Flash Raspberry Pi OS
What You'll Need
- A Raspberry Pi board
- A microSD card, 8GB or larger (16GB+ recommended)
- A computer with an SD card slot or a USB card reader
Step 1: Download Raspberry Pi Imager
Download Raspberry Pi Imager from the official Raspberry Pi software page for Windows, macOS, or Linux, then install and open it.
Step 2: Choose Your OS
Click Choose Device and select your Pi model, then click Choose OS.
64-bit Desktop vs Lite
- Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit) — includes a full desktop environment. Pick this if you want to connect a monitor and use the Pi like a regular desktop computer, or if you're new to Linux and want a GUI to fall back on.
- Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit) — no desktop, boots straight to a command line. Pick this for headless projects (servers, sensors, GPIO projects controlled entirely over SSH) — it uses less storage and fewer resources.
Both are found under Raspberry Pi OS (other) in the OS list if not shown at the top level.
Step 3: Configure Advanced Options
Before writing, click the gear/settings icon (⚙️) in the bottom-right corner to open advanced options. This lets you preconfigure the Pi so it's ready to use headless on first boot — you won't need a monitor or keyboard at all:
- Set hostname — e.g.
mypi.local(used later to find the Pi on your network) - Enable SSH — choose "Use password authentication" (simplest) or "Allow public-key authentication only" if you already have an SSH key pair
- Set username and password — pick a custom username and password here. Raspberry Pi OS no longer ships a default
pi/raspberrylogin for security reasons — whatever you set here is the only account that will exist - Configure wireless LAN — enter your WiFi SSID and password so the Pi connects automatically on boot
- Set locale settings — timezone and keyboard layout
Click Save, then confirm.
Step 4: Write the Image
- Click Choose Storage and select your microSD card — double-check you've picked the right device, since Imager will erase it completely.
- Click Next, then confirm you want to apply the customized settings from Step 3.
- Imager will download the OS image (if needed), write it, and verify it. This can take several minutes depending on your internet connection and card speed.
Step 5: Safely Eject
Once Imager reports the write is complete, safely eject the microSD card from your computer before removing it.
Next: First Boot
➡️ Continue to First Boot & SSH
