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.. _install_rpi_os:

Install the Raspberry Pi OS
======================================

An operating system needs to be installed onto the Micro SD card before inserting it into the Raspberry Pi.

.. note::

  Skip this chapter if the Raspberry Pi already has an operating system installed.


Raspberry Pi Imager is a quick and easy way to install the Raspberry Pi operating system to a Micro SD card from a computer or laptop.

Browse to the Raspberry Pi Imager site and download the version that matches the computer or laptop\'s  operating system (www.raspberrypi.org/software). When the download is complete, launch the installer program and follow the prompts to install the Raspberry Pi Imager.

.. image:: img/3d1.png
  :width: 400
  :align: center

If the Windows operating system prevents the application from launching, click on **More info** and then click on **Run anyway** to install the Raspberry Pi Imager.

.. image:: img/3d2.png
  :width: 550
  :align: center

Insert the Micro SD card into the computer or laptop's SD card slot. If the computer or laptop only has a full-size port for SD cards, use a Micro SD card adapter.

.. In the Raspberry Pi Imager, select the Operating System to install, and then select the SD card to install the image on.

.. .. image:: img/3d3.png
..   :width: 550
..   :align: center

.. .. note::
..     * The computer or laptop will need to be connected to the internet during the first time the Operating System is installed.

..     * After the first installation, a copy of the Operating System installed from the Imager will be stored on the computer or laptop, and will be available for future use, even while offline (Location of lastdownload.cache will be here: ``C:/Users/<username>/AppData/Local/Raspberry Pi/Imager/cache``). The next time the Imager software launches, it will display “Released: <date>, Cached on your computer”.

.. mark

.. warning::

    Upgrading the Raspberry Pi OS to **Debian Bullseye** will cause some features to not work, so it is recommended to continue using the **Debian Buster** version.

In the Raspberry Pi Imager, click **CHOOSE OS** -> **Raspberry Pi OS(other)**.

.. image:: img/3d33.png
    :align: center

Scroll down to the end of the newly opened page and you will see **Raspberry Pi OS(Legacy)** and **Raspberry Pi OS Lite(Legacy)**, these are security updates for Debian Buster, the difference between them is with or without the desktop.
It is recommended to install **Raspberry Pi OS(Legacy)**, the system with the desktop.

.. image:: img/3d34.png
    :align: center



Select the SD card you are using.

.. image:: img/3d4.png
  :width: 550
  :align: center

.. Press ``Ctrl+Shift+X`` to open the Advanced options page to enable SSH and configure wifi, these 2 items must be set, the others depend on your choice. You can choose to always use this image customization options.

.. .. image:: img/3d5.png
..   :width: 550
..   :align: center

.. Scroll down to configure the WiFi settings, and then click **SAVE**.

.. .. note::

..   The entry for the **WiFi country** should be set to a designated two-letter ISO/IEC alpha2 code designated to the country. Please reference the following link: `https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_3166-1_alpha-2#Officially_assigned_code_elements <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_3166-1_alpha-2#Officially_assigned_code_elements>`_.

.. .. image:: img/3d6.png
..   :width: 550
..   :align: center

Click the **WRITE** button.

.. image:: img/3d7.png
  :width: 550
  :align: center

The Imager will overwrite any files already on the SD card. If the SD card has any files, back up these files before clicking Yes.

.. image:: img/3d8.png
  :width: 550
  :align: center

After the Imager completes installing the Operating System on the SD card, click Continue to complete the installation.

.. image:: img/3d9.png
  :width: 550
  :align: center

Now insert the Micro SD card with the system installed into the Raspberry Pi.