Frequently asked questions

Q: Is the image a perfect copy?

A rip is a sector-by-sector .img of the stick, with a SHA-256 of the file. It is the stick as a block device, not a copy of the files in Finder or File Explorer.

Q: Does the command line do the same jobs?

Yes. yoink list, yoink rip and yoink clean use the same engine as the app. The Windows 11 installer is yoink win11.

Last updated: 25 October 2026

Does Yoink need an account?

No. A support message uses the email address you type. That is the only place your address is sent.

Is the image a perfect copy?

A rip is a sector-by-sector .img of the stick, with a SHA-256 of the file. It is the stick as a block device, not a copy of the files in Finder or File Explorer.

Will Yoink erase my internal disk?

No. It refuses anything that is not a removable USB or SD drive, and it checks again immediately before a wipe.

Is this Stillwater?

No. Stillwater backs up and restores the PC's hard drive. Its USB stick only starts a machine that will not boot, so Stillwater can reach that drive from outside Windows. Yoink is the USB and SD tool. It rips a stick to an image, wipes it, or makes it a Windows 11 installer. It stays on removable drives.

Does the command line do the same jobs?

Yes. yoink list, yoink rip and yoink clean use the same engine as the app. The Windows 11 installer is yoink win11.

Still stuck? In the app, use Help → Contact support, or open a ticket here.