MultiOS-USB 0.9.9

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MultiOS-USB is a free, open-source multi-boot utility that lets you boot multiple operating systems directly from ISO and WIM image files stored on a single USB drive - no extraction or reformatting required.

Built on GRUB 2 and distributed under the GPL-3.0 license, MultiOS-USB takes a different approach from tools like Ventoy and YUMI Multiboot USB Creator.

Instead of relying on custom boot loaders, it uses native GRUB loopback functionality to detect and boot ISO images automatically.

Just install MultiOS-USB once, copy your ISO files to the /ISOs directory, and boot from a clean GRUB menu.

Secure Boot and exFAT - No Compromises

The tool works across both BIOS and UEFI systems, including full Secure Boot support - a feature that sets it apart from many multi-boot alternatives.

On the first boot with Secure Boot enabled, you simply enroll the MultiOS-USB certificate through the firmware interface. After that, supported distributions boot without disabling security features.

MultiOS-USB supports exFAT-formatted drives, which means you are not limited by FAT32's 4GB file size restriction.

This is particularly important when working with large Windows ISOs or hefty Linux distributions that exceed 4GB.

The tool handles ISO, WIM, IMG, VHD, and EFI files, covering everything from standard Linux live environments to Windows PE recovery images.

Version 0.9.9 - the latest release - improves logging and message display, fixes an update error on Linux filesystems, and adds write permissions without requiring administrative privileges.

Earlier updates added Secure Boot fixes for Memtest86+, new Fedora UEFI certificates, and expanded support for distributions including ShredOS, GParted Live, and Hiren's BootCD PE.

Broad OS Support with Custom Configuration

The list of tested and supported operating systems is extensive. Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, Arch Linux, openSUSE, Linux Mint, Kali Linux, Manjaro, Pop!_OS, and dozens more work out of the box.

For distributions without native GRUB loopback support, MultiOS-USB provides custom configuration files that handle the boot process. You can also create your own configuration files in the /config_priv directory for unsupported ISOs - these survive automatic updates.

Installation runs entirely from the Linux command line. After downloading the latest release, run the shell script with your target USB device as the argument. SparkyLinux users can install directly from the package repository, and NixOS users can run it via Nix flakes without permanent installation.

Companion Tools for Your USB Toolkit

For IT technicians building diagnostic and recovery toolkits, MultiOS-USB pairs well with other bootable media tools. If you need single-ISO USB creation for quick Windows installs, Rufus handles that in under five minutes.

For cross-platform image flashing with verification, balenaEtcher is a solid choice. If you work with disc images beyond USB scenarios, UltraISO and PowerISO cover ISO editing, conversion, and virtual mounting.

Network administrators who need to deploy operating systems across multiple machines simultaneously should also consider iVentoy, which extends the copy-and-boot philosophy to PXE network deployment.

And for creating portable Windows installations that run directly from external drives, WinToUSB handles that workflow.

If you are setting up dual-boot environments after testing distributions from your MultiOS-USB drive, check out the How to Dual Boot Windows and Linux on the Same SSD guide.

And for step-by-step instructions on creating single-boot Ubuntu media, the How to Create a Bootable Ubuntu USB Drive with Rufus tutorial walks through the entire process.

Lightweight, No Background Services

MultiOS-USB runs on Linux only (the installation script requires a Linux environment), supports x86 and x86_64 architectures, and works with USB, SSD, NVMe, MMC, loop, NBD, and virtual disk devices.

The tool has no background services and no persistent daemons - it modifies the USB drive during installation and then stays out of your way entirely.