How to Install Etcher on Linux

Etcher also known as balenaEtcher is an open-source tool to create bootable pen drives, and SD cards by using the ISO images of the operating systems. This tool is developed by Balena. Etcher has a very simple user interface and provides a 4-step  process to create a bootable pen drive, and it is easy to use. Etcher is one of the most popular tools to create bootable pen drives and SD cards. It is available for operating systems like Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Here, we will explore how to install and use Etcher on Linux to create a bootable pen drive or SD card.

Key features of Etcher

Here are some notable features that make Etcher stand out:

• Validate the disk after flashing.
• Provide a simple and Beautiful User-Interface.
• Support for multiple operating systems like Windows, Linux, and mac-OS.
• Take less time to create bootable pen drives and sdcards.

Steps to Install Etcher on Linux

Now let's see how to install and use the Etcher tool on Linux.

Step 1: Downloading Etcher on Linux

To install the Etcher, we have to download the Etcher from its official site. The website will automatically detect the Linux operating system, and it will show the option Download for Linux x64.

Click on the Download for Linux x64 button to download the Etcher zip file. Now we have downloaded the Etcher.

Step 2: Extraction of Etcher AppImage from zip file

We have downloaded the zip file containing Etcher AppImage file. So first we have to extract this AppImage from the zip file. We can do this task by using the GUI and CLI.

Extracting with GUI:

• Right-click on the downloaded '.zip' file.
• Select Extract Here from the context menu.
• The extraction will create a folder that contains the Etcher AppImage.

Extracting with CLI:

• First go to the directory where the zip file is downloaded using cd command. In this tutorial, we have downloaded file in Downloads folder.

cd Downloads

• Then to extract the zip file use the unzip command with filename of Etcher zip file.

unzip balena-etcher-electron-1.7.9-linux-x64.zip 

• After executing the above commands, we will see the AppImage of Etcher.

Step 3: Running the Etcher

Now we have to run the Etcher. To run the Etcher AppImage, first select the AppImage and right-click on it. And the go-to properties. Then go to permissions.

Right-Click -> Properties -> Permissions

Then check the box Allow executing file as program.

Now just double-click on the AppImage to run the Etcher. We will see the following window.

Step 4: Using the Etcher to create a bootable pen drive

We have successfully installed the Etcher on system now let's see how to use it.

1. Select the ISO File: First, select the ISO file from the local file or from the URL. In this article, We will select a file from a local file by selecting the option Flash from file. 

2. Select the Target Drive: Now select the pen-drive or SD card where we have to flash the ISO file, select the target by using Select target option.

Carefully select the target pen drive. This will be going to erase all data on a pen drive, and it will be in an unusable state.

3. Start Flashing: After selecting the disk, click on the Flash! Button to begin the flashing process. The flashing process will take a few minutes depending on the size of the image and the speed of your USB drive.

This will start the flashing process. We can see the following window.

4. Validate the Flash: After flashing, Etcher will automatically validate the integrity of the bootable drive. This step ensures that there were no errors during the flashing process. You can choose to skip this step, but it’s recommended to let Etcher validate the disk for peace of mind.

5. Completion: Once validation is complete, you will receive a notification indicating that the bootable drive has been created successfully. You can now safely eject the pen drive or SD card.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve covered how to install and use Etcher on Linux to create bootable pen drives and SD cards. With its clean interface, fast flashing capabilities, and disk validation feature, Etcher is an excellent tool for users who frequently need to create bootable media. Etcher makes the process simple and reliable whether you’re installing a new operating system or testing different Linux distributions.

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Article Tags :

• Linux-Unix
• How To
• Installation Guide
• how-to-install