventoy.net to download Ventoy
A few ISO files to boot (the video uses CachyOS, Clonezilla, Proxmox and Windows 11)

This tutorial takes about 6 minutes to complete.

This guide shows how to install Ventoy on Debian 13, copy ISO files onto the Ventoy drive, and boot four of them from one external drive. It follows the video.

New to Ventoy? The Ventoy page explains what it is, what it does and how it can help you.

Warning: Installing Ventoy formats the device and erases everything on it. Back up your files first.

Before you start

You need a computer running Debian 13, an external USB drive, your password, access to https://ventoy.net to download Ventoy, and a few ISO files you want to boot. The video uses CachyOS, Clonezilla, Proxmox and Windows 11.

Jump to a chapter in the video: Intro · Download Ventoy · Extract folder · Run Ventoy · Install Ventoy · Add your ISOs · Boot test

Step 1: Download Ventoy

Open your favorite browser and type https://ventoy.net in the address bar, then press Enter. Go to the downloads and find the linux.tar.gz file, then click it. Your download should start shortly. When it has finished, click the folder icon and close your browser.

The ventoy.net download page with the Binary table and the pointer on the linux.tar.gz file.

Step 2: Extract the file

Right-click the linux.tar.gz file and click Extract. Once it is extracted, you can delete the linux.tar.gz file.

Step 3: Move the Ventoy folder to your home folder

Move the Ventoy folder to your home folder: right-click the folder, click Cut, go to the Home folder and paste it there.

Step 4: Run the Ventoy GUI

Double-click inside the Ventoy folder, then double-click inside the Ventoy folder again. If you have an AMD or Intel CPU, find the VentoyGUI.x86_64 file, right-click it and click Run. Enter your password when asked. The Ventoy application opens.

Step 5: Select your drive

Connect your external drive (USB) and look in the device menu. If you do not see it, click the refresh button. If it still does not appear, open Options and click Show All Devices, which shows all the drives on your PC.

Warning: Show All Devices lists every drive on your computer, including your main hard drive. Make sure you select the correct drive, and do not format your main hard drive.

Step 6: Install Ventoy to the drive

Confirm that you have backed up all the files you need from your USB drive: it will be formatted and everything on it will be erased. With the correct drive selected, click Install. A message says the device will be formatted and all the data will be lost; click OK. Ventoy double checks; click OK again. When Ventoy reports that it has been successfully installed to the device, click OK and close the Ventoy window. If you do not see your Ventoy drive, reboot your computer.

The Ventoy2Disk warning that the device will be formatted and all the data will be lost, with Cancel and OK.

Step 7: Copy your ISOs to the Ventoy drive

Open the os folder that holds your ISO files. The video has CachyOS, Clonezilla, Proxmox and Windows 11 ISOs there. Highlight them, copy them, then go to your Ventoy drive and paste the ISO files there. Wait until the ISO files have been successfully copied.

Tip: For fast speeds and more storage space, use an external NVMe storage drive. The NVMe tutorial linked below shows how to build one with an NVMe enclosure.

The file manager showing the Ventoy drive with four ISO files, cachyos, clonezilla, proxmox and Windows 11, and a message that 4 files were copied.

Step 8: Boot and test each ISO

Close the file manager and shut down your computer. Check your motherboard's documentation to see how to boot into the boot menu or the BIOS, and make sure your Ventoy drive is the first bootable device. Select the Ventoy drive and press Enter. The Ventoy menu lists CachyOS, Clonezilla, Proxmox and Windows 11. Select an ISO and boot into normal mode. In the video all four loaded successfully.

FAQ

Yes. Ventoy formats the device and all the data on it is lost, so make a backup of anything you need before you click Install.

Debian 13, which is what the video shows. Other systems are not covered here.

Click the green refresh button. If it still does not appear, open the Options menu and click Show All Devices. That list includes every drive on your computer, even your main hard drive, so make sure you select the correct drive.

On an AMD or Intel processor, run the VentoyGUI.x86_64 file. Right-click it, click Run and enter your password when asked.

Reboot your computer. In the video, that is the suggestion when the Ventoy drive does not show up after the install.

Check your motherboard's documentation to see how to boot into the boot menu or the BIOS, and make sure the Ventoy drive is the first bootable device. In the video it is number one on the list.

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Products used in this tutorial

storage

ORICO M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure (10Gbps)

ORICO USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10Gbps) M.2 NVMe SSD enclosure supporting 2230/2242/2260/2280 form factors up to 8TB, with UASP support for fast external drive performance.

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