How to Create a Bootable USB Drive in Ubuntu

  • Post category:Ubuntu

Creating a bootable USB drive in Ubuntu is a straightforward process that allows you to install or try out the operating system on different machines. You can achieve this using the built-in Startup Disk Creator or a third-party tool like balenaEtcher. In this guide, we will cover both methods to help you choose the one that best fits your needs.

Method 1: Using Startup Disk Creator

Step 1: Download the Ubuntu ISO

Visit the Ubuntu download page and download the desired version of the Ubuntu ISO file.

Step 2: Insert USB Drive

Plug in your USB drive. Ensure it has at least 4GB of space and back up any important data, as this process will erase the drive.

Step 3: Open Startup Disk Creator

Search for “Startup Disk Creator” in your applications menu and open it.

Step 4: Select ISO and USB Drive

  • In the Startup Disk Creator window, click on Other to select your downloaded ISO file.
  • Your USB drive should automatically be detected. If not, select it from the list.

Step 5: Create the Bootable USB

Click on Make Startup Disk. You may be prompted to enter your password. Confirm any warnings about data loss, and the process will begin. This may take several minutes.

Step 6: Completion

Once finished, you will see a confirmation message. Safely eject your USB drive.

Method 2: Using balenaEtcher

Step 1: Download balenaEtcher

Visit the balenaEtcher website and download the Linux AppImage.

Step 2: Make Etcher Executable

Open a terminal and navigate to the directory where you downloaded Etcher. Run:

chmod +x balena-etcher-electron-*.AppImage

Step 3: Run balenaEtcher

Execute the AppImage by running:

./balena-etcher-electron-*.AppImage

Step 4: Select ISO and USB Drive

In balenaEtcher, click on Flash from file to select your downloaded Ubuntu ISO. Insert your USB drive, and it should appear automatically in Etcher.

Step 5: Create Bootable USB

Click on Flash! to start creating the bootable USB drive. You may need to enter your password for administrative access.

Step 6: Completion

Wait for the process to finish, then safely eject your USB drive.

Conclusion

Both methods effectively create a bootable USB drive for Ubuntu, allowing you to install or try out the operating system on different machines. Choose the method that suits your comfort level and preferences! For more tutorials on Ubuntu and user management, check out our other articles on CodeAllow.