Manjaro Linux Flash Drive using Balena Etcher

A USB flash drive of capacity greater than 2 GB (4 GB recommended) could be used to make it bootable and install latest version of Linux Manjaro Operating System on any computer. To create a Linux Manjaro bootable Flash Drive (sometimes called Pen Drive or USB Drive) on an existing Windows system follow the below mentioned 3 easy steps:

Step 1: Download Manjaro Linux latest version ISO File

Login to a computer which has a Windows Operating System. Now, open any web browser and navigate to official website of Linux Manjaro Operating System. On the Home Page, either click on the “Choose Edition and Download” Button or navigate to Download page. Upon scrolling down the download page, you can find a number of Manjaro Editions which are built upon the same base Arch Linux but provide a different experience based upon the diversity of Desktop Environments available. If you are not sure which edition of Linux Manjaro to choose you may read Linux Manjaro: A summary of Editions for better clarity on features of available editions and select the edition which best suites your need.

Once you are done with selecting your best suited edition, click on the version you wish to download. The browser will navigate to the selected edition’s download page.

Alternatively, you can also refer the below table to navigate to a particular edition’s download page:

Scroll down the download page and click on “Download 64 Bit version” button to start downloading Linux Manjaro ISO file. Save the ISO to your computer.

Please note that the 32-bit edition of Linux Manjaro has been dropped since Manjaro 17.1. only the 64-bit version of all latest editions is being released. The system architecture type is 64-bit nowadays on almost all modern computers, if you have an old PC with 32-bit architecture you may try some other flavor of Linux such as Linux Mint.

Step 2: Install Balena Etcher Flashing Software to create Manjaro Linux Flash Drive

While the Linux Manjaro ISO file is downloading, in the meantime navigate to official web site of Balena Etcher to download Balena’s Etcher Software to create a bootable Flash Drive. The etcher web page will automatically detect your native Operating System to choose the suitable download file for your system. In case automatic detection does not work, you can choose the native operating system by clicking on the dropdown arrow in right corner of download button. Choose the Operating System and click on the button to proceed with Download. Save the executable file on your computer. Once the download is complete for both ISO file and Balena Etcher software you can close the browser. Now, go to the download location and run the downloaded executable setup file to install Balena Etcher Software. Proceed with default installation options during installation process.

Step 3: Flash USB Flash Drive to convert it to Manjaro Linux Flash Drive

After successful installation, the Balena Etcher software will run automatically for the first time. Or else, you can open Etcher software by executing the shortcut created for the software during installation. Balena Etcher works in three steps as following:

1. Select Image
2. Select Drive
3. Flash

Click on “Select Image”, browse to the download location and select the Linux Manjaro ISO image file from the download location. Now, insert a Flash Drive in USB Slot of the computer. The flash drive when ready would be automatically detected by Etcher and focus will shift to “Flash” button. Ensure that there is no useful data on the flash drive as it will be wiped off. Click on “Flash” when ready and wait for Flashing to Finish. Upon complete flashing, the flashed drive would be validated by Etcher for any error. If there is no error displayed at the end of flashing, the flash drive would be successfully flashed. If some error is displayed by Balena Etcher software, repeat the above process. The successfully flashed flash drive could be used to install Linux Manjaro on any computer. Remove the flash drive and close Etcher software.

Watch the practical demonstration of the process of creating bootable Manjaro Linux Flash Drive in following video:

Note: After flashing with etcher the flash drive may become unusable on Windows due to Linux file system, it may display a flash drive with a capacity of merely few Mega Bytes. Read the article Repair Flash Drive to repair your flash drive for re-use on Windows.

If  you want to install Linux Manjaro using the created Flash Drive, read complete process at Install Linux Manjaro by creating bootable flash drive on Windows 10 *

* please note that you will skip Steps 1, 2 & 3 in the above mentioned Article for installation of Linux Manjaro as you have already created a Linux Manjaro Bootable Flash Drive using the alternative method in this Article. Other Steps for installing Linux Manjaro will remain same.