When installing a new operating system on a computer, one of the most reliable methods is creating a bootable USB flash drive. One of the simplest and most user‑friendly tools for this task is Etcher, also known as balenaEtcher. It is popular among Windows, macOS, and Linux users because it provides a clean interface, fast performance, strong verification, and beginner‑friendly controls.
In this guide, you’ll learn what Etcher is, how it works, and how to flash a USB drive step‑by‑step.
What Is Etcher?
Etcher is an open‑source program created by Balena that allows users to:
- Flash ISO or image files to USB drives
- Create bootable SD cards
- Install OS images for Linux, Windows, macOS, Raspberry Pi, and other platforms
- Verify that the flash was successful
The software is lightweight, does not require advanced configuration, and can be downloaded free from Balena.
Why Use Etcher?
Etcher is widely used because it:
✔ Has a clean, easy interface
✔ Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux
✔ Supports ISO, IMG, ZIP, and disk image files
✔ Prevents mistakenly flashing your internal hard drive
✔ Verifies the flash automatically
✔ Is free and open‑source
Unlike more complex tools, Etcher is designed for both beginners and professional system administrators.
What You Need
Before you start flashing a USB drive with Etcher, you will need:
- A USB flash drive (4GB or larger recommended)
- The OS image (ISO or IMG file)
- Etcher installed on your computer
- A system capable of booting from USB
How to Flash a Drive Using Etcher
Follow these steps to flash a USB drive:
Step 1: Download Etcher
Go to the official Balena website and download Etcher for your system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
Step 2: Install and Open Etcher
Run the installer and launch the application.
Step 3: Select the OS Image
Click “Flash from file” and choose the ISO or IMG file you want to install:
Examples:
- Windows ISO
- Ubuntu or Linux distro
- Raspberry Pi OS
- System recovery tools
Step 4: Choose Your USB Drive
Click “Select target” and choose the flash drive you want to write to.
Etcher will filter out system drives to avoid accidental formatting.
Step 5: Click “Flash”
Etcher writes the image to the drive and then automatically verifies that the data is correct.
Step 6: Eject and Install
Remove the USB drive, insert it into the target computer, reboot, and select boot from USB in the BIOS/UEFI menu.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Drive Not Detected
- Try a different USB port
- Reinsert the flash drive
- Restart Etcher
Flash Fails
- Format the USB drive and try again
- Re‑download the ISO (corrupted images can fail)
- Run Etcher as Administrator (Windows)
Computer Does Not Boot From USB
- Enter BIOS and set USB as the first boot device
- Disable Secure Boot if needed
- Try another USB port (2.0 vs 3.0)
Is Etcher Safe?
Yes — Etcher is considered safe because:
- It is open‑source
- It includes drive protection to avoid overwriting your system disk
- It includes built‑in verification to confirm a successful flash
Always download Etcher from the official Balena website to avoid malware‑modified versions.
Final Thoughts
Etcher remains one of the top tools for flashing OS images to USB drives because it is:
✔ Fast
✔ Reliable
✔ Secure
✔ Beginner‑friendly
✔ Cross‑platform
Whether you are installing Windows or Linux, repairing a system, testing a Raspberry Pi build, or deploying multiple machines, Etcher gives you a quick and dependable way to create bootable flash drives.