How to Install Etcher on Linux

Etcher also known as balenaEtcher is an open-source tool to create the 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 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, mac-OS, and Windows.

Following are some features of Etcher:

• 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.

Installation of 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. This is the official site of balenaEtcher from which we can download the Etcher zip file. 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. First, let’s see how to extract a file using GUI.  To extract the file using GUI, right-click on the Etcher zip file and click on Extract here. This will extract one folder which contains the Etcher AppImage.

Now let’s see how to extract the  Etcher zip file using 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. 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. 

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. After selecting the disk, click on the Flash! Button.

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

After completing the flashing, Etcher will start to validate the disk. This is the optional step, we can skip it.

 After completing this step, we have successfully created the bootable Pendrive.