Transfer an .ISO image to an USB-stick using Balena Etcher

Tips, Tricks and Tutorials Tried & Tested
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I used Balena-Etcher to transfer .ISO files to USB-sticks for a while now on Ubuntu-MATE (.deb install or .AppImage).

Unfortunately, there are some issues with running "Balena Etcher" on Ubuntu(-MATE) 24.04:

  • installing the .deb version
  • running the .AppImage file (even if you set permissions to "run as executable")

Here's how to fix these issues

  1. Installing / Running the .deb version
  • you may not be able to install the .deb version of Balena Etcher
  • just download the ZIP file from here (current version -> https://github.com/balena-io/etcher/releases/download/v1.19.21/balenaEtcher-darwin-x64-1.19.21.zip Keep in mind: the current version may change in the future and you may need to adapt the link!)
  • double-click the downloaded ZIP file
  • extract the balenaEtcher-linux-x64 folder to a folder of your home directory
  • ignore the "unsafe link" error message you may receive during extraction
  • once extraction finishes, switch to the balenaEtcher-linux-x64 folder
  • double-click the balena-etcher file to start the app
  1. Running the .AppImage version
  • download the "AppImage" version of "Balena Etcher" from here: https://github.com/balena-io/etcher/releases/download/v1.19.21/balenaEtcher-1.19.21-x64.AppImage (Keep in mind: the current version may change in the future and you may need to adapt the link!)
  • make sure you set permission to run as executable for the .AppImage file
  • open a Terminal and paste following
    sudo sysctl -w kernel.apparmor_restrict_unprivileged_userns=0
  • you will now be able to double-click the "*.AppImage" file in order to run
  • Disclaimer: this may be a security issue! You may not want to risk! This security issue "lasts" only until you restart your PC.

You may download the PNG version of the Balena Etcher icon (for adding it to the Menu, if required, from here: File:Etcher-icon.png - Wikimedia Commons.

There are other methods of transferring .ISO images to an USB-stick. (e.g. dd or Clonezilla)

It's your decision what to use.

I found Balena Etcher the easiest way to transfer .ISO files to an USB-stick during the last years. And I cannot understand why it still has these issues that require workarounds.

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Do you actually need to install it for it to work?

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As stated in my previous entry

you may not be able to install it

and continued with a possible solution downloading the ZIP file, unpacking it and running the balena-etcher file (the app will not be installed). You may create a menu entry for it, if required.

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The Disks utility that comes with U-Mate has the ability to take an ISO file and restore it to a thumb drive. It works well and is what I use.

Find it under Accessories.

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