Need to put a Linux or Raspberry Pi image on a USB stick or SD card? The free balenaEtcher does it in three steps: choose the image, select the drive, and start writing. Etcher also verifies the completed flash and warns about drives that could be erased accidentally.
How do you flash an image to a drive?
Etcher presents the process as three choices: pick an image file, choose the target USB drive or SD card, then flash it. The target step is important because flashing replaces the drive's existing contents. No separate formatting step is required; Etcher writes the image to the selected media.
The app is designed for OS images, including bootable ISO files. It can also flash from a URL, or from a file already saved on the computer. After writing, Etcher checks the result so you can see whether the flash completed successfully.
How does Etcher protect other drives?
Etcher hides system drives from the target choices by default and displays warnings around drive selection.
Can Etcher make a Windows installer?
Etcher can write an image to a USB drive, but a Windows ISO does not become a bootable Windows installer through Etcher alone. Windows images require additional preparation for that purpose.
Pros
- Three-step workflow for selecting an image, a drive, and flashing
- Verifies a flash after writing
- Hides system drives by default and warns about drive selection
- Writes OS images to USB drives and SD cards
Cons
- Windows ISO files need extra preparation to become bootable
System requirements: Windows 10, Windows 11 · 32-bit and 64-bit
Does Etcher format a USB drive before flashing?
No separate formatting is needed. Etcher writes the image to the selected drive, replacing its existing data.
Can Etcher flash an SD card?
Yes. Etcher can write OS images to SD cards as well as USB drives.
What does Etcher do after writing an image?
It verifies the completed flash to check that the write finished successfully.