How to create Ubuntu install USB
If you’ve ever wanted to install Ubuntu Linux but can’t figure out how to create an Ubuntu install USB, this guide is for you. Follow along as we go over the easiest ways to create an Ubuntu install USB.
Create Ubuntu install USB – Etcher (Linux, Mac OS, and Windows)
The number one way to create a Ubuntu install USB is with the Etcher tool. Why? It is a cross-platform application. It has a simple interface, and that simple interface carries over to Mac, Windows, and Linux. No matter what you use, the instructions are the same.
After downloading Etcher for your operating system, install it and open it up. When the app is open, follow the step-by-step instructions below to create an Ubuntu install USB.
Step 1: Head over to the Ubuntu.com official website. Once on the Ubuntu.com website, take a look at the navigation bar on the page. Look for the “Download” button on the navigation bar and select it with the mouse.
Step 2: After selecting the “Download” button on the navigation bar on Ubuntu.com, a download page will appear. On this download page, locate the “Ubuntu Desktop” section.
In the “Ubuntu Desktop” section, two download options are available. Ubuntu 20.04 LTS and Ubuntu 20.10. If you prefer stability and long-term reliability, select the “20.04 LTS” option. Alternatively, if you like things to be as new as possible, click on the “20.10” option.
Step 3: Once you click the download option for either 20.04 or 20.10 LTS, your browser will begin downloading an Ubuntu ISO image file. This ISO image file contains everything needed to install Ubuntu. Be patient and allow it to download.
Step 4: When the Ubuntu ISO file is done downloading, open the Etcher application. Then, look inside the Etcher application for the “Flash from file” button, and click on it with the mouse.
When you click on the “Flash from file” button, a pop-up window will appear on the screen. Using the pop-up window, browse for the Ubuntu ISO file you downloaded to your computer from Ubuntu.com, and select it.
Step 5: When the Ubuntu ISO file is loaded into Etcher, plug in your USB flash drive into the USB port. Then, find the “Select target” button, and click on it.
Using the Etcher UI, select your USB flash drive. By selecting your USB flash drive, you’re telling Etcher that it should flash the Ubuntu ISO to this device in particular.
Step 6: Locate the “Flash!” button, and click on it with the mouse. When you click on the “Flash!” button, Etcher will attempt to flash your Ubuntu ISO file to the USB flash drive. The flashing process may take some time to complete.
When the process is complete, Etcher will validate your USB flash drive to determine if the flash was done successfully. Validation should only take a couple of seconds.
Step 7: After Etcher finishes validating your USB flash drive, you’ll see a message telling you that the flashing is complete. From here, close the Etcher application.
Take your newly flashed USB and install Ubuntu!
Create Ubuntu install USB – Gnome Disks (Linux only)
If you’re a Linux user already and need to create an Ubuntu install USB and don’t want to go the Etcher route, Gnome Disks is an excellent way to go. It comes pre-installed on most Linux operating systems out of the box and is easy to use.
To create an Ubuntu install USB using Gnome Disks, plug in your USB flash drive to your USB port. Once it is plugged in, follow the step-by-step instructions below.
Step 1: Launch Gnome Disks on your Linux desktop by searching for “Disks” in your app menu. If you do not have Gnome Disks installed already, enter the command below to get it working.
Ubuntu
sudo apt install gnome-disk-utility
Debian
sudo apt-get install gnome-disk-utility
Arch Linux
sudo pacman -S gnome-disk-utility
Fedora
sudo dnf install gnome-disk-utility
OpenSUSE
sudo zypper install gnome-disk-utility
Step 2: Search for your USB flash drive on the left-hand sidebar in Gnome Disks. Then, click on it with the mouse to display it in the app.
Step 3: Head over to Ubuntu.com, look for the “Download” button in the navigation bar and click on it with the mouse. After that, find “Desktop.” Click on either Ubuntu 20.04 LTS or Ubuntu 20.10 to download an Ubuntu ISO file.
Step 4: In Gnome Disks, click on the menu button (it is to the left of minimize). Once inside the menu, locate the “Restore Disk Image” button, and click on it with the mouse.
Step 5: Find the button next to “Image to Restore” and click it. Then, browse for the Ubuntu ISO file on your computer to add it to Gnome Disks.
Step 6: Select the “Start Restoring” button to start creating your Ubuntu install USB.
When the process is complete, close Gnome Disks, reboot your PC, and install Ubuntu!
