balenaEtcher
balenaEtcher is an open-source system tool designed to write OS images such as ISO and IMG files to SD cards and USB drives. Its streamlined interface guides users through drive selection safely, preventing accidental overwriting of hard drives.
github.com · Official website
- ✓ Official source (winget)
- ✓ SHA256 taken from the official repository
- ✓ Last checked: Nov. 4, 2026
- This is not a virus scan. Check on VirusTotal
- Version
- 2.1.9
- Release date
- Oct. 22, 2026
- License
- Apache-2.0
- Installer type
- exe
How do I use this?
Type Terminal in the Start menu and open it, paste the command (Ctrl+V or right-click) and press Enter. It uses winget, Windows' own package manager, to install the program from its official source.
winget install --id Balena.Etcher -eSHA256 (file verification)
3fa63ea453e75c0338f8f1444b511f38decdd002e17922a910aec5e29b85b751We couldn't find a macOS version of balenaEtcher in the official repositories; check the publisher's website.
We couldn't find a Linux version of balenaEtcher in the official repositories; check the publisher's website.
We couldn't find a Android version of balenaEtcher in the official repositories; check the publisher's website.
Platform pages: Windows · macOS · Linux · Android
Old versions (10)
balenaEtcher 2.1.9: what's new?
Highlights
- Direct flashing of ISO, IMG, and zipped disk images to removable drives
- Drive selection safety guard to prevent accidental wiping of main hard drives
- Automatic data validation to confirm the integrity of the flashed drive
Who is it for?
Developers, hobbyists setting up single-board computers like Raspberry Pi, and users preparing bootable media for operating system installations.
Good to know before installing
- Does not support multiboot configurations where multiple operating systems share a single USB drive.
- Uses the Electron framework, which results in a larger package size and higher memory usage than minimal native tools.
- Provides no granular partition formatting or bootloader configuration options.
How to install
Windows
- Click the official download button on this page to get the installer.
- Launch the downloaded file and follow the standard installation prompts.
- Alternatively, run 'winget install --id Balena.Etcher -e' in your command prompt.
Alternatives
Frequently asked questions
Does balenaEtcher erase the target USB drive?
Yes, flashing a disk image completely overwrites all existing files and partitions on the selected drive.
Is balenaEtcher free to use?
Yes, balenaEtcher is completely free and licensed under the open-source Apache-2.0 license.
Why does Windows ask to format the drive after flashing?
Flashing often creates partitions or filesystems that Windows cannot natively read; you should dismiss the prompt.