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How to Write an ISO Image File to USB Flash With Etcher
Need to install an operating from USB or flash storage? You'll need to copy its ISO image file to the media first.
While some operating systems have this feature built-in, it's not always easy to use—which is where Balena Etcher comes in. This handy, free ISO-burning tool works with multiple operating systems and is super simple to use.
Balena Etcher Is a Free Tool to Write an ISO to USB or SD Flash
Developed by Balena, Etcher is available free for macOS, Windows (installed and portable), and Linux (32-bit and 64-bit AppImage).
Download: Etcher (Free)
Simply click the Download button. The website will detect your operating system and ensure the right version downloads.
On Windows and macOS, you'll need to install Etcher. Linux users with a system that accepts AppImage files can double-click the downloaded file to run Etcher.
Flash an ISO File to USB or SD Flash With Etcher
To create a bootable USB stick or SD card from an ISO file that you have downloaded to your computer:
- Connect the USB stick or insert the SD card into the card reader.
- Launch Etcher, then select Flash from file.
- Browse your computer for the downloaded ISO file, then, with the file selected, click OK.
- Next, click Select target, then find the USB or SD card you want to use.
- Click OK followed by Flash.
Etcher will proceed to write the ISO file to the selected media. Wait while this is complete, as there will also be a verification stage.
The app will inform you when the process completes. Only then should you eject the USB stick or SD card.
How to Write an ISO File to USB from the Internet With Etcher
Sometimes, you won’t have the ISO file on your computer. Instead, it will be available as a downloadable file.
Rather than download it to your computer first, you can instruct Etcher to grab the file directly from the internet and write to your USB or SD card.
Open your browser on the web page that provides the ISO file’s URL.
- Connect a USB stick or insert an SD card into the card reader.
- Launch Etcher, then click Flash from URL.
- Now, copy the file URL into the Enter valid URL field
- If credentials are required, click Authentication, enter a username and password, and click OK.
- Click Select target, then browse for the USB or SD card you're using.
- Click OK, then Flash.
Don't attempt to eject the USB or SD flash media until the process is complete.
Clone a Flash Drive With Etcher for an Easy Backup
In addition to writing ISO files with Etcher, you can create them, too. This has various uses, from creating a disk image of your PC’s SSD to backing up a USB flash drive. You could even use Etcher’s clone feature to back up a Raspberry Pi’s SD card.
Begin by ensuring the drive you’re writing to has the capacity to hold the contents of the source drive. Also, check that both devices are connected to your computer. Then:
- Launch Etcher and select Clone drive.
- Click the source drive radio button, then Select.
- Click Select target and choose the target USB or SD card you're using.
- Click OK, then Flash.
Wait for the process to complete. If you intend to clone an internal SSD, this might take a while, so patience is vital here. When the process is complete, the target drive will have a complete clone of the source drive. This can be used to restore the disk in the event of failure, for example.
A Look at Etcher's Settings Screen
In addition to the three main ISO-creation features, Etcher has a couple of extra settings. These are accessed by hitting the cog in the top-right corner of the app window.
The first of these settings is a privacy option. You can disable this, but Etcher is set to Anonymously report errors and usage statistics to balena.io by default.
The other setting is for updates. It’s worth setting Auto-updates enabled to on, as this ensures the app is kept up-to-date, protecting you from bugs or vulnerabilities that might be exploited in the app.
What Is the Best Way to Write an ISO to USB?
All operating systems have their own methods for writing an ISO or IMG disk image to USB or SD flash cards. For example, Linux, macOS, and Windows installations can be converted into a disk image. This can then be used as a backup, ready to image one or more new computers.
Meanwhile, you can use the dd command to write data to a USB stick in Linux and macOS. To many users, the dd command is the pinnacle of writing a disk image to USB or other flash storage.
But if you use Windows or simply don't want to mess around in the terminal, there's a great piece of software called Etcher.
This is a desktop app that allows easy, intuitive, mouse-controlled creation of a bootable USB or SD card with an ISO or IMG file. It's also available for all desktop operating systems. Whatever method you choose for writing data to USB or SD flash, knowing how to use Etcher can save you time.
