Mirror on FossHub (official mirror for older Rufus versions):
Rufus versions newer than 2.5 no longer support Windows XP. Version 2.5 is the last stable release that runs on Windows XP and can create bootable USB drives for Windows XP. rufus 2.5 download windows xp
Rufus 2.5: The Definitive Guide for Windows XP Bootable USBs Mirror on FossHub (official mirror for older Rufus
The short answer is that Rufus 2.18 is actually the final version to officially support Windows XP. While Rufus 2.5 is compatible, going with 2.18 gives you the most stable "end-of-life" experience for that platform. rufus 2.5 download windows xp
If you are using to create a USB drive for an XP machine: