Flashing a Custom Raspberry Pi OS Image with Win32DiskImager and Etcher

A step-by-step guide for installing a custom Raspberry Pi OS image file using Win32DiskImager and Etcher. …


Updated October 24, 2023

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A step-by-step guide for installing a custom Raspberry Pi OS image file using Win32DiskImager and Etcher.

Raspberry Pi offers several pre-built operating system images to choose from, but if you want more control over your device’s configuration or need to create a customized image, you can flash an .img file onto the SD card using Win32DiskImager and Etcher. In this guide, we’ll walk through the process of preparing your Raspberry Pi SD card for a custom OS image, downloading the .img file, and installing it using both Win32DiskImager and Etcher.

Prerequisites

  • A Windows, macOS, or Linux computer with an SD card reader or USB port available for writing the image file
  • A Raspberry Pi SD card (4GB minimum) formatted as FAT32 or another compatible filesystem
  • A custom Raspberry Pi OS .img file
  • Win32DiskImager (Windows only) or Etcher, an open source tool for flashing SD cards and USB drives

Step 1: Prepare the SD Card

Insert your Raspberry Pi SD card into a card reader connected to your computer. Open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (macOS) and verify that the SD card is recognized by your system. Once you’ve located the drive, eject it safely to prevent data loss during the formatting process.

Next, format the SD card as FAT32 using the Disk Management tool in Windows or the Disk Utility app in macOS. Follow these steps:

  • Windows: Right-click on the SD card in File Explorer and select “Format”
    • Select “FAT32” from the list of available filesystems and click “Start” to begin formatting
  • macOS: Open Disk Utility, select your SD card in the sidebar, and click “Erase”
    • Choose “MS-DOS (FAT)” as the format and name the volume before clicking “Erase”

Step 2: Download the Custom Image File

You can download custom Raspberry Pi OS images from various sources, including personal websites or GitHub repositories. Make sure to choose an image that is compatible with your Raspberry Pi model and hardware configuration.

Once you’ve found a suitable .img file, save it to your computer for later use.

Step 3: Flash the Image File Using Win32DiskImager (Windows Only)

Win32DiskImager is a popular tool for writing image files to SD cards on Windows systems. To install an image using this method, follow these steps:

  • Download and install Win32DiskImager from the official website: https://sourceforge.net/projects/win32diskimager/
  • Run Win32DiskImager as an administrator by right-clicking on the program icon and selecting “Run as Administrator”
  • Select your Raspberry Pi SD card in the “Device” dropdown menu
  • Click “Open” to browse for your custom .img file and select it
  • Review the disk information to ensure you’ve chosen the correct drive, then click “Write” to begin flashing the image
  • Wait while Win32DiskImager writes the image to the SD card (this may take several minutes)

Step 4: Flash the Image File Using Etcher

Etcher is a cross-platform tool for writing image files to SD cards and USB drives. To install an image using this method, follow these steps:

  • Download and install Etcher from the official website: https://www.balena.io/etcher/
  • Launch Etcher and select your custom .img file by clicking “Select image” or dragging it onto the main window
  • Select your Raspberry Pi SD card in the “Target” dropdown menu
  • Click “Flash!” to begin writing the image to the SD card (this may take several minutes)
  • Once the process is complete, safely eject the SD card and insert it into your Raspberry Pi device

Conclusion

Now you can boot up your Raspberry Pi with the custom OS installed on the SD card. Remember that flashing an image file will overwrite any existing data on the SD card, so make sure to back up important files before proceeding.