> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://zededa.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

> ## Agent Instructions
> Use the documentation index to find relevant pages, then read the linked Markdown before answering and cite the source URL.
> Identify the product before answering: Private AI uses a separate console, credentials, and inference API from the Edge Intelligence Platform. Do not apply instructions from one product to the other.
> Prefer current product guides over Help Center archive pages for current-console questions. Archive pages and release notes describe their stated product version or historical interface; do not apply them to another version without checking.
> Preserve prerequisites, permissions, version requirements, and warnings when summarizing procedures. Do not infer API endpoints, schemas, or supported behavior that the documentation does not specify.

# Flash an EVE-OS Installer or Live Image

> How to flash an EVE-OS installer or live image onto a USB drive or SD card using ZFlash, the ZEDEDA flashing tool.

## Introduction

ZFlash writes an EVE-OS installer or live image onto a USB drive or SD card. Use the flashed drive to install EVE-OS on a node's onboard storage, or to live-boot EVE-OS on hardware without onboard storage.

ZFlash supports `.raw`, `.img`, `.wic`, `.zip`, `.gz`, `.xz`, `.iso`, and `.zst` file formats.

> [!WARNING]
>
> Flashing completely overwrites the target drive. Confirm you have selected the correct storage device before proceeding.

## Prerequisites

* A blank bootable USB drive or SD card appropriate for your edge device.
* An EVE-OS image file generated from [Get EVE-OS](https://zededa.mintlify.site/new-ui/infrastructure-services/eve-os-installation/get-eve-os.md) or by following the [Single-Use Installer onboarding flow](https://zededa.mintlify.site/new-ui/infrastructure-services/nodes/onboard-nodes.md#use-single-use-installer).

## Flash on macOS

1. Go to [https://github.com/zededa/zflash/releases/latest](https://github.com/zededa/zflash/releases/latest).
2. Download **ZFlash.Imager-\<version>.dmg**.
3. Open the downloaded `.dmg` file and drag **zflash.app** to your **Applications** folder.
4. Launch **zflash.app**. If macOS blocks it, go to **System Settings > Privacy & Security**, find the blocked message, and click **Open Anyway**.
5. In ZFlash, click **Choose OS** and select one of the following options: **Select a custom image file from your computer** and choose the EVE-OS image file you generated, or select a generic EVE-OS version that can be downloaded directly from GitHub.
6. Connect your USB drive or SD card.
7. Click **Choose Storage** and select your storage device.
8. Click **Next** until the process is complete.

## Flash on Linux

1. Go to [https://github.com/zededa/zflash/releases/latest](https://github.com/zededa/zflash/releases/latest).
2. Download **ZFlash-\<version>.AppImage**.
3. Set the executable permission on the downloaded file.

```text theme={"dark"}
chmod +x ZFlash-<version>.AppImage
```

4. Run ZFlash.

```text theme={"dark"}
./ZFlash-<version>.AppImage
```

5. Click **Choose OS** and select one of the following options: **Select a custom image file from your computer** and choose the EVE-OS image file you generated, or select a generic EVE-OS version that can be downloaded directly from GitHub.
6. Connect your USB drive or SD card.
7. Click **Choose Storage** and select your storage device.
8. Click **Next** until the process is complete.

## Flash on Windows

1. Go to [https://github.com/zededa/zflash/releases/latest](https://github.com/zededa/zflash/releases/latest).
2. Download **ZFlash-Image-\<version>.exe** and run the installer.
3. Launch the **ZFlash** app.
4. Click **Choose OS** and select one of the following options: **Select a custom .img from your computer** and choose the EVE-OS image file you generated, or select a generic EVE-OS version that can be downloaded directly from GitHub.
5. Insert your USB drive or SD card.
6. Click **Choose Storage** and select your storage device.
7. Click **Next** until the process is complete.

## Flash for Raspberry Pi Devices

Raspberry Pi devices require a live EVE-OS image and must be booted from an SD card. See [Get EVE-OS](https://zededa.mintlify.site/new-ui/infrastructure-services/eve-os-installation/get-eve-os.md#live-image-for-live-booting-from-usb-or-sd) for instructions on generating a live image. Use EVE-OS version 14.0.0-LTS or later for Raspberry Pi 5 support.

1. Install the [Raspberry Pi Imager](https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/).
2. Connect a USB SD card adapter to your local machine.
3. Insert your SD card into the USB adapter.
4. Open the Raspberry Pi Imager.
5. Select your **Raspberry Pi model** from the device dropdown.
6. Select **Use Custom** from the Operating System dropdown and choose your EVE-OS live image file.
7. Select your USB drive from the Storage window.
8. Click **Next**, then **No** when prompted for OS customizations.
9. Click **Yes** to confirm erasing the SD card, then **Continue**.
10. Eject the SD card after flashing is complete.

Connect the flashed SD card to your node to boot into EVE-OS.

## Next Steps

* If you flashed an **installer image**: [Install EVE-OS onto an Edge Device](https://zededa.mintlify.site/new-ui/infrastructure-services/eve-os-installation/install-eve-os.md).
* If you flashed a **live image**: connect the storage device to your node and power it on to live-boot EVE-OS.