Launch the Imager

If you just completed the Install the Raspberry Pi Imager tutorial, then the Imager should have launched automatically. If it did not, then search for it in your apps and launch it as you would any application.

Insert your SD card into your computer.

Click CHOOSE OS

Choose the OS

You will be presented with a number of options for what OS you can write to the SD card. The core option is to use Raspberry Pi OS. This is the operating system designed specifically for the Raspberry Pi. It is a Debian Linux distribution. You can use other version of this operating system or you can choose the Other general-purpose OS option to select third-party options such as Ubuntu. We will use Raspberry Pi OS.

Click Raspberry Pi OS

Choose Storage

Next we must select where we want the OS to be written. If you have not already done so, insert your SD card into your computer.

Click CHOOSE STORAGE

You will be presented with a list of your external storage devices. Whatever device you choose will be overwritten with the OS so make sure you choose wisely. In my case, the SD card is the only external storage device available.

Click the desired external storage device

Customize Options

The easiest way to complete the operating system installation is to provide the options needed to configure the system in advance. This way the OS will be completely installed automatically when you boot the Raspberry Pi. The Imager provides you with a way to configure these advanced options.

Click the Gear

Image customization options allows you to choose whether these options should be saved for future use or used only for this specific write request. I have selected the option to always use these options. This can be changed later.

Set hostname is where you indicate the name of the host you are building

Enable SSH is where you indicate if you plan to use SSH to access the Raspberry Pi. You can either use password authentication where you will be prompted for a username and password when you connect or you can use public-key authentication instead. With public-key authentication, you generate a public key and provide that here. That key will then be added to the authorized_keys file for the indicated user. You can then connect via SSH without needing to provide a password.

Set username and password allows you to create a regular user. Without this, the only user for the system will be the default pi user, which is not ideal.

Configure wireless LAN allows you to provide your Wi-Fi network and password so it can be automatically connected at boot time. If your SSID is not public, then be sure to check the Hidden SSID box.

Set locale settings will likely be correct by default, but you can adjust them if necessary

Click Save

Write the Image

With all of the above steps completed, you can now initiate the write process.

Click Write

If you had saved the customization settings previously, then you may be prompted to confirm that you want to use those saved settings.

Click Yes

You will receive a final warning that all data on the SD card you selected will be overwritten. Make sure that the listed SD card is the device you intended to use.

Click Yes

The writing and verifying process will begin. This will take several minutes to complete. You can track the progress and have the option to cancel if desired.

Finally, you will see a success message with the writing is complete. Remove the SD card from your computer, click Continue, and close the Imager.