Raspberry Pi Imager is a cross-platform application designed to simplify the process of preparing bootable media for Raspberry Pi devices.
It offers an intuitive graphical interface alongside a command-line mode, enabling users to download, select, and write operating system images in just a few steps. The tool also supports advanced pre-configuration options such as setting up WiFi, enabling SSH, and defining system parameters before first boot, making it especially useful for headless deployments and automated setups.
The Raspberry Pi Imager is a capable cross-platform image writing tool. Pi Imager isn’t just for the Pi, as it offers the ability to choose a custom image file. This can be missed as it’s right at the bottom in the Operating system list.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Official Raspberry Pi imaging tool for writing OS images to SD cards and USB drives.
- Graphical interface with optional command-line mode for scripted usage.
- Downloads and installs Raspberry Pi OS and third-party operating systems directly.
- Pre-boot configuration including WiFi, SSH, hostname, locale, and user settings.
- Supports custom image files alongside curated OS selections.
- Verification of written images to detect corruption and ensure reliability.
- Cross-platform support for Linux, macOS, and Windows systems.
- Custom repository support for loading alternative OS image sources.
Website: github.com/raspberrypi/rpi-imager
Support:
Developer: Raspberry Pi Foundation
License: Apache License 2.0
Raspberry Pi Imager is written in C. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| Flash OS Images | |
|---|---|
| Ventoy | Create bootable USB drive for ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI files |
| USBWriter | Cross-platform disk image writer |
| Etcher | Image burner with multi-platform support |
| UNetbootin | Create bootable Live USB drives for Ubuntu and other distros |
| Raspberry Pi Imager | Create bootable media. Not only useful for the Raspberry Pi |
| Imagewriter | Write RAW images and ISO images to USB keys |
| Impression | Create bootable drives |
| MultiBootUSB | Create multi boot live Linux on a removable USB disk |
| dd | Convert and copy files |
| GNOME Disks | View, modify and configure disks and media |
| MultiWriter | Write an ISO file to multiple USB devices at once |
| JustDD | USB image writer |
| MajUSB | USB bootable drive creator with a GTK4 GUI |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
 Explore our comprehensive directory of recommended free and open source software. Our carefully curated collection spans every major software category.This directory is part of our ongoing series of informative articles for Linux enthusiasts. It features hundreds of detailed reviews, along with open source alternatives to proprietary solutions from major corporations such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. You’ll also find interesting projects to try, hardware coverage, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. Discovered a useful open source Linux program that we haven’t covered yet? Let us know by completing this form. |
You should update your screenshot. There are new versions 2.x that came our sometime ago already………………………………………
Email me a screenshot if you want.
LinuxLinks is a small community project. I don’t have the resources to update every image every time a project produces a new version. I reused an image from my hardware series.
I doubt an image of a new version for this program is really going to offer any extra insight in any event.