Creating a Bootable USB with balenaEtcher

BalenaEtcher is a straightforward and user-friendly tool for flashing operating system images onto USB drives and SD cards. It’s especially handy for creating bootable USB drives with Linux, Windows, macOS, and other OS distributions. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to create a bootable USB using balenaEtcher.

What You’ll Need

• A downloaded operating system image (ISO, IMG, or ZIP format)
• A USB drive (preferably 8GB or larger)
• Installed balenaEtcher application

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Bootable USB

Step 1: Install and Open balenaEtcher

Download the latest version of balenaEtcher from the official website and install it following the prompts. After installation, open the program – the interface is clean and easy to navigate.

Step 2: Select the Operating System Image

In the main window, click on Select Image and choose the downloaded operating system image. Ensure the file is correct and from a trusted source.

Step 3: Connect Your USB Drive

Insert your USB drive into the computer. balenaEtcher will automatically detect it, and in the Select Target section, you can confirm that the correct drive is selected.

Step 4: Flash the Image to the USB Drive

Once both the image and the USB drive are selected, click on Flash!. The program will begin writing the image to the USB drive. Do not remove the drive or close the program during this process.

Step 5: Wait for the Flashing Process to Finish

After writing the image, balenaEtcher will verify the data on the USB drive to ensure accuracy. This step confirms that the USB is correctly prepared and ready for booting. Once finished, you’ll see a success message.

Testing the Bootable USB Drive

To check if the USB drive is functioning, restart your computer and select the USB drive as the boot device in your BIOS/UEFI. If everything was successful, your system will boot from the USB drive.