balenaEtcher for MAC
Flash OS images to USB drives and SD cards safely and easily: Linux, Raspberry Pi and more. Free and open source.
balenaEtcher Overview
balenaEtcher writes operating system images to USB drives and SD cards in three simple steps: choose an image, choose a drive, and flash. It is the easy way to make a bootable Linux USB stick or to prepare an SD card for a Raspberry Pi. Etcher checks every write when it finishes, so you do not end up with a broken drive, and it hides your Mac's own system drives so you cannot erase them by mistake. Etcher is made by Balena.
balenaEtcher is free and open source under the Apache-2.0 license; since version 2.1.2 it no longer collects analytics. There are separate downloads for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. On October 20, 2026 the newest release, 2.1.7, was marked by its developers as unstable on macOS, and 2.1.8 was still a pre-release, so this page lists 2.1.6, the most recent stable version for Mac.
Key Features
Etcher takes the guesswork out of writing disk images.
- Simple: pick an image, pick a drive, click Flash.
- Image formats: .iso, .img and compressed .zip, .gz, .xz and .bz2 images.
- Validated flashing: every write is checked so you know the drive works.
- Drive protection: system drives are hidden so you cannot wipe them by accident.
- Flash from URL: write an image straight from a web address without saving it first.
- Clone a drive: copy an existing USB drive or SD card to another one.
- Multiple targets: flash the same image to several drives at once.
- Cross-platform: the same app on Mac, Windows and Linux.
What’s New in Version 2.1.6
balenaEtcher 2.1.6 is a maintenance release.
- Fixed the build for Intel Macs
- Recent 2.1 releases improved macOS permission handling and removed analytics
- Note: 2.1.7 was withdrawn for macOS because of instability; stay on 2.1.6 until a stable 2.1.8 is out
balenaEtcher FAQ
Is balenaEtcher free?
Yes. balenaEtcher is free and open source under the Apache-2.0 license.
Which version of balenaEtcher should I download for Mac?
Version 2.1.6. The newer 2.1.7 was marked by its developers as unstable on macOS, and 2.1.8 is still a pre-release, so the download button on this page leads to 2.1.6.
How do I make a bootable Linux USB drive on a Mac?
Download the Linux .iso file, open Etcher, choose the file, choose your USB drive and click Flash. Etcher writes and checks the drive.
Can I use Etcher for a Raspberry Pi SD card?
Yes. Choose the Raspberry Pi OS image, select the SD card and flash it.
Will Etcher erase my Mac's hard drive?
Etcher hides system drives so you cannot select them by mistake. Still, the drive you flash is completely erased, so check that you picked the right one.
Which image formats does Etcher support?
It supports .iso and .img files, and compressed .zip, .gz, .xz and .bz2 images.
Can Etcher make a bootable Windows USB drive?
Etcher is designed for images such as Linux and Raspberry Pi systems. Windows install media usually need a different tool.
Does Etcher collect data?
Since version 2.1.2 balenaEtcher no longer collects analytics.
Does Etcher run on Apple Silicon?
Yes. There are separate downloads for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
Where does the balenaEtcher download on balenaetcher.FULLMAC.app come from?
The download button leads to the official balenaEtcher 2.1.6 release on GitHub at https://github.com/balena-io/etcher/releases/tag/v2.1.6. balenaetcher.FULLMAC.app does not change or repackage the app.
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FULLMAC.app does not host this app. Download buttons lead to the developer’s own pages.