Create a bootable elementary OS USB drive on Windows and macOS
Installing elementary OS from a USB stick is a practical way to test the desktop, replace an existing operating system, or revive an older computer. The process is similar whether the USB is prepared on Windows 11 or macOS, but the tools and boot menus differ slightly between platforms.
You will need a compatible computer, a reliable USB drive, and the elementary OS ISO image. A 4 GB drive may be enough for some releases, but an 8 GB or larger drive is a safer choice. The creation process will erase everything on the USB, so copy personal files elsewhere first. For someone downloading over an NBN connection in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, or another Australian city, the ISO should be straightforward to obtain, although a mobile hotspot may require more care with data allowances.
What you need before starting
First, check the computer on which elementary OS will run. Most standard desktops and laptops with an Intel or AMD 64-bit processor are suitable. Very old hardware may have limited memory, storage, or graphics support, while some newer devices use unusual firmware or storage controllers. If you plan to install alongside Windows, back up important documents and confirm that you have a licence or recovery method for the existing system.
Choose a USB drive with enough capacity and, ideally, reasonable write speed. Drives sold at Australian retailers such as Officeworks, JB Hi-Fi, and major supermarkets vary considerably in quality, even when their capacities look identical. A basic 16 GB USB 3 drive is generally a sensible purchase for installation media. Avoid using a drive that contains irreplaceable photos, tax records, or work files because formatting it removes its contents.
Keep the laptop connected to power while creating and using the installer. The ISO download can be several gigabytes, so downloading over home broadband is preferable to relying on prepaid mobile data. If you are preparing a computer for a family member or workplace, remember that software and media should be obtained from legitimate sources. Australia’s Copyright Act 1968 applies to copied material, so use the official elementary OS download and only reuse the USB for files you are permitted to copy.
Download and verify the elementary OS image
Visit the official elementary OS website and download the current 64-bit ISO. The download page may present a pay-what-you-want option. Entering zero is normally available, although contributing helps fund development. Save the file somewhere easy to find, such as the Downloads folder, and do not open or extract the ISO. It is a complete disc image that must be written to the USB as an image.
A checksum is useful when the download took a long time, was interrupted, or came from a connection with occasional dropouts. The checksum published by elementary OS allows you to compare the expected digital fingerprint with the file on your computer. A matching value indicates that the file is very likely unchanged and complete; it does not replace downloading from a trusted source.
On Windows, open PowerShell in the folder containing the ISO and run:
Get-FileHash .\elementaryos.iso -Algorithm SHA256
Replace elementaryos.iso with the actual filename. On macOS, open Terminal and run:
shasum -a 256 ~/Downloads/elementaryos.iso
Compare the displayed SHA-256 value with the checksum provided by elementary OS. A mismatch usually means the wrong file was selected, the download is incomplete, or the published checksum belongs to a different release. Do not write a mismatched image to the USB.
Write the installer from Windows
Rufus is a widely used Windows utility for creating bootable USB drives. Download it from the official Rufus website, insert the USB stick, and close File Explorer windows that may be using it. Rufus will show the connected drive under “Device”. Check the capacity and drive name carefully before proceeding, especially if several external drives are attached.
Select the elementary OS ISO as the boot selection. Rufus usually chooses suitable defaults, but a modern computer will commonly use GPT partitioning and UEFI firmware. An older machine may need MBR and legacy BIOS compatibility. If you are uncertain, start with the defaults and consult the computer manufacturer’s boot documentation if the USB does not appear later.
When Rufus warns that all data on the device will be destroyed, read the target drive name again. Confirm only when you are certain it is the intended USB. If Rufus asks whether to write the image in ISO mode or DD mode, ISO mode is often a good first choice for a Linux installer. DD mode can help when a machine refuses to boot an otherwise correctly created drive, though it gives Windows fewer opportunities to inspect the USB normally afterwards.
The following comparison summarises common choices:
| Preparation method | Best for | Main advantage | Important caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rufus on Windows | Windows laptops and desktops | Detailed control over UEFI, GPT, and image-writing options | The selected USB is completely erased |
| balenaEtcher on Windows | Beginners who want a simple workflow | Clear three-step interface | Fewer low-level configuration choices |
| balenaEtcher on macOS | Intel or Apple Silicon Macs preparing media for a PC | Works with downloaded ISO files and verifies writing | macOS may request permission to access removable media |
| Disks or command-line tools | Experienced Linux and macOS users | Direct control and no extra graphical utility | Selecting the wrong disk can destroy another drive |
balenaEtcher is another straightforward Windows option. Choose the ISO, choose the USB, and select “Flash”. Its confirmation screens reduce the chance of selecting the wrong drive, but you should still verify the device name and size. Let the verification stage finish before ejecting the USB. Removing it while the program is still writing can produce an installer that starts but fails during installation.
Write the installer from macOS
On macOS, balenaEtcher is usually the simplest choice. Install it from the developer’s official source, open the application, and allow removable-media access if macOS requests it. Select the elementary OS ISO, choose the USB stick, and begin flashing. The application normally verifies the written data, which can take several minutes after the progress bar appears to finish.
The USB may disappear from Finder or trigger a message saying that macOS cannot read the disk. That is not necessarily an error. A Linux installer uses partitions and file systems that macOS may not understand. Do not initialise or format the drive when macOS offers to do so; doing that could overwrite the bootable image. Quit the warning and eject the USB from Etcher or Finder when writing and verification have completed.
Advanced users can use Terminal, but the command-line method carries a greater risk of erasing the wrong disk. To identify the USB, run:
diskutil list
Note the identifier for the external drive, such as /dev/disk4. Unmount it without ejecting it:
diskutil unmountDisk /dev/disk4
Then write the image with dd, using the raw device and a suitably larger block size:
sudo dd if=~/Downloads/elementaryos.iso of=/dev/rdisk4 bs=4m status=progress
Replace /dev/rdisk4 with the correct identifier. On some macOS versions, status=progress may not work; the command can still be running even when no progress is shown. After it finishes, run:
diskutil eject /dev/disk4
Never copy these commands blindly. The of= destination is the entire USB device, not a partition, and a mistake can destroy the contents of an internal or external drive. For most people, Etcher provides a safer balance between speed and simplicity.
Boot from the USB and troubleshoot problems
Insert the finished USB into the computer where elementary OS will be tested or installed, then restart it. Open the one-time boot menu rather than immediately changing the permanent boot order. Common keys include F12, F9, F11, Escape, and Option on some Apple keyboards, but the exact key varies by manufacturer. A message on screen may briefly identify the correct key.
Select an entry labelled “UEFI” followed by the USB’s name when both UEFI and legacy options appear. The elementary OS boot screen should offer a way to try the system before installation. This live environment is useful for checking Wi-Fi, sound, display scaling, touchpads, Bluetooth, and external monitors. It also lets you copy files from the internal disk before making any changes, although backup data should be stored somewhere separate from the computer being repaired.
If the USB is missing from the boot menu, try another port, preferably a direct port on the computer rather than a hub. Recreate the drive with Etcher or Rufus, and confirm that the ISO checksum matched. Some firmware hides removable media while Fast Boot is enabled. Temporarily disabling Fast Boot may help, while Secure Boot settings can vary by model and release. Change firmware options carefully and record their original values.
A black screen or frozen logo can result from graphics compatibility rather than a bad USB. Try the alternative or safe graphics option if the boot menu provides one. Disconnecting unnecessary accessories can also help. On a desktop assembled from retail parts, updating motherboard firmware may resolve boot problems, but firmware updates should be performed only with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Once the live session works, choose the installer and follow the storage prompts slowly. “Erase disk” removes the existing operating system, while manual partitioning is intended for experienced users. If Windows remains installed, suspend BitLocker and keep a verified backup before changing partitions. Select Australia as the region, use an Australian keyboard layout if that matches your physical keys, and choose the correct local time zone. Melbourne and Sydney observe daylight saving, while Brisbane does not, so selecting the nearest Australian city matters for accurate clock changes.
After installation, remove the USB when the computer restarts, or choose the internal drive from the boot menu. The USB can then be reformatted for ordinary storage, but check that you no longer need it as recovery media. It might later carry documents, installation files, or legal personal media; for example, someone preparing a home media library could use it to transfer wedding music ideas after confirming that the files are lawfully obtained.
The essential points are simple: download the correct elementary OS ISO, verify it when possible, write it with a trusted imaging tool, and double-check the target USB before erasing it. Boot through the computer’s UEFI menu, test hardware in the live session, and treat storage choices during installation as permanent until a backup proves otherwise.
