Balena Etcher is a software utility you can easily write an ISO to USB or clone USB drives. Aside from USB Cloning, this simple and intuitive free tool can also be used to flash OS images to an SD card. Resulting in a bootable USB that can be run from any computer that supports BIOS or UEFI booting from the removable device.
Use Etcher to Clone USB or Burn an ISO to USB
Balena Etcher is an open source tool used for creating bootable USB drives or SD cards from disk images. It is designed to be user friendly and supports multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. Key Features include:
- Open Source: Is open source, allowing users to access and modify the source code.
- Multi Device Flashing: Capable of flashing multiple USB drives or SD cards simultaneously.
- Write Validation: Verifies the integrity of the written image to ensure accurate and reliable flashing.
- Visual Interface: Provides a clear and intuitive visual representation of the flashing process.
- Fast and Efficient: Is known for its speed and efficiency in writing disk images to storage devices.
- Safety Features: Implements safety measures to prevent accidental overwrites of important drives.
- Well known ISO to USB tool: Widely used for tasks such as creating bootable USB drives for operating system installations, live environments, and other disk image-related activities.
For example, use it boot from USB Live Linux distributions, antivirus utilities, or system diagnostic tools. Any bootable ISO file that will natively run from CD/DVD media can simply be imaged to a flash drive with this tool. Bootable drives you have already created can also be cloned using the same tool.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is Balena Etcher used for?
- It is a free and open source tool used to create bootable USB drives or SD cards from disk image files such as ISOs. It is commonly used for flashing operating system images to USB drives, creating live bootable environments, or cloning USB drives.
- Does Etcher work on all operating systems?
- Yes, it's compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems, making it a versatile tool for users on multiple platforms.
- Is Balena Etcher free to use?
- Yes, being open source software, and it is completely free to use.
- Can I use Etcher to clone USB drives?
- Yes, it can be used to clone bootable USB drives, which allows you to replicate a USB drive onto another one with the same disk image.
- Why did my storage space disappear after flashing an ISO to USB?
- After writing an ISO file to a USB drive, the available storage space on the flash drive will match the size of the ISO image or source you wrote to the device. Sometimes, this may make the drive appear as if it has lost storage space. However, it is possible to create another partition on the drive to recover the lost or missing USB drive space and continue using the flash drive for storage purposes. You can find guides on how to recover lost USB storage space online.
- Does Etcher verify the data after flashing?
- Yes, the tool includes a built in feature to verify the written image. This ensures the integrity and accuracy of the flashing process by checking if the written data matches the original image file.
- Can Etcher flash multiple devices at once?
- Yes, one of the standout features is its ability to flash multiple USB drives or SD cards simultaneously. This can be particularly helpful for users needing to create bootable drives for large groups or events.
- What should I do if my flash drive is not recognized after flashing?
- If your flash drive is not recognized after flashing, you can try safely removing and reinserting the drive or restarting your computer. If the issue persists, check the partition structure or formatting of the drive. It may need to be reformatted to regain functionality.
Alternative ISO to USB Tool: Win32 Disk Imager
If you find this tool useful, you might also like the win32 Disk Imager, which works similarly to make a bootable USB drive from an ISO file.
Comparison Chart:
| Feature | Etcher | Win32 Disk Imager |
|---|---|---|
| Installation Required | Yes | Yes |
| Write Verification | Yes | No |
| Compressed Image Support | No | No |
| Multi Device Flashing | Yes (Multiple USB/SD cards) | No |
| System Protection | Yes (Prevents overwriting system disk) | No |
| File Size | ~123 MB | ~12 MB |
Balena Etcher Specs | Official Page | Where to Download
- Authors Website: Project Page
- Developer: Balena
- Extracted File Size: 123 MB
- License: Open Source
- Supported Operating Systems: Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Rating: 4.5 Star
- Downloading: Get the portable version of this ISO burner here:
Balena Etcher Download
Final Thoughts
Balena Etcher stands out as a user friendly, open source tool for creating bootable USB drives and SD cards. Its intuitive interface, fast performance, and robust features like write verification and multi-device flashing make it a powerful tool for both beginners and experienced users. Additionally, its safety features ensure that you won’t accidentally overwrite critical drives, making it a reliable choice for creating OS installation media, live environments, or cloning USB drives.
While Win32 Disk Imager is a simpler tool with a smaller file size and fewer features, Etcher's multi device flashing and enhanced write verification capabilities give it an edge in terms of versatility and reliability. If you’re looking for a comprehensive and efficient tool for managing USB drives, especially when flashing multiple devices at once, this is a highly recommended solution.