Raspberry Pi — SBC
Flashing Raspberry Pi OS
Use the official Raspberry Pi Imager to flash Raspberry Pi OS onto a microSD card. This is the fastest and most reliable method on any operating system.
What You Need
- A microSD card (16 GB minimum, 32 GB recommended, Class 10 / A2 rated)
- A microSD card reader connected to your computer
- A stable internet connection
Step 1 — Download Raspberry Pi Imager
Download the Imager for your OS from the official site:
| OS | File type |
|---|---|
| Windows | .exe installer |
| Ubuntu / Debian | .deb package |
| macOS | .dmg disk image |
Ubuntu installation:
# Download and install the .deb package
sudo apt install -y wget
wget https://downloads.raspberrypi.org/imager/imager_latest_amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i imager_latest_amd64.deb
macOS installation:
brew install --cask raspberry-pi-imager
Step 2 — Open Raspberry Pi Imager
Launch the Imager application. You'll see three selection buttons:
- Choose Device → Select your Raspberry Pi model
- Choose OS → Select the operating system
- Choose Storage → Select your microSD card
Step 3 — Choose Your Device
Click "Choose Device" and select your Raspberry Pi model:
- Raspberry Pi 5
- Raspberry Pi 4
Step 4 — Choose the OS
Click "Choose OS" and select:
For headless / workshop use (recommended):
Raspberry Pi OS (other) → Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit)
For desktop use:
Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit)
For Ubuntu Server:
Other general-purpose OS → Ubuntu → Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS (64-bit)
Step 5 — Configure OS Settings (CRITICAL)
Do not skip this step!
Before writing, click "Next". Imager will ask "Would you like to apply OS customisation settings?" — click "Edit Settings". This is where you configure Wi-Fi, SSH, and your username before first boot. If you skip this, you'll have no way to log in on a headless setup.
In the "OS Customisation" dialog:
General Tab
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Set hostname | raspberrypi (or a unique name like analog-pi) |
| Set username | Your preferred username (e.g., analog) |
| Set password | A strong password |
| Configure wireless LAN | Enter your Wi-Fi SSID and password |
| Wireless LAN country | Set to your country code (e.g., IN for India, US, GB) |
| Set locale | Your timezone and keyboard layout |
Services Tab
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Enable SSH | ✅ Checked |
| Authentication | Use password authentication |
Click "Save" when done.
Step 6 — Choose Storage and Write
- Click "Choose Storage" and select your microSD card
All data on the card will be erased!
Double-check that you've selected the correct storage device. The Imager will erase all existing data on the selected card.
- Click "Next" → "Yes" to confirm
- The Imager will download the OS (if not cached) and write it to the card
- Writing takes 5–15 minutes depending on your internet speed and card speed
- The Imager will verify the write and show "Write Successful"
Step 7 — Eject and Insert into Pi
- Click "Continue" and eject the microSD card safely
- Insert the microSD card into your Raspberry Pi's card slot (bottom of the board)
- Connect Ethernet (if using wired connection)
- Connect power — the Pi will boot automatically
First boot takes 1–3 minutes while the Pi expands the filesystem and applies your custom settings.
What's Next?
Your Pi is now booting. Continue with: